The Election: A Message From Tim Carter on Behalf of Second Nature
With the election of President-Elect Joe Biden, here’s what we know.  During their campaign, the Biden-Harris ticket made climate change one of their top focus areas. Their plan includes having the United States rejoin the Paris Agreement, as well as transitioning the U.S. to a 100% clean energy economy and net zero emissions no later than 2050. 

This work is too urgent to be done in isolation, it requires all of us working together. We look forward to scaling and accelerating the climate work that we have been doing with the Climate Leadership Network signatories, the University Climate Change Coalition (UC3) members, our partners, and others, and working in conjunction with the incoming Biden-Harris administration to further our progress.

Need to Know

FEDERAL
 - On Wednesday, November 4th - the day after the U.S. Election - the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement became official.  More...
Note: We Are Still In (WASI), an initiative that Second Nature is involved in, put out a public statement and more in response to the U.S. withdrawal.  More...

 - In late October, House Democrats introduced the Oceans Based Climates Solutions Act which focuses on expanding offshore wind while banning offshore drilling.  Proponents view it as another way to combat climate change.  More...

 - Also in late October, the Trump Administration restarted the National Climate Assessment in response to widespread criticism.  The National Climate Assessment is a report focused on climate change that is dependent on researched studies.  The last Assessment printed was in 2018.  More...
 
MULTIPLE STATES
 - The Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) which currently includes 12 states and Washington, D.C., recently received backlash from environmental justice activists, because they say that TCI doesn't include the environmental needs of marginalized communities as part of the main focus.  Further, the activists want more people of color to have a seat at the table for TCI conversations and the process.  More...

INDIVIDUAL STATES
CALIFORNIA
 - According to recent reports, California is doing well when it comes to making strides in their electricity sector due to clean energy policies in that sector, however, they are struggling a bit in some other areas such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  More...

 - However, it should also be noted that according to California's Public Utilities Commission (PUC), utilities in the state are on target for meeting their renewable energy goals and requirements this year.  More...

OHIO
 - With the passage of HB6 in 2019 (a law that was controversial because it rescued two coal plants in Ohio), also came the ending (as of September 30th) of renewable energy programs that helped consumers save energy.  More...
 

Opportunities to Participate

FOR ALL
Ceres is hosting two webinars that may be of interest to you.  Please find information on both below. 

Webinar: Ceres’ 2020 Elections Results Analysis and Climate Policy Outlook Briefing
Wednesday, November 18th | 2-3:15PM EDT
The Ceres team will provide an analysis of the election results and climate policy implications under the Biden-Harris administration. 

Webinar: Climate Policy and Environmental Justice
Tuesday, December 1st | 1-2PM EDT
Join Ceres for a virtual discussion on the interconnectedness of racial and economic equity and climate action.

ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, NEVADA, AND WASHINGTON
In case you missed this opportunity in the October Policy Update, there is an opportunity for your institution to be able to support decarbonizing buildings and reducing energy costs across the West. Through the end of 2020 and into 2021, it is anticipated that there will be numerous policy opportunities aimed at tackling emissions from the built environment across the West.

Ceres has drafted a high-level sign-on letter that does not endorse specific policies but will instead help generate much needed momentum across the region in support of decarbonizing buildings.  This is an opportunity to ensure that the voice of the higher education sector is heard.    

Below is additional information, including a background briefing, a copy of the sign-on letter, and how to sign-on if you are interested in doing so.  

If you have any questions, please reach-out to Emily Duff at Ceres (duff@ceres.org).  

NOTE: The above opportunity is for colleges and universities to sign-on; not an opportunity for individuals at colleges and universities to do so.  Are you an individual at a higher education institution who believes your college/university may be interested in signing onto this opportunity?  We encourage you to reach-out to the leadership at your institution and let them know. 

Header Photo by Darren Halstead on Unsplash

Sources:
Barboza, T.  (2020, October 19).  "California’s greenhouse gas emissions rose slightly in 2018."  Los Angeles Times.  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020.  

Beitsch, R.  (2020, October 20).  "Democrats push expansion of offshore wind, block offshore drilling with ocean energy bill."  The Hill.  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020.  

Friedman, L.  (2020, November 4).  "U.S. Quits Paris Climate Agreement: Questions and Answers."  The New York Times.  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020.  

Kovaleski, D.  (2020, November 5).  "California PUC says utilities on track to meet renewable requirements."  Daily Energy Insider.  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020.  

Shemkus, S.  (2020, October 15).  "Justice advocates keep pressure on transportation emission pact planners."  Energy News Network.  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020.  

Waldman, S.  (2020, October 20).  "Trump admin starts work on climate report after outcry."  E&E News.  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020. 

We Are Still In.  (2020, November 4).  "U.S. Exists Paris, We Are Still In."  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020.  

Williams, M.  (2020, October 13).  "HB6 ends AEP Ohio energy efficiency programs."  The Columbus Dispatch.  URL.  Retrieved: 11/6/2020.  

Our monthly policy updates, information, and opportunities to participate, are developed with support from Ceres, which is an organizational partner of Second Nature.  Ceres has identified 15 states plus Washington, D.C. for our primary focus - Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. - because of the beneficial legislative climates and real opportunities for policy advancements in these states.  

Note: The states included in each monthly Policy Update will be based on what policy updates we are recommending for that month, and are due to change - but will always be focused on the above 15 states (plus Washington, D.C.) - from month to month.