Need to Know

FEDERAL
 - At the end of September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Clean Energy and Jobs Innovation Act by a 220-185 vote.  An analogous energy bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate earlier this year, so if it moves forward, there may be an opportunity for a conference between the Senate and House.  More...

 - It is anticipated that between now and 2035, an additional 1.8 billion tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will be added to the atmosphere as a result of President Trump's reversal on climate regulations put into place during the Obama administration.  More...

 - At the beginning of September, U.S. Senate Republicans and Democrats came together on a plan that would phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons 85% by 2035.  It would be presented as an amendment to a bipartisan energy bill.  However, it is not known if the bill would be able to be passed in both chambers and signed by President Trump before January.  More...
 
MULTIPLE STATES
NORTHEAST & MID-ATLANTIC STATES
 - On October 8th, Ceres sent letters - signed onto by more than 100 higher ed institutions, investors, and companies - to the Governors in the region in support of the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI).  Twelve colleges and universities in the region signed onto the effort.  More...  

INDIVIDUAL STATES
CALIFORNIA
 - A new and historic California Climate Action Corps was recently launched by Governor Gavin Newsom.  It's historic because this is the first time in the state's history to have a statewide corps like this one.  The goal is to have Californians become engaged with taking climate action, and it's part of the state's climate strategy.  More...  

 - On October 7th, as part of the state's climate strategy, Governor Newsom issued an executive order establishing a framework focused on California being able to protect and preserve 30% of their coastal waters and land by 2030.  More...

COLORADO
 - In mid/late September, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission began consideration of proposed rules that include requiring the tracking of air quality at the beginning of construction of a well, and also during the first six months of the well's production.  More...  

ILLINOIS
 - In mid-September, labor unions launched a Climate Jobs Illinois coalition focused on pressing for policies that promote a move to clean energy that will also create union jobs in the clean energy sector.  More...

MICHIGAN
 - Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer recently released her much anticipated climate executive order.  The Governor released a separate climate executive directive as well.  Executive order Executive Directive
 
 - Furthermore, a letter signed by representatives from 40 different organizations in Michigan called for the state's carbon neutrality goal date of 2050 be accelerated.  More...  

NEW JERSEY
 - In mid-September, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a historic environmental justice bill into law.  This now makes New Jersey the state with the most robust environmental justice law in the entire nation.  More...  

PENNSYLVANIA
 - A few weeks ago, Pennsylvania's Environmental Quality Board approved - by a vote of 13-6 - draft regulation for Pennsylvania to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).  More...  

Opportunities to Participate

MICHIGAN - A Unique Opportunity
As part of the recently issued Executive Order and Executive Directive from Governor Whitmer, as discussed above, a "Council on Climate Solutions" is being created to develop a "Michigan Healthy Climate Plan."  Governor Whitmer is looking to appoint individuals to the Council from diverse sectors who have various backgrounds and expertise.  To apply, you need to complete an application (found at the button below) by Sunday, November 1, 2020 at the latest. 

If you would like assistance with the application, please reach-out to Alli Gold Roberts at Ceres (goldroberts@ceres.org), as someone at Ceres would be happy to help.  

Note: Once you are in the application, select “Council for Climate Solutions” from the drop-down menu under the Appointment Information section of the application.

ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, NEVADA, AND WASHINGTON
In case you missed the email we sent recently, 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.  The sign-on deadline is Thursday, November 5th. 

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 Andres Herrera on Unsplash

Sources:
Ceres.  (2020, October 8).  "More than 100 investors and companies urge states to adopt the Transportation and Climate Initiative."  Ceres News.  URL.  10/8/2020.  

Colman, Z. and Gullén, A.  (2020, September 17).  "Trump's climate change rollbacks to drive up U.S. emissions."  Politico.  URL.  10/7/2020. 

Eilperin, J. and Mufson, S.  (2020, September 10).  "In rare bipartisan climate agreement, senators forge plan to slash use of potent greenhouse gas."  The Washington Post.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/7/2020.  

Frazin, R.  (2020, September 24).  "House passes sweeping clean energy bill."  The Hill.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/7/2020.  

Kelley, A.  (2020, September 18).  "New Jersey signs landmark environmental justice bill into law."  The Hill.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/8/2020.  

Kohler, J.  (2020, September 17).  "Colorado could OK first-of-its-kind air-quality rule for oil, gas well sites."  The Denver Post.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/7/2020.  

McDevitt, K.  (2020, September 15).  "Oversight board's approval starts next phase of Pennsylvania's contested attempt to join regional cap-and-trade program."  State Impact Pennsylvania.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/8/2020.  

Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.  (2020, October 7).  "Governor Newsom Launches Innovative Strategies to Use California Land to Fight Climate Change, Conserve Biodiversity and Boost Climate Reilience."  URL.  Retrieved: 10/8/2020. 

Perkins, T.  (2020, September 25).  "Michigan can't wait until 2050 to reach zero emissions, environmentalists say."  Energy News Network.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/8/2020.  

Posted by Rich Miller.  (2020, September 14).  "Labor unions form Climate Jobs Illinois coalition."  Capitol Fax.com.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/7/2020. 

Simmons, C.  (2020, September 25).  "On California Climate Action Day, CA Gov. Newsom Launches Nation’s First Statewide Climate Corps."  CaliforniaNewswire.  URL.  Retrieved: 10/7/2020.  

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.  

Help Us, Continue to Help You, Accelerate Your Climate Action

One easy and immediate way to do so right now?
Click on the button below, and make a small contribution.   

Combating climate change; it really does take all of us, because we're all in this together. 
Thank you in advance for taking climate action today in a unique way.