Monthly Policy Update |

March 2022  

Need to Know

IPCC REPORT
This climate crisis report asks: what is at stake? In short, everything
Publication Date: February 28, 2022 | The Guardian

• Why This Matters: In response to the report’s release, Second Nature urges higher education institutions to continue acting swiftly to mitigate, and adapt to, the threat of climate catastrophe, recognizing that climate impacts may soon outpace humanity's ability to adapt to it.

Policy Updates

FEDERAL
Granholm announces $3M for net-zero carbon research at HBCUs
Publication Date: February 17, 2022 | Source: Stamford Advocate

• Why This Matters: Universities will be able to apply for funding that will help train a workforce to fill hundreds of jobs at the Department of Energy that are needed to help fulfill mandates as laid out in the infrastructure package. 

DOE Announces $150 Million to Reduce Climate Impacts of Energy Technologies and Manufacturing
Publication Date: February 22, 2022 | Source: U.S. Department of Energy

• Why This Matters: Institutions can apply for funding here, and applications are open to all U.S. colleges and universities, national laboratories, nonprofits, and private sector companies. 

Brownley Applauds Passage of Critical Investments in Alternative Protein Research in the America COMPETES Act
Publication Date: February 4, 2022 | Source: Congresswoman Julia Brownley
More info re: America COMPETES Act

• Why This Matters: If the amendment passes in the Senate version, higher education institutions will be eligible to apply for funding for research and development of plant-based and cultivated meat.

Biden mentioned the climate crisis just once during the State of the Union — while touting a plan to create clean-energy jobs
Publication Date: March 1, 2022 | Source: Business Insider

• Why This Matters: It's critical that subnational and non-governmental actors don't wait for the federal government to combat climate change, and continue to take the lead given the urgency of the crisis. 

INDIVIDUAL STATES
CALIFORNIA
UC Climate-Related Proposals
Publication Date: February 16, 2022 | Source: Legislative Analyst's Office

• Why This Matters: If the budget passes, the University of California would receive $185 million of general funds for three climate-related proposals. This could help the state achieve its climate goals by utilizing funding specifically geared toward accelerating climate resilience, investing in climate disaster preparedness and mitigation, and matching grants to support other climate-focused funding opportunities, among other things.  

Opportunities to Participate 

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

CALIFORNIA 
California is considering two regulations that could decarbonize transportation, its biggest source of emissions, across states: the Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule and Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) II. With no equivalent federal policy for zero-emission vehicles at this time, expeditious and ambitious state action is imperative. More . . . 

How to support this effort: Ceres, a Second Nature partner, is coordinating sign-on letters to encourage ambitious ACF and ACC II rules and support adoption in other states. If your institution is interested in signing on to support this, the deadline to do so is March 18th.

MARYLAND
Legislation introduced in both the State House and State Senate would require net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045, while also increasing capital investment in high performance state, county, K-12 public schools, and higher education facilities. More . . . 

How to support this effort: Ceres has drafted a sign-on letter in support of Maryland adopting net-zero gas emissions by 2045. If your institution is interested in signing on to support this, please reach out to Ceres's Dave Robba at drobba@ceres.org by March 11th. 

MASSACHUSETTS
This year, a package of transportation bills will be brought before the Massachusetts legislature that has the opportunity to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and create job opportunities in the Commonwealth. The bills would accelerate adoption of EVs, push public fleets throughout the state to electrify, and improve air quality in communities burdened by transportation pollution.  ​​​​​​

How to support this effort: Ceres has drafted a sign-on letter in support of the Massachusetts transportation bills. If your institution is interested in signing on to support this, please reach out to Ceres's John Carlson (jcarlson@ceres.org) by March 19th. 

MICHIGAN
In January, Governor Whitmer released a draft climate action plan for public comment. The draft Plan was informed by public input and recommendations of the Governor’s Council on Climate Solutions and seeks to put Michigan on a path to achieve its goal of economy-wide carbon neutrality by 2050. Ceres drafted a sign-on letter in support of the Plan, and in support of climate action in Michigan in general.  ​​​​​​

How to support this effort: Higher education institutions who are interested in signing onto the letter, should email Deana Dennis (ddennis@ceres.org) by March 21st. 

The states and updates included in each Monthly Policy Update are based on what we are recommending for reading for that month, due to what we view as being directly relevant to higher education.  From month to month, the states focused on are due to change.  

Do you have feedback on our Monthly Policy Updates (what you like, what you would like to see improved, etc)?  Please email us: policyteam@secondnature.org.  

Note: 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 the following states plus Washington, D.C. for primary focus - Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, 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.  Our Policy Updates may, or may not, include these states (and Washington, D.C.).