Monthly Policy Update | July 2021  
 

Need to Know

GLOBAL
 - On June 11th, the U7+ Alliance - a coalition of higher education institutions around the world - sent a joint statement to the G7 nations asking them to acknowledge, "the key role that universities play as primary global actors" in climate action and more.  More...

FEDERAL 
 - At the end of June, two Congressional members introduced "The Climate Resiliency Service Act of 2021" which would form a service corps focused on helping communities deal with climate change.  More...

 - Also in June, the House of Representatives voted to reinstate rules that focused on oil and gas and leaking methane that had been implemented during the Obama administration.  More...

 - On June 25th, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said that they would be putting $50 million of the funds they would receive through the America Rescue Plan towards environmental justice efforts.  More...

 - Also on June 25th, two Congressional members introduced, "The Resilient Schools Act", which would create a program within the U.S. Department of Education focused on helping school systems deal with climate change.  More...

INDIVIDUAL STATES
COLORADO
 - In June, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc (NRDC) issued a summary of legislation focused on environment and equity from the Colorado General Assembly's 2021 legislative session.  Read that summary here.  

MASSACHUSETTS
 - In June, the Baker-Polito administration issued their 2022 Fiscal Year Capital Plan - $2.655 billion - which includes funding for climate change resiliency.  More...

NEW JERSEY
 - The United States Supreme Court issued a ruling against the State of New Jersey that a natural gas pipeline can be built on state land.  More...

Opportunities to Participate

NOTE: The following is an opportunity through the America Is All In coalition which we are a part of.  You do NOT need to be a member of America Is All In to participate in this opportunity.  

ALL STATES
In conjunction with our coalition partners in America Is All In, we are helping to organize a series of virtual meetings - Virtual Hill Day(s) - between non-federal leaders from diverse sectors (including the higher education sector!) and Congressional members. 

The main focus will be on encouraging members of Congress to include climate solutions in legislative efforts.   

The meetings will take place on July 13th and 14th, with a prep day on July 12th.  This is a major opportunity to have the voice of the higher education sector heard at the federal policy level, without even having to travel to Washington, D.C.  

Additional Information:
 - You can find more specific information and details about this opportunity on this page.  

 - Never done anything like this before? No problem at all; again there will be a prep day on July 12th, and there is also a FAQ that can provide you with more information.

 - Interested in knowing what other higher education institutions and other entities have already signed up to participate?  The current list can be found here (click on the link and scroll to the bottom).  

 Questions? Contact: Amanda Belles (abelles@secondnature.org). 

Sources:
Editor.  (2021, June 26).  Sen. Markey Wants To Create U.S. Department of Education Climate Change Resiliency Program.  FraminghamSOURCE.  URL. 

Elperin, J. and Dennis, B.  (2021, June 25).  As Democrats spar over advancing Biden’s climate agenda, they move to cut methane.  The Washington Post.  URL. 

Environmental Defense Fund. (2021, June 30).  Bill from Reps. Chu and Panetta Would Expand AmeriCorps to Address Climate Change, Advance Environmental Justice.  Environmental Defense Fund Press Release.  URL.  

Environmental Protection Agency.  (2021, June 25).  EPA Announces $50 Million to Fund Environmental Justice Initiatives Under the American Rescue Plan.  Environmental Protection Agency Press Office.  URL. 

Gonzalez, A.  (2021, June 13).  Colorado Environmental & Equity Legislative Roundup.  CleanTechnica.  URL. 

Office of Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito; Governor's Press Office.  (2021, June 14).  Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2.655 Billion FY22 Capital Plan.  Mass.gov.  URL. 

Phillips, S.  (2021, June 29).  U.S. Supreme Court rules PennEast pipeline project can use eminent domain to take N.J. state land.  State Impact Pennsylvania.  URL. 

Redden, E.  (2021, June 14).  Statement to G7 Highlights Issues of Intergenerational Equity.  Inside Higher Ed.  URL. 

U7+ Alliance of World Universities.  (2021, June 11).  U7+ Alliance of World Universities Statement to the G7.  URL. 

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 our 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.  

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 states (plus Washington, D.C.) - from month to month.