Monthly Policy Update June 2023
GLOBAL
Rich nations finally on track to meet $100bn climate pledge - 3 years late
Publication Date: May 2, 2023 | Source: Independent - Why This Matters: Last month, wealthy nations like Germany and Denmark, agreed to finally uphold their promise to provide necessary climate funds to poor nations. This figure falls far short of nations' actual needs, but is a critical step in the right direction ahead of COP28.
UN Adds New Disclosure Requirements for Upcoming COP28, Acknowledging the Toll of Corporate Lobbying
Publication Date: June 18, 2023 | Source: Inside Climate News - Why This Matters: Fossil fuel industry lobbyists have long-obstructed the international climate negotiations, oftentimes misrepresenting themselves as negotiators from specific nations. A new disclosure rule, however, will require all lobbyists to make themselves known, and prohibits them from participating in negotiations under the guise of country negotiators. The rule will take effect at the upcoming negotiations in Dubai, and aims to limit the industry's influence on negotiations.
FEDERAL
DOE'S new tool helps you get your share of the climate law's billions
Publication Date: June 14, 2023 | Source: Canary meDIA - Why This Matters: The Biden Administration has launched an Energy Savings Hub, a one-stop shop to put tax credits and rebates at consumers' fingertips. This Inflation Reduction Act initiative aims to ensure that people know about the clean energy incentives that are available to them.
The nerd's guide to Biden's new climate rule
Publication Date: May 11, 2023 | Source: Politico - Why This Matters: Last month, the Biden Administration proposed powerful new limits on greenhouse gas emissions from the country's power plants; any coal plants operating by 2040 would have to curb their emissions by almost 90 percent, among other provisions. The EPA has tried and failed to implement such restrictions previously, but the agency is hopeful that the new approach of having state governments come up with their own compliance plans, and subsequently get EPA approval, is more effective.
There's big climate money out there for small towns. But will they get it?
Publication Date: May 25, 2023 | Source: Grist - Why This Matters: The Inflation Reduction Act provides for hundreds of billions of dollars for resilience projects, but the money is frequently hard to actually get. The funding often comes through competitive grants, requiring technical and time-intensive applications that communities often shy away from. While the Justice40 initiative promises to invest 40 percent of federal climate funding toward historically disadvantaged communities, real barriers exist that prevent many of these communities from actually accessing these funds.
4 winners and 1 loser in the EPA's historic move to limit power plant pollution
Publication Date: May 13, 2023 | Source: Vox - Why This Matters: The new EPA rules seeking to curb pollution elevate the role of carbon capture and storage, as well as hydrogen. The majority of natural gas plants are exempt in this proposal, and face a different set of regulations than coal.
Supreme Court sharply limits federal government's ability to police pollution into certain wetlands
Publication Date: May 25, 2023 | Source: AP News UPSIDE is approved for sale in the US! Here's what you need to know.
Publication Date: June 21, 2023 | Source: Upside Foods - Why This Matters: Cultivated chicken - meat grown from animal cells in a vessel, with a much lower carbon footprint - is officially approved to sell in the United States, and has the potential to significantly reduce emissions from the food sector. Yesterday, the first company received its USDA Grant of Inspection, meaning products will soon be available for sale. A San Francisco restaurant is slated to be the first place consumers will be able to purchase cultivated
meat.
CALIFORNIA
Noting a Mountain of Delays, California Lawmakers Advance Bills Designed to Speed Grid Connections
Publication Date: June 19, 2023 | Source: Inside Climate News - Why This Matters: While California aims to transition to electric vehicles and clean energy, advocates have said dealt with an interconnection crisis throughout this process. Utility delays have negatively affected clean energy projects of all sizes, but more than a half-dozen bills aim to tackle this crisis.
MONTANA
Montana's new law banning climate impact reviews sparks backlash from environmental experts
Publication Date: May 26, 2023 | Source: ABC News - Why This Matters: Montana Governor Greg Gianforte signed House Bill 971 into law, which prevents state regulators from considering greenhouse gas emissions and climate impacts when conducting environmental reviews of large projects. The law was a reaction after the permit for the construction of a NorthWestern Energy methane gas plant outside of Laurel, Montana.
MICHIGAN
Dismay as Michigan hands out millions of dollars in 'low carbon' grants for gas projects
Publication Date: June 16, 2023 | Source: Energy News Network - Why This Matters: Earlier this month, the state of Michigan awarded $32 million (out of a $50 million pot) to biogas projects. The pot of money was initially slated to be invested in low carbon infrastructure, but only about a third went toward low carbon projects like battery storage and solar. Environmental advocates have been focused on drawing attention to the gas projects that will be funded by the state.
MINNESOTA
3 ways Minnesota is crushing it on climate action
Publication Date: May 24, 2023 | Source: Canary Media - Why This Matters: In recent months, Minnesota has passed a slew of ambitious climate laws, including a $2 billion climate and environmental package, a $1.3 billion boost for public transit and e-bikes, and a 100 percent clean energy mandate. Climate advocates have capitalized on the fact that both chambers and the Governor's office are controlled by Democrats.
NEW YORK
After a four-year campaign, New York says yes to publicly owned renewables
Publication Date: May 4, 2023 | Source: Grist - Why This Matters: Last month, the NY legislature passed a bill to authorize the the New York Power Authority to build renewable energy projects to help reach the state's climate goals, set under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
PENNSYLVANIA
New Study Bolsters Case for Pennsylvania to Join Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
Publication Date: May 13, 2023 | Source: Inside Climate News - Why This Matters: Pennsylvania could reduce its GHG emissions and raise significant revenue for clean energy projects by completing its planned enrollment in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, an electric-sector cap-and-invest program that 12 Northeastern states are a part of, according to new analysis.
VIRGINIA
Virginia community solar boosters hope state follows path of D.C., Maryland
Publication Date: May 16, 2023 | Source: Energy News Network - Why This Matters: Virginia legislators scrapped a measure designed to expand a 150 megawatt shared-solar pilot program, but advocates remain encouraged after seeing nearby states, like Maryland, expand community solar programs. These programs have the ability to support customers interested in solar who might be unable to afford the upfront expense of rooftop panels.
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.).
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