Monthly Policy Update |

January 2022  

Policy Updates

GLOBAL
Nearly 200 Countries Approve a Biodiversity Accord Enshrining Human Rights and the 'Rights of Nature'
Publication Date: January 2, 2023 | Source: Inside Climate News  

• Why This Matters: The non-binding agreement reveals a growing understanding that future conservation efforts must promote the well-being of Indigenous people. It's the result of COP15, a conference convened in Montreal in December under the UN Convention of Biological Diversity. 

US fails to give money promised for developing countries to ease climate impacts Publication Date: December 23, 2022 | Source: The Guardian

• Why This Matters: Biden previously promised $11.4 billion each year for developing countries to ease climate impacts and transition to clean energy, but the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes less than $1 billion. This money will largely go to countries in Asia and the Pacific Islands, but falls short of what the Biden Administration has promised. 

FEDERAL
3 trends to watch in U.S climate policy in 2023
Publication Date: January 3, 2023 | Source: The Washington Post 

• Why This Matters: 2022 was a banner year for climate policy in America, with Congress passing the biggest climate bill in US history. However, with Republicans taking control of the House, prospects for additional federal climate action are lower, shifting focus to state-level lawmakers. Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, and Minnesota are four states expecting to enact additional climate legislation this year, after gaining a Democratic ''trifecta" in last year's election. 

US emissions rose in 2022. Here's why that's not as bad as it sounds. 
Publication Date: January 3, 2023 | Source: Grist

• Why This Matters: In 2022, US emissions increased by just over 1 percent, marking the second consecutive year of carbon emissions growth. However, due to the decline of coal power, emissions didn't rise as fast as overall economic output. In fact, carbon-free power generation grew by 12 percent in 2022. 

5 doable resolutions for US climate policy in 2023
Publication Date: December 30, 2022| Source: Vox

• Why This Matters: The US has the opportunity to slash methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, make heat pumps, induction stoves, and electric vehicles mainstream, address extreme heat, and deliver on global climate financing, among other key climate measures. 

Biden Administration Moves to Tighten Limits on Deadly Air Pollution
Publication Date: January 6, 2023 | Source: Inside Climate News 

• Why This Matters: A new report shows that the current complex system used to pay wildfire costs is leaving states unable to pay firefighting bills and underfunding mitigation efforts. States have to wait months, and even years, in some cases, for federal reimbursement. 

Biden-Harris Administration Releases New Guidance to Disclose Climate Impacts in Environmental Reviews
Publication Date: January 6, 2023 | Source: The White House 

• Why This Matters: The White House Council on Environmental Quality released updated Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change, which will ensure federal agencies better assess and disclose climate impacts as they conduct environmental reviews. As agencies review and build new infrastructure and clean energy projects, the updated guidance will improve sustainability while keeping environmental reviews focused and efficient. 

STATES
MULTIPLE STATES
Wildfire Are Burning State Budgets
Publication Date: January 7, 2023 | Source: Inside Climate News 

• Why This Matters: A new report shows the complex system used to pay wildfire costs is leaving states unable to pay firefighting bills and underfunding mitigation efforts as they await reimbursement from federal agencies. 

States have a huge role to play in enacting the Inflation Reduction Act
Publication Date: December 27, 2022 | Source: Canary Media 

• Why This Matters: A lot of IRA funding will flow through state agencies or be depending on state policy choices, and how aggressively state direct utilities to take advantage of federal tax credits and loans. Hundreds of billions of dollars are on the table, but given the fact that the vast majority of utilities are regulated at the state level, state legislation will play a critical role. 

CALIFORNIA
California Had a Watershed Climate Year, But Time Is Running Out
Publication Date: December 29, 2022 | Source: Inside Climate News 

• Why This Matters: In 2022, California made historic investments in climate measures, but continues to approve permit for new oil wells and sanction the extraction of fossil fuels. 

ILLINOIS
Illinois Clean Energy Law's Failed Promises: No New Jobs or Job-Training
Publication Date: December 9, 2022 | Source: Inside Climate News 

• Why This Matters: Fifteen months after Illinois Governor Pritzker signed the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the state still hasn't launched its workforce development programs aimed at helping minority contractors and workers. 

MAINE
Study: Maine is a Leader in New England When It Comes to Preparing for Climate Change
Publication Date: December 5, 2022 | Source: Energy News Network 

• Why This Matters: A report by the Union of Concerned Scientists and fellows at the University of New Hampshire Sustainability Institute shows New England states as a whole are failing to include vulnerable residents in decision-making. It noted, however, that Maine has prioritized climate action since Governor Mills' election in 2019, and is ahead of its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2045. 

MARYLAND 
Maryland Raises a Billion Dollars for Climate Progress and Energy Efficiency
Publication Date: December 12, 2022| Source: Maryland Department of the Environment 

• Why This Matters: In December, Maryland hit the billion-dollar milestone in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) proceeds. RGGI is a 12-state, regional cap-and-invest program that regulates carbon emissions from power plants. Proceeds from the program are invested in clean energy and energy efficiency programs.  

MASSACHUSETTS 
On first day, Massachusetts Gov. Healey names climate chief 
Publication Date: January 6, 2023| Source: AP News 

• Why This Matters: Governor Healey appointed the state's first cabinet-level state climate chief, who will be charged with working with state officials and city and town leaders meet climate goals. The appointment was part of an executive order that also created an Office of Climate Innovation and Resilience. 

Opportunities to Participate 

FEDERAL 
Implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act
Ceres, one of Second Nature's partners, wants to know what’s most pressing for your institution as Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) implementation continues. If you are interested in engaging or providing feedback, please contact Zach Friedman with your priorities for implementation, agency rules, and guidance-making. 

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. 

MULTI-STATE OPPORTUNITIES 
Clean Cars and Trucks Adoption
Ceres will be continuing to advocate for adoption of the Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II), Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT), and Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rules. These rules will accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) in adopting states by establishing targets for the sale and purchase of ZEVs; including light-duty and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

How to support this effort: Ceres, a Second Nature partner, is coordinating sign-on letter to reemphasize to legislators the business community's ongoing support for existing climate, clean energy, and clean transportation policy. If your institution is interested in signing on in support, please contact Dave Robba at Ceres for more information (drobba@ceres.org). 

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.).