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The document introduces a briefing on COP27, highlighting the transition to a phase of implementation for the Paris Agreement. It identifies loss and damage, climate finance, and the first global stocktake as primary areas of focus, while examining how U.S. legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act influences international commitments.

The document serves as an introduction to a briefing on 'loss and damage'—defined as climate impacts that cannot be adapted to—ahead of the COP27 negotiations in Egypt. It outlines the focus of a panel discussion involving experts from Climate Analytics, IIED, C2ES, and E3G, who addressed the international community's tools for managing loss and damage, the status of negotiations, and the specific relevance of these issues to U.S. policymakers. The briefing highlights that such impacts are global, citing examples of land loss in Louisiana and North Carolina.

The First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Maryland has installed four solar arrays—one ground-mounted and three rooftop—totaling 3.2 megawatts of capacity. These projects, developed with Suntrail Energy and IGS Solar, provide over 80 percent of the church's energy usage and have generated nearly $1 million in savings over three years. The installations include a 2.06 MW ground-mounted farm at the Upper Marlboro campus and rooftop arrays at the Family Life Center, Ministry Center, and Empowerment Center.

The Progressive Community Church in Gary, Indiana, has implemented a multifaceted sustainability strategy to combat high energy burdens and industrial pollution in the Emerson neighborhood. By installing a 7.6 kW solar array and energy efficiency upgrades, the church achieved net-zero electricity for eleven months of the year and assisted community members in accessing weatherization grants. Additionally, the church established the F.A.I.T.H. Farm, producing 15,000 pounds of food annually, and is developing an urban park to mitigate heat stress and improve air quality.

The guide outlines how nonprofits can overcome the barrier of upfront costs for energy efficiency projects by utilizing a combination of utility rebates, state and federal incentives, internal funds, and third-party financing. It highlights specific tools for calculating savings and identifying incentives, such as the DOE's Asset Score and the DSIRE database, and suggests innovative financing models like PACE and on-bill financing for larger-scale building improvements.

The document outlines a framework for nonprofits to pursue energy efficiency, emphasizing the importance of goal-setting, the assembly of a dedicated energy team, and the use of benchmarking tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. It details the process of conducting energy audits—ranging from basic walk-throughs to detailed capital analyses—and highlights the benefits of whole-building retrofits where bundled measures compound savings. The guide also directs organizations toward financial incentives, including utility rebates, on-bill financing, and resources such as the DSIRE database and the Better Buildings Financing Navigator to offset upfront costs.

The document analyzes the growth of commercial aviation and its contribution to climate change. It details the composition of aircraft emissions, the significant warming effect of contrail-induced cirrus clouds, and the projected recovery of air traffic following the COVID-19 pandemic. While aircraft efficiency has improved, the overall volume of passengers and freight is expected to increase, potentially tripling emissions by 2050. The brief also discusses regulatory efforts, such as ICAO's CO2 standards, and the disproportionate per capita fuel consumption in the United States.

The briefing examines the role of electric vehicles in reducing the 29 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions attributed to transportation. It highlights the necessity of overcoming insufficient charging infrastructure through the use of $7.5 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and programs like the Rural Energy Savings Program to ensure equitable and efficient deployment.

The document analyzes the climate impact of commercial aviation, noting that while aircraft efficiency has improved, the rapid growth of the industry—particularly in developing nations—continues to drive up total emissions. It details the contributions of CO2 and non-CO2 effects like contrails, the regulatory landscape including ICAO standards, and the projected recovery of air traffic following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Galveston Bay Foundation has utilized millions of dollars in grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and NOAA to restore wetlands in the Dollar Bay and Moses Lake regions. These efforts, including the construction of breakwaters and marsh terraces, aim to mitigate the effects of sea level rise—which has risen over 27 inches in the area over 120 years—and protect communities from storm surges. The project also demonstrates how federal investment can catalyze private land conservation, though the requirement for local matching funds remains a barrier for some underserved communities.

The document outlines a briefing on green hydrogen, identifying it as a critical tool for decarbonizing sectors like steel production. It highlights that green hydrogen currently accounts for less than one percent of U.S. production and faces significant cost disadvantages compared to fossil fuel-based alternatives.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) hosted a briefing series titled 'Living with Climate Change' to address community preparation for polar vortices, sea level rise, wildfires, and extreme heat. A specific focus was placed on the polar vortex, noting that climate change is expected to affect the frequency and severity of these events. The document highlights the necessity of adaptation strategies for the energy grid and home energy efficiency to prevent deadly power losses, citing 246 deaths during the 2021 Texas polar vortex freeze.

Holy Cross Energy's Power+ program provides residential customers in Colorado with distributed battery storage through a tariff-based on-bill financing model. By leveraging USDA loan capital, the program eliminates upfront costs for participants and allows the utility to manage peak demand and integrate more renewable energy. The program aims to support the utility's goals of 100 percent renewable energy by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2035, while providing homeowners with backup power during climate-driven outages.

The document emphasizes the necessity of managing ecosystems across county, state, tribal, and national borders to support ecosystem services and species migration. It highlights the importance of connected habitats for animals adapting to climate and land use changes and explores the need for an inclusive national framework for landscape conservation involving local communities and federal leadership.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both victims of climate change (facing sea level rise and extreme storms) and contributors to it through significant greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. It details mitigation strategies such as electrification of machinery, shore powering for berthed ships, and the adoption of renewable energy. It also discusses adaptation measures, contrasting 'gray infrastructure' like seawalls with nature-based solutions such as mangrove restoration and living shorelines. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, Miami, and others, while noting the role of EPA programs and international certifications in driving sustainability.

The document examines the dual role of U.S. ports as both significant emitters of greenhouse gases and vulnerable infrastructure facing climate threats like sea level rise. It details mitigation strategies, including electrification of machinery and shore powering for ships, and adaptation methods, such as nature-based shoreline protection and improved stormwater management. The brief highlights specific initiatives at ports in California, Georgia, and Florida, while noting the importance of federal resources like the EPA Ports Initiative in supporting these transitions.

The document lists professional biographies for six individuals involved in energy and climate policy, including representatives from National Grid, the Business Council for Sustainable Energy, the American Clean Power Association, the Alliance to Save Energy, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and Johnson Controls.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) reports its 2022 impacts, which include hosting 26 Congressional briefings, launching the Beneficial Electrification Toolkit, and developing a Climate Solutions Map. The organization focuses on educating policymakers, providing technical assistance to rural utilities for clean energy, and supporting the next generation of climate leaders through initiatives like its first scholarship to a historically Black university (HBCU) student.

The document outlines the externalities of fossil fuels, noting that they accounted for 74% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in 2019. It highlights severe health consequences, including 350,000 premature deaths in the U.S. in 2018, and emphasizes that these impacts disproportionately affect low-income communities and communities of color, specifically citing high cancer risks in Louisiana's "Cancer Alley."

The 2021 Climate, Environmental, and Energy Congressional Hearings Tracker catalogs a wide array of legislative inquiries across both the House and Senate. The hearings covered a diverse range of subjects, including the 'Clean Future Act', the 'American Jobs Plan', the impact of PFAS 'forever chemicals', and the resilience of the electric grid following the 2021 Texas grid failure. Significant attention was given to environmental justice, the role of the Department of Energy in innovation, and international climate strategies leading up to COP26. The tracker organizes these hearings by committee, detailing the specific focus of each session, from sustainable aviation and offshore wind to the management of public lands and the risks of climate change in the Arctic.