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The document details the impacts of climate change on Alaskan coastal communities, highlighting the synergy between thawing permafrost and decreasing sea ice that accelerates shoreline erosion. It emphasizes the high financial cost of community relocation and the critical need for integrating indigenous knowledge with western science. The briefing also discusses the role of regional partnerships, such as the Aleutian Bering Sea Initiative, in managing marine mammals and improving domain awareness, while identifying significant barriers to resilience, including inadequate elevation data, limited telecommunications, and a lack of central coordinating authority for adaptation.

EESI urges the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations to provide at least level funding for key Department of Energy (DOE) programs in FY2021. The testimony highlights the importance of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) in achieving net-zero energy homes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions through research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D). Specific funding requests include at least $410 million for the Vehicle Technologies Program, $395 million for the Advanced Manufacturing Office, and $300 million for the Buildings Technologies Office, among others.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) urges the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations to maintain or increase funding for climate-related programs in fiscal year 2021. EESI specifically advocates for the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Coastal Program, and the EPA's ENERGY STAR program, arguing that these initiatives are essential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving resilience through nature-based solutions.

EESI supports the addition of an amendment (S. Amdt. 1514) to the American Energy Innovation Act that would incorporate energy savings targets and technical assistance for building codes. The organization asserts that without these provisions, the bill's potential for emissions reductions is severely limited, noting that the building sector accounts for nearly 40 percent of total U.S. energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

The author contends that the American Energy Innovation Act (AEIA) contains a critical gap due to the removal of building-code provisions from the Portman-Shaheen legislation. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), these missing provisions—Sections 101 and 102—would have saved Americans over $41 billion and reduced carbon emissions by 1.1 billion metric tons by 2050. The document rejects claims by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) that energy-efficient codes make housing unaffordable, arguing instead that lower monthly utility bills improve long-term affordability and that such codes enhance building safety and resilience against extreme weather.

The document is a transcript of a virtual briefing featuring experts from NOAA, the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Wetlands Watch, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The discussion focuses on the implementation of natural infrastructure, such as living shorelines and coral reef restoration, to combat sea level rise and storm surge in the Southeast. Key topics include the use of NOAA's Digital Coast tools, the effectiveness of oyster-based shorelines in North Carolina, the impact of nuisance flooding and sea level rise in Virginia, and the threat of stony coral tissue loss disease in Florida. The panelists also discuss regulatory barriers, the need for improved cost-benefit analysis for nature-based solutions, and the importance of coordinated funding and permitting processes to enhance regional resilience.

The document details Hawaii's approach to climate resilience through the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA), highlighting its use of non-traditional underwriting to democratize clean energy for low-income residents and renters. It discusses specific projects, such as the Kahauiki Village microgrid and the Kahuku Point coastal restoration, as models for combining mitigation and adaptation. The briefing also argues for the National Climate Bank Act to scale these models federally, noting that while mitigation is easier to finance due to cash flows, adaptation requires more innovative financial structures to address unpriced positive externalities.

The CLEAN Future Act proposes a national goal of a 100 percent clean economy by 2050, targeting the power, building, and transportation sectors. Key mechanisms include a national Clean Electricity Standard, zero energy ready building codes by 2030, and the establishment of a National Climate Bank. The act emphasizes environmental justice, state-level climate planning, and workforce development through renewable energy job training.

The document outlines a variety of U.S. federal programs—spanning the EPA, FEMA, HUD, NOAA, USDA, and USFWS—that provide grants, loans, and technical support for nature-based solutions. These projects, such as wetland restoration, green roofs, and urban forestry, are designed to reduce climate-related hazards like flooding and heat waves while providing carbon sequestration and economic co-benefits. The fact sheet details the eligibility and specific applications of these resources, illustrating their use through examples in cities and states across the U.S.

The document outlines federal resources for nature-based solutions (NbS), which include green and natural infrastructure designed to increase resilience to climate impacts like flooding and extreme heat. It details specific programs from agencies such as the EPA, FEMA, HUD, NOAA, USDA, and USFWS, highlighting their eligibility criteria and providing real-world examples of projects, such as wetland restoration in California and urban forestry in Oregon. The text emphasizes that NbS can be more cost-effective than traditional engineered projects and provide co-benefits like carbon sequestration and improved water quality.

The document details efforts to enhance coastal resilience in the Great Lakes region through nature-based solutions, such as wetland restoration and climate-smart agriculture. It highlights the role of the Coastal Assembly in coordinating bi-national wetland restoration and the Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission's (GLIFWC) use of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) to assess species vulnerability. The briefing also emphasizes the importance of soil health in carbon sequestration and the need for federal policy modernization, including updates to the Stafford Act and expanded funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

The document asserts that low-income and minority communities disproportionately suffer from negative environmental impacts and that the transition to a decarbonized economy must embed environmental justice to ensure no one is left behind. It highlights the importance of centering the lived experiences of impacted residents, citing the Green Door Initiative's efforts to provide workforce training for brownfield cleanup in Detroit and the LA SAFE program's community-centered resilience work in coastal Louisiana.

In January 2020, the EESI Board of Directors adopted a resolution designating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as core organizational values. The resolution acknowledges that climate change disproportionately burdens marginalized groups and establishes a Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to guide policy development and ensure accountability.

The paper argues that well-designed on-bill financing programs remove financial barriers for low- and moderate-income (LMI) households by eliminating upfront costs and using utility payment history instead of credit scores for underwriting. It highlights that tying financing obligations to the utility meter rather than the individual allows renters and subsequent homeowners to benefit from upgrades, solving the 'split incentive' problem. The author presents two case studies: the Hawaii Green Energy Money Saver (GEM$) program, which focuses on solar PV and energy efficiency, and the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) Switch It Up! program, which emphasizes beneficial electrification. Both programs report zero defaults in their first year of operation, demonstrating the viability of alternative underwriting and the use of loan loss reserves to manage risk.

The document is a transcript of a congressional briefing on West Coast coastal resilience. Experts from the USGS, California coastal agencies, and the Puget Sound region discuss the physical drivers of sea level rise, the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, and various adaptation strategies. Key discussions include the 'coastal squeeze' effect on beaches, the use of nature-based 'soft shore' stabilization in Washington, and the implementation of regional planning and environmental justice policies in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines a comprehensive strategy for the U.S. to achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century. Key recommendations include restoring CAFE standards, investing in sustainable aviation fuels and electric aircraft, establishing national energy efficiency and renewable portfolio standards, and targeting net-zero energy for new buildings by 2050. The report emphasizes environmental justice, calling for a national climate bank and increased funding for the Rural Energy Savings Program. It also advocates for carbon pricing with border tax adjustments, the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies, and a transition to a circular economy to reduce plastic pollution.

The document highlights the social disruption caused by relocation under LA SAFE, noting that 40% of surveyed individuals know friends or neighbors who have left and 25% know family who have left. It argues that government-led planning often lacks inclusiveness, with communities frequently asked to comment on plans they did not create.

The document outlines a resilience planning framework in Louisiana that utilizes extensive community engagement to identify challenges and develop project portfolios. Through 71 community meetings and the participation of 2,835 individuals in 2017, the process identified key strategies such as improved drainage, coastal restoration, and affordable housing. The 'LA SAFE' approach combined community-rated strategies with flood risk data to create draft projects across six parishes, focusing on high-ground growth corridors and supply chain planning.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute criticizes the U.S. decision to exit the Paris Agreement, noting that the formal exit date is set for November 4, 2020. Despite this federal withdrawal, the document highlights a surge in subnational commitments to 100 percent clean energy, with one in four Americans now living in such areas. It specifically identifies the 'We Are Still In' coalition and the U.S. Climate Alliance as key drivers of this momentum, alongside corporate commitments through the RE100 program.

The document details the LA Safe program, which combined state-led data from the Coastal Master Plan with grassroots engagement to develop land-use strategies and fund resilience projects in coastal Louisiana. It emphasizes the importance of building trust through leadership programs like 'Lead the Coast' and the necessity of integrating long-term adaptation planning into state agency operations to address the 'existential emergency' of land loss.