Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

What’s on the Table for the Negotiations?

A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to join us for a briefing about what Congress can expect during the upcoming international climate negotiations in Dubai (COP28). From the opening World Climate Action Summit to the intense negotiations during the final days, thousands of events will take place over the course of the two-week United Nations session. This briefing will help you identify what to follow, whether you are on the ground in Dubai or back in D.C.
Panelists will unpack the overall process of international climate negotiations, discuss the key topics on the agenda, review possible climate policy outcomes, and explore pathways for subsequent Congressional action.

Congress and International Climate Finance

A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on Congress’s role in the global effort to finance climate solutions. While investments in climate action are expensive, the impacts of climate change at home and abroad are even more costly. With demand for climate-related finance increasing around the globe, what levers are available to Congress to scale up financial flows? How does Congress’s approach to international climate finance impact actions by the private sector, multilateral development banks, and other global financial institutions? This briefing will bring together a panel to explore these questions and discuss possible policy solutions.

The Latest on the Clean Energy Tax Incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act

A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about the status of the wide range of clean energy tax incentives enacted as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Effective implementation of tax incentives for home energy efficiency and electrification, electric vehicles, sustainable fuels, clean and renewable energy, and energy storage—plus the game-changing “direct pay” option—will deliver many benefits to families and communities, including lowering household utility bills and expediting the transition to a decarbonized clean energy economy.
This briefing will highlight both individual- and industry-oriented tax credits, which will provide the bulk of the law’s emissions reductions. Panelists will discuss eligibility and timelines for the IRA tax incentives, implementation status, and the role Congress can play in overseeing and supporting these programs.

Climate-Smart Research for the Farms of the Future

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing that explores the latest advancements in agricultural research, technology, and practices. As climate change continues to trigger extreme weather of increasing frequency and severity, farmers and ranchers are looking for innovative techniques to bolster crop resilience and ensure food security. Research in areas ranging from drought-resistant crops to carbon sequestration and precision agriculture can provide new ways of mitigating and adapting to climate change.
Department of Agriculture-supported research programs and partnerships are generating creative, climate-smart solutions to enhance resilience and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on farms and ranches. During this briefing, panelists will discuss innovations in agricultural research, as well as how to invest in, scale up, and evaluate effective practices. The briefing will also explore how new policies could further support ongoing agricultural research.

Conservation Practices from Farms to Forests and Wetlands

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on opportunities to cultivate climate-smart conservation programs in this year’s Farm Bill. The conservation title of the Farm Bill contains important programs and policies that help agricultural producers, forest managers, and rural communities take advantage of opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to climate impacts, while also generating other benefits such as improved water and air quality, soil health, biodiversity, and jobs.
Conservation of private, public, working, and nonworking lands can take many forms, from regenerative agricultural practices to conservation easements. Panelists will describe conservation opportunities, barriers to access the many Farm Bill conservation-related programs, as well as ways to advance conservation through research, technical assistance, and financial support.
More speakers are to be announced.

The Future of Forestry in the Farm Bill

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and U.S. Nature4Climate invite you to a briefing on opportunities to advance climate-friendly forestry in this year’s Farm Bill. The forestry programs and incentives in the Farm Bill can provide greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits, as well as build resilience to climate impacts such as wildfire risk and extreme heat. At the same time, these programs generate jobs and present opportunities for innovation.
During this briefing, panelists will explain forestry-related programs in the Farm Bill and cover essential forestry topics, including wildfire management, innovative wood products, carbon markets, and urban forestry.

Maximizing the Climate Benefits of Hydrogen

A live webcast will be streamed at 12:00 PM at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) invite you to a briefing on the climate impacts of hydrogen and pathways for “getting it right.” Hydrogen has garnered significant attention from Congress, including funding for regional clean hydrogen hubs, the Department of Energy’s hydrogen Earthshot to accelerate clean energy breakthroughs, and the 45V hydrogen production tax credit.
These policies have the potential to leverage hundreds billions of dollars of hydrogen investment and decarbonize critical sectors of the economy, if done right. But poorly designed implementation risks squandering taxpayer resources, undermining climate progress, and discrediting the nascent clean hydrogen industry. Panelists will describe key policy considerations for maximizing hydrogen’s potential, including renewable electricity accounting frameworks for "green" hydrogen, how to account for upstream methane impacts of "blue" hydrogen, and the importance of minimizing hydrogen leakage.
Lunch will be provided.

Unlocking Rural Economies: Farm Bill Investments in Rural America

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on Farm Bill policies and programs that help farmers, ranchers, small businesses, and rural communities drive down greenhouse gas emissions, generate jobs, and stimulate the economy. Rural communities face numerous challenges, such as high energy costs, low investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, and increasingly severe weather. The Farm Bill plays an important role in helping rural America develop strong economies and build climate resilience and mitigation.
During this briefing, panelists will discuss how Congress can bolster key programs in the rural development and energy titles of the Farm Bill, such as the Rural Energy Savings Program, Rural Energy for America Program, and water and wastewater technical assistance programs. These provisions help rural communities improve energy efficiency, access electrification retrofits, upgrade water systems, and build out broadband capabilities.

Climate, Energy, and Economic Win-Wins in the Farm Bill

A live webcast will be streamed at 1:30 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on promising win-wins made possible by Farm Bill provisions. Agriculture accounts for about 11 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, farms, ranches, and forests across the country continue to be negatively impacted by climate-related events like drought, flooding, and extreme heat. Farm Bill programs—spanning from conservation to rural development—can bolster both climate change mitigation and adaptation while creating economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities.
During this briefing, panelists will explain how the Farm Bill helps agricultural producers and communities drive down greenhouse gas emissions while also building climate and economic resilience, with discussions of the role of agroforestry, urban agriculture, distributed energy resources, and agricultural research and innovation.

The Process and Path Forward for Passing a Bipartisan Farm Bill

A live webcast will be streamed at 2:00 PM EDT at www.eesi.org/livecast.
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing on what you need to know about this year’s Farm Bill, including key bipartisan opportunities for addressing the climate crisis. The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that Congress renews every five years to address numerous issues from conservation to crop insurance. The Farm Bill is the most impactful piece of legislation related to U.S. agriculture, affecting how and what food is grown, food access and nutrition, natural resources, rural development, and more. With the 2018 Farm Bill expiring this September, Congress has already begun the process of developing the next Farm Bill.
This briefing will help Congressional staff get up to speed on the basics of the Farm Bill, including the process for passing the bill, the history of the Farm Bill, and opportunities for a bipartisan path forward. Staff will develop an understanding of how to meaningfully engage with the 2023 Farm Bill, regardless of their member’s committee assignments.