Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

Understanding the Budget and Appropriations Process

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing about the latest presidential budget proposal and the outlook for Congressional appropriations for fiscal year 2025. The briefing described the different stages of the appropriations process and how it interfaces with other legislative activity on the Hill. The briefing also shed light on the role of the 12 appropriations subcommittees and highlighted ways Congressional staff, working both on and off the appropriations committees, can engage with the process. Panelists showcased examples of investments in climate, energy, and environment research and innovation that bring the process to life.

Innovations in Weather Forecasting for a Changing Climate

A live webcast will be streamed at www.eesi.org/livecast (wireless connection permitting)
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to a briefing about the latest innovations in weather forecasting and communication to improve community resilience, awareness, and preparedness. Climate change multiplies and intensifies acute weather events like hurricanes as well as chronic stressors like droughts. Communities need to be informed not only of day-to-day weather events, but also of the ways our changing climate is affecting and altering weather patterns in their region.
At this briefing, speakers will discuss exciting technologies that can help deliver accurate, timely, and actionable forecasts to those who need it most. Panelists will also underscore the importance of climate communication and emergency outreach, and how weather and disaster information can be delivered to the public in ways that support equitable, accessible, and effective community preparedness.

Energy Earthshots: The Frontier of Climate Innovation

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 Department of Energy’s Energy Earthshots, which are designed to rapidly break down market barriers and scale up innovation in eight key sectors to address the climate crisis. From enhanced geothermal energy and floating offshore wind to low-carbon industrial heat and affordable home energy, these Earthshots set ambitious goals to tackle the critical energy challenges of our time.
Panelists from the Department of Energy and its partners will share the latest updates on each Earthshot’s progress. They will describe tangible work undertaken at the federal level, at national labs, and across the private sector to turn the Earthshot targets into reality. Speakers will also explore how the different Earthshots complement each other to advance a just and equitable transition to clean energy.

Unpacking the Fifth National Climate Assessment

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 U.S. Global Change Research Program's fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5). NCA5 is the most comprehensive, holistic, and inclusive report to date on national climate risk and response. Panelists will discuss the report’s emphasis on the need for “rapid and deep” greenhouse gas emission reductions and the resulting economic and health benefits. The report also highlights the importance of investing in adaptation to the impacts of climate change—impacts which exacerbate existing climate and social injustices.
NCA5 draws from a wide breadth of scientific literature across the fields of energy, natural resources, air quality, agriculture, and other sectors to provide insights tailored to different regions and communities across the United States. Speakers will discuss how members of Congress can use this report to understand the nuances of climate impacts and solutions in their districts and states, leveraging its takeaways to inform decision-making at the national level.

The First Global Stocktake

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 the first global stocktake of efforts to address climate change. This stocktaking process, established by the Paris Agreement, aims to assess the world’s collective progress towards the goal of keeping global average temperature rise well below 2°C (3.6°F). For more than a year, government representatives and non-governmental stakeholders from around the world have contributed to this process, which will inform a report that will be released ahead of the international climate negotiations in Dubai (COP28). Panelists will discuss the implications of the global stocktake for greenhouse gas emissions reductions and climate adaptation in the United States and abroad and consider how it will inform discussions at COP28.

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.