In the News
In 2018, a Democratic adviser on energy issues introduced two of the only Democratic House candidates on the campaign trail who were running on climate action.
Five years since their "meet cute," as Rep. Sean Casten (D-Ill.) called it, and subsequent election, he and Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) are teaming up to lead their party in what is currently one of Washington's thorniest political and policy debates: permitting reform.
Fifty-seven House Democrats are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to finalize strong carbon pollution standards for new and existing fossil-fuel-fired power plants by early next year, according to a letter shared exclusively with The Climate 202.
Investment in agroforestry — an ancient land management method that integrates the growth of trees with crops or livestock — is emerging with renewed fervor across the U.S.
Why it matters: A new funding influx signals increasing widespread expansion of the climate-friendly agricultural practice, experts tell Axios.
The House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition released its task forces for the new Congress on Thursday to develop policies against climate change.
"Each task force is focused on a different aspect of the climate crisis that SEEC will push for congressional and executive action on this Congress," the group said in a release.
These House Democrats want the farm bill to be a ‘huge climate win'
Don't look now, but the divided Congress could pass a major climate change bill.
No, it's not version 2.0 of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Democrats' sweeping climate and health-care package. Rather, the farm bill — the five-year reauthorization of hundreds of billions of dollars in agriculture and food programs — could help farmers tackle the climate crisis while feeding the nation.
HOUSE ENVIRONMENTAL CAUCUS BACKS PERMITTING REFORM: The House Democrat-led Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition is carefully endorsing permitting reform, so long as it allows more community engagement in the review and approval of energy projects and doesn't favor fossil fuel ventures.
House Democrats are trying to line up their vision for permitting reform legislation as some members of the caucus remain resistant to the effort.
A group of House Democrats that are part of a sustainability coalition on Monday put forward a narrow proposal on permitting reform amid broader talks on how to reshape the country's energy approval process.
Expansion of USDA conservation programs and more research on mushrooms and biochar are among a broad range of policy recommendations in a report from the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition.
The coalition's ag task force, led by co-chairs Kim Schrier of Washington and Chellie Pingree, say in a letter to the House Ag Committee that the report identifies "opportunities within the Farm Bill to further tackle the climate crisis."
A House task force on climate and agriculture, led by Democratic Reps. Chellie Pingree of Maine and Kim Schrier of Washington State, released a report Thursday recommending policies for the 2023 farm bill to make it as climate-friendly as possible.
"Today we've outlined a blueprint to advance climate-smart agriculture in the next farm bill, and as a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I hope to push this plan over the finish line," said Pingree in a statement.