WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, July 22, 2020, Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley will lead a hearing of the Special Committee on the Climate Crisis on transitioning to a carbon-free transportation sector. Witnesses will bring expertise in transportation justice, vehicle electrification, aviation, and freight to discuss the most effective policy solutions for transitioning this important sector.
The transportation sector has been the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States for the last four years, accounting for 28 percent of total emissions in 2018. U.S. transportation emissions have risen every year since 2012, and they are rising faster than any other sector. Rapidly transitioning the sector provides the opportunity to create high-quality American jobs, while at the same time ensuring that people and goods can move quickly, safely, and equitably. This is especially important as we look to rebuild our economy following the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Vivian Satterfield, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Verde - Prepared Testimony Jeff Allen, Executive Director, Forth - Prepared Testimony Brad Schallert, Director, Carbon Market Governance and Aviation, World Wildlife Fund - Prepared Testimony Rachel Muncrief, Deputy Director, International Council on Clean Transportation - Prepared Testimony
WHAT: Hearing to address the climate benefits and economic opportunities created by decarbonizing the U.S. transportation system.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at 10:00am Eastern
WASHINGTON—On July 1 at 10 a.m. ET, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) will lead a hearing of the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis entitled “Quality Jobs, Lower Emissions: Decarbonizing the Energy and Industrial Sectors while Expanding Opportunities for American Workers.” The special committee, which is chaired by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), will hear from former Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz and United Steelworkers President Tom Conway about the impacts of COVID-19 on the electric and industrial sector, and about how policies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from these sectors can also create quality jobs and aid economic recovery.
The electrical
and industrial sectors combined account for nearly half of all U.S. greenhouse
gas emissions, making it critical to reduce emissions from these sources in
order to meet net-zero emission climate goals. Both of these sectors have been
severely impacted by the COVID pandemic with millions of jobs lost.
Well-designed policies to reduce emissions from these sectors would put people
back to work and creating quality jobs for Americans while addressing the
climate crisis.
Washington, DC – On Thursday, March 12at the U.S. Capitol, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will lead a hearing of Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis entitled, “The Economic Risks of Climate Change.” The special committee, which is chaired by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and is affiliated with the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, will cover the sweeping economic consequences of climate change, about which our foremost economists, investment banks, asset managers, central banks, and credit rating agencies have sounded increasingly forceful warnings.
EVENT:
Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Hearing: The Economic Risks of Climate Change
Bob Litterman, Kepos Capital; Chair, CFTC Climate Risk Working Group - Prepared Testimony
Sarah Bloom Raskin, former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors; former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury - Prepared Testimony
Frédéric Samama, Head of Responsible Investment, Amundi; co-author of “Green Swan: Central Banking and Financial Stability in the Age of Climate Change” - Prepared Testimony
Witnesses will include an investor who accurately forecasted the 2008 mortgage crisis, the chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee, a former member of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, and the author of a major study of economic risks related to climate change from the Bank for International Settlements.
WASHINGTON – On Thursday, February 13 at 10:00 AM ET on Capitol Hill, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) will lead a hearing of the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis entitled, “Understanding and Combating the Security Risks of Climate Change.” At Thursday’s hearing, the special committee—which is chaired by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) and is affiliated with the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee—will hear from experts who will provide insights on how the risks created by climate change impact our country’s national security. The witnesses will also describe the costs the Department of Defense (DoD) is facing and propose policies that can help solve the problems discussed.
EVENT: Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Hearing: Understanding and Combating the Security Risks of Climate Change
WHEN: Thursday, February 13, 2020, 10:00 AM ET
WHERE: U.S. Capitol Senate Visitors Center (SVC) Room 210-212
The Department of Defense (DoD) has long observed that climate change poses a risk to military readiness. During the hearing, experts will focus on two key aspects: threats to critical infrastructure and climate change as a threat multiplier. Extreme and more frequent weather events due to climate change, like flooding, droughts, wildfires, and storms, pose immediate threats to the safety of key military installations and training ranges worldwide. Additionally, the climate change crisis is considered a “threat multiplier” because it exacerbates the challenges nations around the world confront already, including infectious disease epidemics and armed insurgencies. It can also create significant, new challenges that overburden weak nation-states and spur social upheaval and conflict..
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, December 10 at 2:30 p.m. ET on Capitol Hill, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin will lead a hearing of the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis entitled, “Better, Stronger, Smarter: Building Community Resilience in a Future of Extremes.” The special committee, which is chaired by U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and is affiliated with the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, will hear from local officials and experts on how we can take action now to help communities rebuild after severe weather to be more resilient and better withstand the next disaster.
EVENT: Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Hearing: Better, Stronger, Smarter: Building Community Resilience in a Future of Extremes.
WHEN: Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 2:30 PM ET
WHERE: U.S. Capitol Senate Visitors Center (SVC) Room 210/212
Alice Hill, Senior Fellow for Climate Change Policy, Council on Foreign Relations - Prepared Testimony Laura Lightbody, Project Director, Pew Charitable Trusts Flood-Prepared Communities - Prepared Testimony Tim Kabat, Mayor, La Crosse, Wisconsin - Prepared Testimony
Natural disasters associated with climate change are already increasing costs for local governments, particularly for rebuilding infrastructure. Repeated rebuilding is not financially sustainable, so designing with resiliency in mind is essential as severe weather becomes more frequent and more intense. Communities must have resources and guidance to make proactive investments in the resilience of their community and rebuild more effectively.
