Environmental Defense Fund

A recent E&E News story from Shelby Webb dives into the effort from small oil and gas producers to repeal recent methane emissions standards. This includes the Waste Emissions Charge — a commonsense tool to help #CutMethane — that holds polluters to their share of emissions and is based on reduction goals set by leading oil and gas producers themselves. Environmental Defense Fund's Mark S. Brownstein spoke to why the rule is fair, necessary, and the exact kind of forward-thinking approach that must stay in place if U.S. producers want to meet cleaner global production standards. ? ?? https://lnkd.in/gBc6p4au

States are once again stepping up to lead on climate to ensure the U.S. makes progress towards its goals. Washington state’s successful climate law – which caps pollution and raises investments for communities – offers a model for other states to follow. “If enough states take action — either on their own or in concert with one another — the United States can still make meaningful progress on climate change anyway. For that, you can thank the other Washington.” Read more about how states are stepping up here: https://lnkd.in/gDPBwXkk

Negotiators are still working to reach a deal on a new climate finance goal at #COP29. In the most recent text from Friday, they’ve put forward some ways to make the money more accessible and affordable, especially for the most vulnerable nations. Providing quality finance helps ensure every dollar does the most good. Which brings us to the challenge: Right now, the proposed goal is $250 billion by 2035. That falls well short of the potential that the vast funding sources--from governments to development banks to private investors—can provide. We have to fix this before leaving Baku. We need a climate finance goal that meets the urgency of the climate crisis and the needs of developing countries. Our Juan Pablo Hoffmaister breaks down the current situation.

As Floridians confront the devastating impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, a new paper in PNAS co-authored by Carolyn Kousky, Galen Treuer, and Katharine Mach sheds critical light on the intersection of climate risks, property insurance, and policymaking. This timely research, “Insurance and Climate Risks: Policy Lessons from Three Bounding Scenarios,” offers actionable steps for stabilizing insurance markets and protecting vulnerable communities as climate threats grow. The paper identifies four essential steps for policymakers to take: ? Invest in Risk Reduction: Emphasizing long-term solutions like climate adaptation, resilient infrastructure, and improved building standards. ? Align Insurance Prices with Risks: Allowing risk-reflective pricing while supporting affordable options for lower-income households. ? Avoid Systemic Risks: Recognizing the interconnectedness of insurance, housing, mortgage, and bond markets to prevent widespread economic disruptions. ? Equitable Access to Insurance: Ensuring fair access to affordable coverage for vulnerable communities. ?? Read the full paper to understand how policy choices made today can foster resilience and a sustainable insurance market for all Floridians. ?? https://lnkd.in/eXniX9fX? #ClimateRisk #Insurance #PolicyRecommendations #Resilience #Florida??

“Climate impacts are local, but solutions must be global. Our legacy will be measured not in documents, but in communities protected and resilience built," says our Juan Pablo Hoffmaister. In the 30 years since the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established, the reality of climate change is undeniable—and so is the need for action worldwide. To recognize the framework’s founding anniversary, the Adaptation Committee (AC) launched a publication that takes stock of the progress made on adaptation. Plus, the AC highlights progress by Parties to the Convention and Paris Agreement and will serve as a key resource for international adaptation updates over time. We’re proud to have our Juan Pablo Hoffmaister join the UNFCCC panel at #COP29 to advance the conversation on adaptation solutions.

International cooperation – centred on the #ParisAgreement – is indispensable to climate action. ? Amidst geopolitical divisions and uncertainties, the world needs countries to come together at the #COP29 climate conference to deliver justice in the face of climate catastrophe and move us closer to securing a decent world for all humanity. ? My appeal to negotiators and ministers: Soften hard lines. Navigate a path through your differences. Keep your eyes on the bigger picture. Never forget that the future of humanity is at stake. ? We need a major push to get discussions over the finishing line, to deliver an ambitious and balanced package on all pending issues, with a new finance goal at its heart. ? Climate finance is not a hand-out. It is an investment against the devastation that unchecked climate chaos will inflict on us all. It is a down payment on a safer, more prosperous future for every nation on Earth. ? I urge all countries to step-up, pick-up the pace, and deliver. The need for #ClimateAction is urgent. The rewards are great. And time is short.

When someone shows you who they are, believe them. The first time. Matt Gaetz showed us who he was when he introduced legislation to abolish the EPA. And, in addition to other very serious allegations, that’s why I believe he’s a reckless choice for Attorney General. Matt Gaetz’s position is that no one should protect American families from pollution. If your child has asthma, if there’s lead in your drinking water, if you live near a toxic chemical plant, Gaetz says you’re on your own. If he becomes Attorney General, it will mean dirtier air and water now and a less stable future for our children and grandchildren. Read my full statement: https://lnkd.in/eRSB39dF

The oceans pavilion at #COP29 is swimming with people. EDF has been here for the past week advocating for climate finance for the ocean, a vastly underfunded area, and stressing its importance as a climate solution. We’re also sharing advances in our scientific knowledge of the ocean’s twilight zone—that’s the waters from 200 to 1,000 meters deep, and it stores tons of carbon. The twilight zone is also a vast repository of biodiversity. It’s estimated to include up to 95% of the ocean’s biomass! And the species that live there play a critical role in carbon cycling in the ocean. Many twilight zone species migrate to the ocean’s surface at night and to deep waters during the day. In doing so, they absorb excess CO2 from the atmosphere and lock it away in deep sediments. So, when it comes to carbon sequestration, preserving these species is akin to conserving Amazon forests! But there’s still so much we don’t know about the twilight zone. And that’s why, with the help of UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson, we’re shedding light on this critical ocean region at COP29.

Billions of dollars are invested annually in water security and conservation initiatives in India, yet groundwater levels in many areas continue to decline. Data-driven solutions, thoughtfully applied, could help reverse this trend. EDF and WELL Labs are leading the development of a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) toolbox that can help refine and guide future investments to improve long-term impact. EDF’s Leah Beaulac shares key insights into MEL approaches and how this new toolbox can play a pivotal role in addressing India’s groundwater crisis: https://www.edf.org/Z6Ez

Healthy livestock ?? healthy people and a healthy planet. Investing in better animal health brings immediate benefits to farmers and the climate by providing: ???? lower-methane livestock farming ???? improved nutrition for people ???? reduced food waste ???? stronger rural economies Solutions are available today, but we need strong science and financing to ensure they can make a lasting impact. EDF is proud to convene a global effort with governments, companies and philanthropies to advance a united strategy for animal health research and implementation. The Aim for Climate animal health innovation sprint launched at COP29 by EDF and our partners is a first-of-its-kind effort to highlight the intersection between animal health, human health and planetary health. Thank you to USAID, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and Global Methane Hub for joining our Aim for Climate sprint. Read more on how healthier animals mean healthier people and a healthier planet: https://lnkd.in/eYWY6qmU