Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly update on FCNL’s environmental advocacy and the climate crisis. 

Latest from Capitol Hill

The House has finally selected a new speaker, Mike Johnson. With government funding due to run out on Nov. 17, Congress once again needs to move quickly to avoid a shutdown.

Throughout this saga, FCNL has continued to engage with congressional offices about the need to protect funding for international climate assistance in the FY 2024 spending bills. This will aid farmers in developing countries to deal with drought, help communities install infrastructure to alleviate sea-level rise, and much more.

With appropriations debates now heating up again, your voice is needed to make sure international climate assistance isn’t cut from the FY 24 budget.

Solar Energy Could Surpass Fossil Fuels as Lead Global Electricity Source by 2050

According to a recent report in Nature, solar energy is on the verge of becoming the leading source of global electricity due to its rising affordability and reliability. The report predicts that the rise in solar energy will continue steadily in the coming decades. In the United States, this trend is supported significantly by the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169).

Fundamentally, international climate assistance is centered on delivering justice to those least responsible for the climate crisis.

While we celebrate reports that underscore progress, we must not forget developing countries. Investments in international climate assistance help these countries in their paths toward adopting solar and other renewable energy sources. This funding also strengthens food and water systems, supports climate migrants, and adapts to ongoing climate impacts. Fundamentally, these investments are centered on delivering justice to those least responsible for the climate crisis.

U.S. Postpones Pledge to Green Climate Fund

At a high-level pledging conference last month, 25 countries pledged support to the U.N. Green Climate Fund (GCF). Disappointingly, the United States was noticeably absent from the list.

The GCF is the largest multilateral fund dedicated to supporting the efforts of developing countries to address climate change. At the pledging conference, a U.S. official said the administration was unable to make a pledge at the time of the conference because of “uncertainty with the budget process”.

FCNL continues to urge the U.S. government to renew our pledge to the GCF before the annual U.N. climate conference on Nov. 30. It is important for the U.S. to exhibit international leadership against the global threat of climate change.

What We’re Reading:

Daren Caughron

Daren Caughron

Legislative Manager, Sustainable Energy and Environment

Daren is FCNL’s legislative manager for sustainable energy and environment. He lobbies Congress to support action to respond to the climate crisis and prevent the further degradation of our communities and our planet.

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