Inside the Greenhouse is a monthly update on FCNL’s environmental advocacy and the climate crisis.
Note: FCNL’s Daren Caughron is currently at COP29. Next edition of Inside the Greenhouse will include his reflections on the conference.
FCNL Ramps Up for Lame Duck Session
President-elect Donald Trump recently announced former Representative Lee Zeldin as his nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Zeldin promises to focus on rolling back environmental regulation.
However, there is still work to be done by the 118th Congress before 2025 when the Republican Party will control Congress and the White House.
Our work will continue during this period, often called the lame duck, since Pres. Joe Biden and the 118th Congress will still be in power. This month, we are highlighting two bills that FCNL’s climate team will be tracking closely during the lame duck session:
International Climate Assistance in the Federal Budget
Congress is rapidly approaching the Dec. 20 deadline to fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown before Christmas.
We are urging legislators to pass a bill that averts a shutdown and protects critical climate investments in renewable energy, international forest conservation, and climate adaptation for vulnerable communities.
Climate-Smart Agriculture in the Farm Bill
Congress is also rapidly approaching an end-of-year deadline on the Farm Bill. This legislation must pass every five years to invest in farms, food security, and rural communities.
As part of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA; P.L. 117-169), we successfully won $19.5 billion in funding for climate-smart agriculture. As Congress debates an extension of the Farm Bill, we are urging members to protect these investments and support our farmers in building resilient food systems.
News and Updates
Clean Energy Boom is Leading to Good Jobs in Georgia
This month, critical components for solar panels will begin rolling off the production line at the solar cell manufacturing plant owned by Qcells in Cartersville, GA.
Scott Moskowitz estimates that the factory will produce enough solar components for 10 gigawatts of renewable energy. That’s enough to power 7.5 million homes.
This is the latest sign of a manufacturing revival taking place in America thanks to the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The bill provided $147 million in tax credits. It has created hundreds of high-quality jobs in the Cartersville region.
“It’s really a sign of the resurgence in solar manufacturing in general,” Moskowitz said. These investments “would not have been possible several years ago.”
Thanks to the IRA, investments are transforming Cartersville’s economy, which used to be a hub for carpet industry, by employing residents and investing in the growing clean manufacturing industries.
Bold Emissions Reductions Needed to Stop Global Temperature Rise
The 2024 UN Emissions Gap Report reveals that the world is not on track to meet its climate goals. Based on current country emissions reduction plans, the world will warm above the limit of 1.5 degrees Centigrade. Increased global warming will pose more risks to people, biodiversity, and the planet.
The report states that global greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 42% by 2030 and 57% by 2035 to keep global temperature rise within safe and livable limits. To meet these goals, countries, especially richer countries, must increase renewable energy production and make ambitious funding commitments to help adapt and respond to the climate crisis.
FCNL’s climate team is continuing to advocate for the U.S. to play its part in meeting these climate goals.
What We’re Reading:
