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Climate Emergency - Mitigation and Adaptation
The session ended with a compromise as well as reasonable funding, especially in SB 1530 (>$21M) and end of session omnibus SB5701 (>125M) but no update to Greenhouse Gas Emission targets approved in 2007 nor improvement to Climate Change coordination and accountability across agencies. Find a detailed list of many Climate-related funding items here (file downloads). It’s unclear if Oregon has proactively managed access / opportunities to many federal funds available, including The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.
Additionally, considering last session, the governor may choose to veto any passed bills within executive branch statutes: “The governor may sign the bill, veto it or let it become law without signature. The governor may also veto line items of appropriation bills, but may not veto an act referred for a vote of the people or an act initiated by the people.”
However, these two bills do reflect Oregon among a few other states leading on these policy topics:
1) Coal Act: HB 4083 Requires Oregon Investment Council and Treasury to divest from Thermal Coal investments. Passed, waiting for the Speaker's signature. League Testimony.
2) Right to Repair: SB 1596 adopted. See discussion in NR Leg Report, League Testimony, passed, on its way to the governor.
Other Climate Emergency Bills
HB 4080 Enrolled. Off-Shore Wind: HB 4080, League Testimony, passed. See discussion in NR Leg Report. (waiting Speaker signature)
HB 4112 Clean Tech Leadership Bill. League Testimony. Funding is $20M. Died in J W&M.
HB 4155 Infrastructure funding study bill- Rep Gamba and Sen Golden – in J W&Ms. Died in committee.
HB 4102 Enrolled. Funding mechanism for Natural and Working Lands Fund (carbon sequestration) passed, on its way to the governor. No Fiscal.
The bill related to EV rebates died in committee but DEQ did recently announce funding effective April 2024.
Climate Litigation and Congressional Climate Resolution
Juliana v Gov: 3/1 Press Release from Our Children’s Trust: “Department of Justice latest stonewalling in Juliana climate case denied; youth plaintiffs plan response to continued delays....…The Biden administration has two options. One: let America’s youth have access to their courts and exercise their constitutional rights. Or two: continue to undemocratically wield the power of the federal government to silence them, deny their rights and deny their access to justice.
This administration and this DOJ are not using these extreme tactics in any other case in the nation. They owe America’s youth justice. They can and must stop this abuse of process being wielded by the DO J.”
February 2024 Updates to the Climate Case Charts | Columbia University Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Oregon Cases – 73 as of Feb 2024
Congressional Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Resolution: LWVUS’ Lobby Corps is currently having targeted Hill meetings on the Children’s Fundamental Rights and Climate Recovery Resolution to continue bipartisan conversations about the climate crisis and resolution and to maintain League visibility on this vital issue federally. LWVUS re-endorsed the resolution upon its reintroduction and maintains a related Action Alert on the website, asking folks to contact their Members of Congress.
Climate News
State of the Union: Biden's climate assignment – POLITICO, Environmental Groups Decry SEC’s Climate Disclosure Rule as Too Weak – Bloomberg, Nearly Half the States Sue E.P.A. Over New Limits on Deadly Pollution - The New York Times, Amid record high energy demand, America is running out of electricity - The Washington Post, The surge in AI is straining the U.S. power grid | fast company, The world is not moving fast enough on climate change — social sciences can help explain why | The Conversation. A Superfund for climate? These states are pushing for it. - E&E News by POLITICO, No More One-Size-Fits-All Approach to State Climate Targets – RMI, Europe is not prepared for rapidly growing climate risks | EEA, The worst wildfire in Texas' history has a complex link with climate change | BBC, Oregon court rejects cities’ request to toss climate rules – OPB, Oil Trains Pose Potential Hazard to Central Oregon | Central-Oregon-daily | centraloregondaily.com, Legislature passes bill to rid Oregon’s Public Employee Retirement System of coal investments • Oregon Capital Chronicle, Oregon forester approves controversial habitat conservation plan for state lands - OPB
DEQ Deadline
Department of Environmental Quality : Climate Pollution Reduction Planning Grant: Action on Climate Change: State of Oregon
Resilience Hubs and Networks Grant- info sessions
Two Oregon Department of Human Services information sessions are available to answer questions about the grant and application, and to talk about the rules before they are final: March 12, 2024 from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. - Join the March 12 meeting To call in (audio only): +1 971-277-2343, ID: 334 941 998. A February 29 meeting recording is available.
Climate Emergency - Volunteers Needed
Please consider joining the Climate Emergency portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy areas:
• Natural Climate Solutions, specifically Oregon Dept of Agriculture (ODA)
• Climate Related Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust
• Public Health Climate Adaptation (OHA)
• Regional Solutions / Infrastructure (with NR team
• State Procurement Practices (DAS: Dept. of Admin. Services
• CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets
• Climate Migration
• Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment
We collaborate with LWVOR Natural Resource Action Committee members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics. Volunteers are needed: Training for Legislative and State Agency advocacy processes is available. Please contact lwvor@lwvor.org if you have any questions or wish to become involved with Climate Emergency issues.