{"id":19424,"date":"2023-05-15T16:14:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T16:14:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/?p=19424"},"modified":"2023-05-15T19:40:59","modified_gmt":"2023-05-15T19:40:59","slug":"esa-policy-news-may-15-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esa.org\/esablog\/2023\/05\/15\/esa-policy-news-may-15-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"ESA Policy News: May 15, 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

In this issue:<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Apply for a Badge to Attend COP28 as an Observer via ESA<\/a><\/strong>
\nCOP28 will take place Nov. 30 \u2013 Dec. 12 in Dubai.<\/p>\n

Congress
\n<\/strong><\/a>House Science Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Republican colleagues express concerns that the Energy Department deprioritizing basic research.<\/p>\n

Executive\u00a0Branch<\/strong><\/a>
\nBiden administration issues proposed rule to limit emissions from power plants.<\/p>\n

Courts
\n<\/strong><\/a>Supreme Court decision about California\u2019s pork regulations could impact state climate regulations.<\/p>\n

States<\/strong><\/a>
\nA report from Chesapeake Bay Program science advisors questions long-standing approach to Chesapeake Bay clean up.<\/p>\n

International<\/strong><\/a>
\nUAE spokesperson says that the world is not ready to \u201cswitch off\u201d fossil fuels ahead of COP28.<\/p>\n

Scientific Community
\n<\/strong><\/a>National Academies to hold a workshop titled Beyond Broadening Participation: Research to Progress to Impact.<\/p>\n

Federal Register<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a>Apply for a Badge to Attend COP28 as an Observer via ESA<\/h2>\n

ESA is accepting expressions of interest from members to receive an ESA \u201cobserver status\u201d badge to attend the Conference of Parties (COP) 28 Climate Change Conference, which will take place from Nov. 30 \u2013 Dec. 12 at the Expo City Dubai, UAE.<\/p>\n

ESA may be able to issue a limited number of \u201cobserver status\u201d badges to ESA members. Those receiving a badge would not be formally representing ESA. This summer, the UN will inform ESA about the number of observer badges it will provide. Last year, ESA received 5 badges to share for the two weeks and we were able to give 10 members a badge for one week.<\/p>\n

Members would be responsible for all associated travel costs and expenses to attend COP28 if offered an ESA badge. Additionally, those selected to receive a badge would be required to meet all vaccine and other requirements set by the COP28 organizers and the host country and to submit any information that organizers request to register recipients such as passport information.<\/p>\n

Please complete\u00a0this form<\/a>\u00a0to express your interest in receiving an ESA badge. This form can be used for groups of individuals interested in receiving an ESA \u201cobserver status\u201d badge led by an ESA member.<\/p>\n

ESA held a Water Cooler chat with ESA members who attended COP 26, the recording is linked here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Read reflections on COP26<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0COP27<\/a>\u00a0from ESA members on the ESA blog.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Congress<\/h2>\n

Senate: <\/strong>The full Senate voted to pass resolutions nullifying two endangered species rules finalized by the Biden administration. One rule repeals a Trump-era definition of habitat under the Endangered Species Act. The other rule lists the northern long-eared bat as an endangered species. Previously, the species was listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. Both resolutions passed 51-49 margin. All Senate Republicans and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) voted for both measures. Sen. Angus King (I-ME) voted for the habitat resolution and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) voted for the northern long-eared bat measure. President Joe Biden has pledged to veto both resolutions.<\/p>\n

Conservation: <\/strong>Nine bipartisan Senators and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) signed on as co-sponsors of the Recovering America\u2019s Wildlife Act (S. 1149<\/a>). This bill provides $1.4 billion in annual mandatory funding to state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies for the conservation of at-risk species and the implementation of state wildlife action plans. Lawmakers have introduced different versions of this bill since 2016 but have struggled to agree on a funding source for the bill. Last year, the full House passed this legislation by a 231-190 margin. The bill has attracted bipartisan support in the Senate but failed to pass the full Senate during the 117th Congress. A broad collation of organizations, including ESA, sent a letter<\/a> of support for the Recovering America\u2019s Wildlife Act to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) in April. The bill now has 12 sponsors in total, six Republicans, five Democrats and Sinema.<\/p>\n

Energy Department<\/strong>: House Science Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK), Energy Subcommittee Chairman Brandon Williams (R-NY) and other Republican members of the House Science Committee sent a letter<\/a> to Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm expressing concerns that the Energy Department is deprioritizing the Office of Science over applied energy programs in the Energy Department. The Office of Science funds and conducts basic energy research, including the national laboratories. The letter from Members of Congress claims that the increased focus on applied energy activities has led to the neglect of research infrastructure needs.<\/p>\n

Legislative updates:<\/u><\/p>\n