Congressional Hearing Examines the Role of the Transportation Sector in Climate Change

Climate change continued to take its place front and center on Capitol Hill this week with the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s hearing “Examining How Federal Infrastructure Policy Could Help Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change.” As explained in an official meeting notice, the purpose of the hearing was to “examine the role the transportation sector plays in global warming, understand the dual track approach of mitigation and resiliency, and learn from individuals in the public and private sectors whom have demonstrated pragmatic solutions for reducing carbon emissions and building resilient infrastructure.” The hearing consisted of two panels of experts providing testimony. The first panel focused on how to mitigate the effects of climate change through the reduction of carbon emissions and greenhouse gases. Experts on this panel were:

• Dr. Daniel Sperling, Board Member, California Air Resources Board
• Ms. Vicki Arroyo, Executive Director, Georgetown Climate Center
• Professor Thomas P. Lyon, Stephen M. Ross School of Business, University of Michigan
• Mr. Ben Prochazka, Vice President, Electrification Coalition
• Ms. Nancy Young, Vice President, Environmental Affairs, Airlines for America

The second panel focused on how to strengthen infrastructure, and protect people infrastructure and ecosystems from the negative impacts of climate change. Experts on this panel were:

• Mr. Kevin DeGood, Director, Infrastructure Policy, Center for American Progress
• Mr. James M. Proctor II, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, McWane Inc.
• Dr. Whitley Saumweber, Director, Stephenson Ocean Security Project, Center for Strategic & International Studies
• Lynn Scarlett, Vice President, Policy and Government Affairs, The Nature Conservancy

To view an archived webcast of this hearing, click here: https://transportation.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/examining-how-federal-infrastructure-policy-could-help-mitigate-and-adapt-to-climate-change