Janeese Lewis George Proposes Legislation to Study Impacts of Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Environment

District Councilmember Janeese Lewis George introduced the Greenhouse Gas Emission Study Act, which would authorize a $200,000 study to examine how greenhouse gas emissions affect climate change in Washington, D.C. The legislation proposes that polluting companies, rather than taxpayers, fund the research to help city officials make informed decisions about climate adaptation, infrastructure improvements, and energy policy. The bill follows Maryland's recently passed RENEW Act and comes as fossil fuel industry groups lobby Congress for immunity from climate accountability lawsuits. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events in D.C., including the recent historic snowstorm that forced the announcement to go virtual, underscore the urgency of understanding and preparing for climate impacts that scientists predict will intensify significantly by 2030 and 2080.