On Wednesday, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, a panel tasked with taking "urgent climate action," unveiled its final report​ along with recommendations for what Congress should focus on next.

The committee was created by House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., after Democrats won the House majority four years ago. Soon, it will no longer exist. 

What You Need To Know

  • On Wednesday, the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, a panel tasked with taking "urgent climate action," unveiled its final report along with recommendations for what Congress should focus on next

  • The committee was created by House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., after Democrats won the House majority four years ago. Soon, it will no longer exist
  • Among some of the recommendations the panel's final report calls for are zero-emission vehicle sale standards, advancing resilience-based codes and standards for communities at risk of disasters and increasing research on climate and public health impacts

"It's disappointing that Republicans in Congress have decided to dismantle our Climate Committee, because our work remains urgent," said Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., the panel's chair. "Climate disasters are inflicting billions in damages across the country." 

Among some of the recommendations the panel's final report calls for are zero-emission vehicle sale standards, advancing resilience-based codes and standards for communities at risk of disasters and increasing research on climate and public health impacts.

The committee asserts that more than 300 of their policy recommendations have been enacted through several key measures championed by President Joe Biden and passed by Congress, like the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, a bill aimed at boosting domestic semiconductor production, and the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats' climate change, health care and tax reform bill.

Lawmakers touted tax credits for electric vehicles, funding for coastal resilience and infrastructure and job creation for clean energy.

"Today, we celebrate our accomplishments, but we also recognize the need to continue our work as outlined in the staff Majority Report," said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., another member of the panel.

"Even though the Select Committee will be ending, which is counterproductive to what we need to do, we are committed I know and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the 118th Congress to further these recommendations to protect our planet, to create good paying jobs, to support a just transition and to build more resilient and safe communities," Bonamici added.

Lawmakers also said they believe agriculture policy is an area where they may find bipartisan solutions in a divided Congress. ​