20 Apr 2021 BPC Action Applauds Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021 in Energy and Environment
BPC Action commends Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and the multiple co-sponsors on both sides of the aisle for the introduction of the Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021. BPC Action supports the efforts in this bill to lower the barriers to entry for farmers and private forest owners to participate in carbon credit markets. We are glad to see bipartisan congressional support for facilitating land-based carbon removal in agriculture and forestry.
The legislation would establish a new program at the Department of Agriculture to provide technical assistance to farmers and forest landowners looking to implement practices that capture carbon, reduce emissions, improve soil health, and make operations more sustainable. A key goal of this program is to connect landowners with certified private sector actors in two areas: (1) third-party carbon credit verifiers that confirm emissions reductions and carbon storage, and (2) technical assistance providers that work with landowners to design and implement projects that can produce tradeable carbon credits. The bill also requires USDA to submit a report to Congress on further developing this policy area, including recommendations on how the department could further encourage widespread landowner participation in carbon sequestration activities.
BPC Action looks forward to working with Congress to pass this bill that takes an important step forward in unlocking the potential within U.S. agriculture and forestry to serve as a critical climate solution.