AB 32 Implementation | California Climate & Agriculture Network

Investing in Sustainable Agricultural Solutions to Climate Change

March 29, 2012 by Renata Brillinger Leave a Comment

This year, California’s long-anticipated cap-and-trade program goes into effect. The ground was laid for the program in 2006 when Governor Schwarzenegger signed into law AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, the country’s most comprehensive climate protection policy. Under the law, California will reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

After much debate, legal challenge and a ballot measure attempting to stop it, beginning this year the first steps of implementing cap-and-trade will get underway with full implementation beginning in January 2013.

Under cap-and-trade the largest polluters of GHGs are required to “cap” and subsequently reduce their GHG emissions through a combination of renewable energy production, energy efficiency and related measures. Alternatively, polluters can partially meet their obligations by purchasing additional “allowances” (aka permits to emit GHGs) or by buying “offset credits” on the carbon market from other entities that are voluntarily reducing their GHG emissions.

An aspect of cap-and-trade that has been giving relatively little attention until now is that GHG polluters will be required to purchase a small portion of their allowances via an auction. The state will hold the first auction in November 2012 and quarterly auctions each year thereafter, generating hundreds of millions of dollars this year and increasing to several billions of cap-and-trade program revenue in future years.

In an opinion piece in the Sacramento Bee on March 21^st, former Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (a co-author of AB 32) had this to say about the funds:

“…the sale of pollution permits creates revenue that can flow to technologies and programs that benefit the environment and the economy. Now, the Legislature has the responsibility to ensure that the forthcoming cap-and-trade proceeds get invested in ways that further reduce dangerous pollution and stimulate the economy. This is no easy task, but it is critical that decision-makers focus on what’s best for our state: continuing to support the fastest growing and cleanest parts of our economy; and resist efforts by those intending to undermine such an opportunity.”

CalCAN has been to making the case that some portion of the public funds from cap-and-trade should be invested in sustainable agriculture to support its potential for reducing GHGs and sequestering carbon. Bills introduced in 2010 and 2011 by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) and sponsored by CalCAN would have allocated some revenue to research, technical assistance, farmland protection and incentives for farmers and ranchers to transition to practices with climate and other environmental and health benefits.

Though the bills did not pass, the message was heard by Governor Brown who included “sustainable agriculture” in his budget proposal as an eligible allocation for cap-and-trade funds. Importantly, the Assembly Speaker also included sustainable agriculture in his cap-and-trade revenue bill, AB 1532.

This spring, the legislature will take up the question of investment priorities for cap-and-trade revenue. CalCAN and its allies will continue to advocate for sustainable agriculture’s positive contributions to climate protection.

We invite you to learn more by downloading a backgrounder, and to join us in expressing your support by calling your State Senator and Assemblymember.

Join us in making the case for investing in sustainable agricultural solutions to climate change!

Please call your State Senator and Assemblymember today. It’s easy and fast to call, and it makes a big impact.

1. To find your representatives, go to http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-zipsearch.html and type in your zip code.

2. Call the Sacramento office number of your State Senator and Assemblymember. Ask to speak to the staff person who handles agriculture issues.

3. The message is simple:

“I am a constituent of Senator/Assemblymember ___________ and I am calling to ask him/her to support the sustainable agriculture provisions in AB 1532. Cap-and-trade investments should be made to support the solutions sustainable agriculture can provide in helping California reach its greenhouse gas reductions goals.”

4. Report your call:
Please let us know you called. Drop us a line at: info@calclimateag.org.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy, Featured - Sidebar

California Small Farm Conference Draws Enthusiastic Growers to Valencia

March 21, 2012 by Ted Quaday 1 Comment

More than 400 small farm operators in California came together in southern California recently for the 25^th annual California Small Farm Conference. The event provided attendees with opportunities to learn the ins and outs of developing successful and sustainable farm businesses.

Bringing the next generation of growers into farming was an area of concern, as were means of protecting farms against invasive pests. Farmers also got a chance to learn more about evolving energy and carbon markets as the state of California implements its cap-and-trade program.

Dave Runsten (left) and Bob Corshen with the Community Alliance with Family Farmers in Davis, CA confer during tabling activities at the 2012 Small Farm Conference in Valencia.

As a presenter in the “Alternative Energy & Carbon Markets: Promises and Pitfalls” workshop, I briefed farmers on the challenges climate change will bring including the potential for increased flooding in winter and deeper droughts in summer. Erratic and extreme weather events already seem on the way to becoming the norm. Yield reductions, shifting crop patterns and increased and changing pest and disease pressures are also likely to occur. All of these changes leave California’s farmers economically vulnerable.

I also talked about steps farmers can take to adapt to the changing climate. Some ideas include working to increase soil fertility and water-holding capacity, increasing biodiversity, and on-farm water storage, as well as finding ways to minimize the use of fossil-fuel based inputs including motor fuels and synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.

To learn more about what climate challenges lie ahead and ways to adapt, check out CalCAN’s web-based resource information.

On the policy front, I talked about the idea that the entire state needs to be looking for ways to invest in California’s agricultural future. One of the ways to do that is by directing some of the revenue generated by the new cap-and-trade program toward agricultural research, technical assistance and in support of on-farm practices that produce climate benefits.

Over the next few months, the state legislature will weigh in on areas where cap-and-trade revenue (estimated at between $500 million and $1 billion in 2012) should be invested. CalCAN continues to advocate that sustainable agricultural solutions be a part of the cap-and-trade investment plan.

Among folks at the Small Farm Conference, interest in ways to help farmers meet the challenges of climate change was strong. You can help CalCAN continue building statewide backing for this deeper investment in sustainable agriculture by contacting us at info@calclimateag.org.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, Farmer Resources, Featured - Sidebar, Impacts of Climate Change, Uncategorized Tagged With: AB 32, California agriculture, cap-and-trade, climate change, climate legislation, effects of climate change, farmer, sustainable agriculture

Urge Your State Lawmakers to Support Sustainable Agricultural Solutions to Climate Change

February 6, 2012 by Jeanne Merrill Leave a Comment

The California Legislature will soon take up the issue of how the state should allocate the fees generated through the implementation of the state’s climate change law, AB 32. The legislature and the governor will debate how to expend fees generated from the first auctions held this year of cap and trade allowances (aka permits to emit greenhouse gases). It is estimated that between $400 million and $1 billion will be generated in 2012. All fees must be used to address climate change and meet the objectives of the AB 32.

As we noted a couple of weeks ago, Gov. Jerry Brown included in his recent budget proposal an outline of how cap and trade generated fees may be expended, including investments in sustainable agricultural activities that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is an important step forward.

To raise these issues in the legislature, CalCAN and our allies sponsored SB 237, the Agriculture Climate Benefits Act. Authored by Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis), the bill outlined uses of cap and trade fees to support research, technical assistance and financial incentives for agricultural practices and farming systems that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, the bill did not move out of Senate committee in January and was held in suspense, essentially blocking the bill from moving forward this year.

While we had hoped to keep the bill moving, we did find support in the legislature for our proposal, and we will continue to build upon this, with your help, during what will likely be a contentious budget process to determine the fate of cap and trade fees.

You can help make the case for sustainable agricultural solutions to climate change. Write your state senator and representative and ask them to support cap and trade investments in agriculture.

The message is simple: “I’m writing to express my support for a portion of cap and trade fees to go towards research, technical assistance and financial incentives for agricultural practices and farming systems that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist California farmers and ranchers in coping with climate change. Sustainable and organic agriculture offer some of the best solutions to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing environmental and health co-benefits.”

Click here to find your State Senator and Representative’s addresses (search by zip code)

Please let us know you sent a letter. Drop us a line to: info@calclimateag.org.

Find more information on SB 237.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy, Climate & Ag Research, Uncategorized Tagged With: California agriculture, cap-and-trade, climate change, climate legislation, Governor Jerry Brown, SB 237

Governor’s Budget Notes Sustainable Agricultural Solutions to Climate Change

January 11, 2012 by Jeanne Merrill 2 Comments

Beginning this year, as part of the state’s new cap and trade program, the first permits to emit greenhouse gas emissions — otherwise known as “allowances” — will be distributed by the state. Despite recommendations to the California Air Resources Board from an outside advisory group of economists and policy experts that all allowances be sold at auction, most of the allowances will be given free of charge to large GHG emitters.

The state has chosen to auction only a small percentage of allowances. Even this small percentage will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue in the first years of the program and several billion in later years. Auction revenue will then be available for investment in our communities to meet the challenges of climate change and to achieve the emission reductions goals of the state’s climate change law, AB 32.

How to allocate cap and trade revenue will be debated in the legislature this year. Governor Jerry Brown recently released his budget proposal, which makes clear that revenue from cap and trade must be used for activities that reduce greenhouse emissions and meet the objectives of AB 32. The investments will spur innovation, create jobs, and usher in new opportunities in our communities. These investments come at a crucial time for the state, which faces high unemployment and declining revenues.

In his budget, Governor Brown outlines areas of cap and trade revenue investment, including: “funding to reduce (GHG) emissions associated with water use and supply, land and natural resource conservation and management, and sustainable agriculture.”

This acknowledgement of the value of sustainable agriculture in the climate change debate is a significant step forward.

Since we began our work together nearly three years ago, as a coalition of sustainable agriculture groups, farmers and science advisors, the California Climate and Agriculture Network has advocated for cap and trade revenue investments in agriculture. University researchers, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, USDA and other organizations have all found that sustainable and organic agriculture offer some of the best opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support a sustainable food supply. But in the early days of our work, few in the state had considered the possibilities of how sustainable agriculture might contribute to meeting the objectives of AB 32. CalCAN and our partners have worked together to change that.

Governor Brown’s forward thinking budget proposal on cap and trade revenue, which also includes investments in clean and efficient energy, low‑carbon transportation, and sustainable infrastructure development, puts California on a path toward tackling one of our most significant challenges – climate change – while supporting healthy, vibrant communities for all.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy Tagged With: AB 32, California agriculture, California Budget, cap-and-trade, Governor Jerry Brown, sustainable agriculture

Agriculture allowance revenue bill on hold

June 8, 2011 by Jeanne Merrill Leave a Comment

Early in 2011, Senator Lois Wolk introduced Senate Bill 237, the Agriculture Climate Benefits Act. The bill was sponsored by CalCAN. The bill, in its original, stated that a portion of future revenue generated by state through the implementation of the state’s cap and trade program, as part of AB 32, should go towards research, technical assistance and financial incentives for farming practices that provide climate and other environmental co-benefits.

Particularly in light of increasing threats of federal cuts to USDA conservation programs, this effort seems as timely as ever.

The bill passed out of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee, but last week the bill it got held over in the Senate Appropriations Committee and missed a deadline to move out of the Senate, putting SB 237 on hold until 2012.

CalCAN sponsored a similar bill in 2010 (SB 1241). This year we were able to expand the depth and breadth of support for the bill with more mainstream environmental group support — for example, Defenders of Wildlife and the Audubon Society signed on in support. We also experienced increased interest and possible support from some conventional agriculture trade groups, and the bill continues to enjoy solid sustainable agriculture support. However, that was not enough to move the bill out of the Senate as the larger politics of AB 32 were difficult to overcome.

Several environmental justice groups successfully sued the California Air Resources Board for failing to adequately review alternatives to cap and trade, like a carbon tax. They argued that, among other things, allowing power plants in the state to achieve a significant portion of their GHG emission reductions from buying offset credits from projects outside of the state would hurt low income, minority communities that are disproportionately at risk from pollution from local power plants. They also argued that CARB failed to adequately review alternatives to the cap and trade system. A judge agree. And just last month the judge issued a final ruling that ARB had to go back and do a review of alternatives to cap and trade.

This month CARB will likely complete their alternatives review. How that will be received by the judge and the plaintiffs is unknown, but we will keep you posted. Fortunately, the judge’s ruling allows the other initiatives within AB 32 to move forward – e.g. green building and clean car standards, etc. (cap and trade was to achieve 20 percent of the state’s total GHG emission reductions). In addition, the judge just lifted a stay on CARB, allowing it to proceed with finalizing and implementing California’s cap and trade program.

CalCAN will continue to serve as a voice for sustainable and organic agriculture in the implementation of AB 32.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy Tagged With: AB 32, agriculture climate impacts, allowance revenue, benefits, SB 237

Agriculture Climate Benefits Act Clears First Hurdle

April 5, 2011 by Renata Brillinger 2 Comments

The Senate Environmental Quality Committee voted 5-2 yesterday (April 4th) to approve the Agriculture Climate Benefits Act (SB 237), legislation authored by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to help the state’s farmers and ranchers cope with the state’s changing climate and recognize the critical role agriculture can play in reducing greenhouse emissions.

SB 237 will assure that future revenue generated by the state’s climate change law designated to agriculture will be spent on climate-friendly sustainable agriculture practices.

“California agriculture contributes $35 billion annually to California’s economy, and supplies more than half of the country’s fruit and vegetables. Senate Bill 237 helps the state’s farmers and ranchers, the people who fuel this fast-growing sector of our economy, cope with a changing climate,” said Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis). “The bill also recognizes that agriculture can play an important role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

In a state where water is already scarce, climate change scenarios predict that water supplies will become increasingly constrained—conditions that, in addition to warming temperatures, threaten to shift the kinds of crops that can be grown in California.

“California agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change,” said Jeanne Merrill, Policy Director with the California Climate and Agriculture Network. “SB 237 recognizes that agriculture can both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate, and that the state must make these issues a priority.”

In fact, research funded by the California Energy Commission suggests that some agricultural practices not only reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but may also sequester atmospheric carbon in the soil.

As California implements AB 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, new funds will become available to support GHG emissions reductions and help the state adapt to climate change.

SB 237 defines the eligible uses of funds designated to the agriculture sector from implementation of the state’s climate change law, including:

1. Research and demonstration projects to examine the farming practices and systems that reduce GHG emissions, sequester atmospheric carbon and help farmers adapt to climate change.

2. Technical assistance for producers that translates research findings into real opportunities for California agriculture to provide climate benefits.

3. Incentives for farmers and ranchers to overcome barriers to climate-friendly agricultural practices.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy

Support the Agriculture Climate Benefits Act!

March 24, 2011 by Renata Brillinger Leave a Comment

On April 4^th, the Agriculture Climate Benefits Act (Senate Bill 237) will go up for a committee vote in the California State Senate. SB 237 will assure that future revenue generated by the state’s climate change law designated to agriculture will be spent on climate-friendly sustainable agriculture practices. You can download a fact sheet on SB 237 or view the whole text.

Make your voice heard and support sustainable agricultural solutions to climate change.

Please call your State Senator today.

It’s easy to call:

Go to http://www.legislature.ca.gov/port-zipsearch.html and type in your zip code. Call the Sacramento office number of your State Senator. Ask to speak to the staff person who handles agriculture issues.

The message is simple. “I am a constituent of Senator___________ and I am calling to ask him/her to support SB 237, the Agriculture Climate Benefits Act. SB 237 will support California agriculture in addressing climate change. Agriculture is uniquely vulnerable to climate change. Future funds from AB 32 should support sustainable agricultural responses to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.”

Report your call:

Please let us know you called. Drop us a line to: jmerrill@calclimateag.org.

Background:

In a state where water is already scarce, climate change scenarios predict that water supplies will become increasingly constrained. Warming temperatures also threaten to shift the kinds of crops that can be grown in the state. Statewide, the impact of climate change on California agriculture could hamper food and fiber production in the decades to come.

At the same time, agriculture can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Research funded by the California Energy Commission suggests that some agricultural practices not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but may also sequester atmospheric carbon in the soil.

California is proceeding in implementing its climate change law, AB 32, which requires California to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Through implementation of the law, new funds will become available to support greenhouse gas emissions reductions and help the state adapt to climate change.

The Agriculture Climate Benefits Act, SB 237, authored by State Senator Lois Wolk, recognizes the need for agricultural solutions to climate change. SB 237 defines the eligible uses of funds designated to California’s agriculture sector from implementation of the state’s climate change law, including:

1. Research and demonstration to examine the farming practices and systems that reduce GHG emissions, sequester atmospheric carbon and adapt to climate change.

2. Technical assistance for producers that communicates research findings into real opportunities for California agriculture to provide voluntary GHG reductions and adaptation activities.

3. Incentives for farmers and ranchers to overcome barriers to agricultural practices that mitigate and adapt to climate change while providing environmental and health co-benefits, including improved air and water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat and water conservation.

Funds will be administered with input from an Advisory Committee comprised of agricultural producers, researchers and non-profit organizations with expertise in agriculture and climate change issues.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy

California Air Resources Board Approves Cap and Trade Program

December 20, 2010 by Jeanne Merrill Leave a Comment

On Thursday December 16th, with a 9-1 vote, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a cap and trade program aimed at reducing the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Jeanne Merrill, CalCAN’s Policy Director, testified at hearing. Among the issues we commented on was CARB’s recommendations to the legislature on how future funds generated from the program could be spent.

CalCAN, joined by 15 farms and sustainable agriculture organizations, called for CARB to recommend a portion of future funding go towards research, technical assistance and financial incentives for California farmers and ranchers to cope with a changing climate.

Board member Dee Dee D’Adamo and Chairman Mary Nichols championed adding language to CARB’s recommendations to the legislature that includes calling for a portion of revenue going towards agriculture. It is anticipated that in the early years of the program (2012-2015) millions of dollars will be generated through the auctioning of allowances (i.e. permits to emit greenhouse gases), and billions of dollars in the later years of the program.

The room was packed with the hearing beginning at 9:00 am and finishing about 7:00 pm. Governor Schwarzenegger made a surprise appearance urging a yes vote on the cap and trade program.

In another significant development, ARB will create a Community Development Fund and put 10 percent of the allowances in the fund to pay for it. The Fund will support activities to help low income and disadvantaged communities to adapt to climate change (e.g. cooling centers in the valley for seniors, etc.).

Meanwhile there was a call for quickly developing more agriculture offset protocols, including protocols for soil carbon sequestration, nitrogen fertilizer reductions, reductions in methane emissions for rice, etc. CalCAN will monitor this and push for protocols that take a whole farm systems approach to avoid rewarding single practices that may not lead to real GHG emissions reductions.

The cap and trade program will begin in January 2012.

For more on the cap and trade program, see:

http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/capandtrade/capandtrade.htm

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy

State election results: Impacts on agriculture and climate change

November 3, 2010 by Renata Brillinger 1 Comment

In yesterday’s election, Californians definitely rejected Proposition 23 and defended AB 32, the state’s landmark climate change bill. Voters saw through the deceptions of the oil company backers of the measure, and showed that they understand that it’s possible to both strengthen the economy and tackle climate change. California leads the world in its commitment to dealing with this challenge. Here’s a recap from the No on Prop 23 campaign:

The defeat of [Proposition 23] signifies the first and largest public referendum in history on clean energy policy. California voters cemented our state’s role as a trailblazer for clean energy policy across the country and worldwide. These results signal an important triumph for our broad coalition that stood up to out-of-state oil refiners who sought to unravel California’s groundbreaking clean air law to protect their own profits.

During the battle to protect AB 32, numerous California farmers spoke out in opposition to Prop 23. Now, we can get back to the business of trying to ensure that its implementation serves California agriculture as well as possible.

Another threat to AB 32 in this election came from the Governor’s race. Had Meg Whitman been elected, she had indicated that she would have frozen AB 32 implementation. In contrast, Brown has long been an advocate for renewable energy and climate protection. We will be educating Brown’s administration about the opportunity to promote methods of sustainable agriculture as crucial tools in reducing on-farm emissions and helping safeguard the viability of California’s agricultural sector in the face of climate change.

Unfortunately, one barrier to AB 32 was erected yesterday with the passage of Prop 26. It amends the state constitution to require a two-thirds vote of the state legislature anytime a government agency tries to assess a fee on a company that is not then used to regulate that entity. This means a legislative supermajority will be needed to approve the fees needed to implement auctioning, monitoring and reporting systems for an effective cap-and-trade program. A story in the Los Angeles Times stated that Prop 26 could cause AB 32 rules to be”vulnerable to legislative gridlock over fees.” Once it became clear that Prop 23 was failing, many oil companies and the Chamber of Commerce shifted their contributions to Prop 26 instead.

What now? CalCAN will continue to be the voice of organic and sustainable agriculture, advocating that agriculture needs resources to adapt to climate change and provide solutions. In the near term, we will provide testimony to the California Air Resources Board on Dec. 15 and 16 as they take comment on their newly released rules for cap-and-trade.

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy, Climate & Ag Research Tagged With: AB 32, Jerry Brown, Prop 23

Farmers speak out on Prop 23

November 3, 2010 by Renata Brillinger Leave a Comment

As reported in our September newsletter and blog, we are tracking Proposition 23, a November 2nd ballot initiative. Prop 23 is largely funded by out of state oil companies, and it would essentially freeze California’s landmark clean air and energy law, AB 32 (the Global Warming Solutions Act). Prop 23 is opposed by a large bipartisan group of businesses, organizations and farms including CalCAN, Community Alliance with Family Farmers, American Farmland Trust, Ecological Farming Association, Organic Valley, Earthbound Farm, and more (a complete list can be found at the No on Prop 23 website).

California producers have been publicly expressing their opposition in newspapers around the state, emphasizing the connection between climate change, clean energy policy and agriculture. Here are some examples:

Russ Lester, an organic walnut farmer and processor in Winters, had a compelling piece on October 15 in the Capital Press
Zeke Grader, executive director of the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, wrote an op-ed in the October 9 Eureka Times Standard
Jon-Mark Chappellet, an organic Napa County wine grape grower, spelled out wine industry reasons to oppose Prop 23 in the Sept. 21 issue of the Napa Valley Register
Cindy Lashbrook of Riverdance Farms, and a Board member of Community Alliance with Family Farmers and CCOF, spoke at a press conference in Fresno on Sept. 23, making the farming case for opposing Prop 23

Filed Under: AB 32 Implementation, California Policy

Investing in Sustainable Agricultural Solutions to Climate Change

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