The following describes some of our activities in attempting to influence the design of climate policy to benefit farmers who employ practices with climate benefits.
Investing in Sustainable Agricultural Solutions to Climate Change
In 2012, California will implement a cap-and-trade program to help meet the state’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, as part of the state’s climate change law (AB 32). The California Climate and Agriculture Network (CalCAN) and our allies are advocating that a portion of the revenue generated by cap-and-trade should support agriculture in contributing to California’s GHG emissions reduction and clean energy goals.
Read more here.
Recommendations to Governor-elect Jerry Brown
In November 2011, CalCAN released a set of recommendations to Governor-elect Brown entitled California Agriculture in a Changing Climate: Policy Recommendations for the Next California Governor. It includes a range of legislative, administrative and budgetary actions needed to support California agriculture in coping with climate change.
Read more here.
California Air Resources Board
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is the agency responsible for implementing California’s landmark climate legislation AB 32. CalCAN monitors aspects of CARB’s rulemaking process and provides written and verbal testimony as needed, as well as organizing letters from allied organizations and farmers.
Examples of testimony can be found here.
Federal Climate Policy
Although CalCAN primarily works at the state level in California, when federal policy directly impacts California, we bring the voice of California’s sustainable farming community to Congress. We monitor federal climate legislation and Farm Bill legislation, and educate members of Congress about the role of organic and sustainable agriculture in climate protection.
One example of this activity is a letter to U.S. Senators on need for a federal climate change bill – July 13, 2010 – View PDF
