Source: USDA
 
Executive Summary

Agriculture and forestry are central to climate mitigation and adaptation. The agriculture sector accounts for about 10% of current overall U.S. emissions, while U.S forests sequester the equivalent of about 15% of carbon dioxide emissions from combustion of U.S. fossil fuels annually. Through actions in both sectors, agriculture and forests can provide 10- 20% of the additional sequestration and emissions reductions needed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. While the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not historically been at the center of the public conversation on federal climate policy, the Department has enormous and underappreciated discretionary financial resources and agency expertise.

These resources and expertise enable USDA to:

(1) partner with farmers, ranchers and forest owners to reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases (GHGs) through carbon sequestration and emissions reductions;

(2) reduce GHG emissions from rural energy cooperatives;

(3) bolster the resilience of private working lands and public forests and grasslands to the effects of climate change;

(4) promote sustainable bioenergy, wood products, and other bio-based materials

(5) contribute to the scientific understanding of climate change; and

(6) invest in climate-smart economic development in rural communities.

Importantly, given current economic conditions, investments in climate change at USDA can support and create rural jobs in agriculture, forestry, conservation and related businesses, thereby contributing to the economic recovery of rural America. In fact, based on MIT research, investments in agriculture, forestry, and conservation produce 20 to nearly 40 jobs per $1 million in expenditure.

Given climate skepticism by many in rural America, it is critical that agriculture, forestry, and other rural stakeholders view themselves as USDA’s partners to achieve climate goals. We recommend USDA’s initiatives emphasize collaboration, incentives, the historic resiliency and innovation of agriculture and forestry, and the critical role that rural America can play in helping address climate change while creating jobs and economic opportunity. Issues of diversity, inclusion, and environmental ...

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