Bipartisan Senate Bill Helps Set Rules of the Road for Agricultural Carbon Markets

(WASHINGTON, DC) The Growing Climate Solutions Act was today reintroduced in the Senate by Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Mike Braun (R-IN) and a bipartisan group of 34 other senators.

"The Growing Climate Solutions Act is the first major piece of bipartisan legislation to help ensure farmers, ranchers and foresters benefit from reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience. With widespread support on both sides of the aisle, from environmentalists and agriculture groups, it has a real chance of becoming law this Congress.

"Agricultural carbon markets have been rapidly proliferating over the past few years, presenting big opportunities for farmers. This bill asks the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set the rules of the road and ensure carbon mitigation and sequestration claims are verified by the best available science. That's a great role for USDA to play, while still allowing for private sector innovation.

"When implementing the bill, USDA should take the lead on ensuring that market access and revenue benefits are equitable, particularly for Black farmers and farmers of color who have faced discrimination by the agency, and for farmers who rent their land or manage smaller acreage operations who can have a harder time participating in carbon markets.

"Agriculture has a great opportunity to measurably contribute to climate solutions, from cutting emissions of nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide, to storing carbon. EDF commends the bill's co-sponsors for seeing this potential and paving the way for farmers to benefit from providing climate solutions."