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Growing Climate Solutions Act highlighted at COP26

Ag Secretary Vilsack and the head of the Senate Ag Committee say the Growing Climate Solutions Act is a solution to multiple problems.

Vilsack says the legislation creates a series of resources that reduce farmer risks, helps them do more work they want to, and responds to the demands of consumers.

“The farmer wants to do this, the farmer needs to do it, the farmer is anxious to do it, but it’s difficult to do it when your bottom line is as thin as it is,” he says.

Vilsack says agriculture is likely to provide a lot of early carbon wins as the economy moves toward net-zero. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan agrees, saying it will create better transparency and confidence in carbon markets.

“There’s just so much that we can do with nature-based solutions,” she says.  “I think it’s been undervalued and under stood in the capacity to take this around the world.”

While the bill was passed by an overwhelming majority in the Senate, it still needs to move through the House before the end of the year or be reintroduced in 2022.

Both spoke about U.S. efforts and the role of government in the climate crisis during a panel at the U.N. ‘COP26’ climate conference.