U.S. Agriculture's Role in Addressing Climate Change
Evan Branosky's WRI policy note "Agriculture and Climate Change: The Policy Context" takes a look at some of the impacts climate change may have on U.S. agriculture, how agriculture contributes to climate change, and how farmers might benefit from participating in efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses.
For example, changes in U.S. climate may lead to altered pest lifespans and migrations, which may require increased pesticide use. At the same time, farmers that reduce their own emissions may be able to sell them for cash in a trading market.
Branosky writes that while it is possible for farmers to benefit financially from emissions trading, "no current proposed federal legislation has recognized the ability of the agricultural sector to provide other substantial sources of GHG reductions through N20 and CH4 mitigation actions." Included is a breakdown of selected legislative proposals and the role for agriculture in each.
The note is part of a WRI series exploring policy issues and the environment.
A forthcoming policy note will explain how the agricultural sector can reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions and how the 2007 Farm Bill can address climate change.
| Title of Legislation | Bill Number | Sponsor(s) | Climate Goals | Role of Agriculture |
| Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative | N/A | State Governors | Reduces GHG emissions in the electric power sector to 10 percent below current levels by 2018. | Electric utilities may use GHG emission reduction credits to offset 3.3–10 percent of their total GHG emissions. The percent of allowable reductions depends on market conditions. Agriculture can provide these offsets by using manure management to avoid CH4 emmissions. |
| California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 | California Assembly Bill No. 32 | Speaker Fabian Núñez and Assemblywoman Fran Pavley | Begins in 2010 to reduce total state emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. | Does not design an emissions trading system, but requires the State Air Resources Board to adopt a statewide GHG limit and regulations that allow the state to reach that limit. They could choose to implement an emissions trading program which could include agriculture as a source of offsets. The Bill also requires the Board to identify emissions reductions opportunities through carbon sequestration regardless of their decision to implement or not implement an emissions trading program. |
| Safe Climate Act of 2006 | H.R. 5642 | Representative Henry Waxman | Restricts GHG emissions in 2010 to the 2009 level. GHG emissions are educed by 2 percent each year beginning in 2011, reaching 1990 levels by 2020. GHG emissions are further reduced by 5 percent per year starting in 2021 to reach 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. | Grants the President, in consultation with Congress, power to distribute allowances free of charge to the agricultural sector. Farmers can receive credit for stored carbon and sell it on the emissions trading market. |
| Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2005 | S.1151 | Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman | Decreases GHG emissions from power, transportation, industrial, and commercial sectors to 2000 levels by 2010. | Participating companies can offset up to 15 percent of their cap using GHG emissions reduction credits. Agriculture competes with other sectors to provide these credits. Only credits from carbon storage are allowed. |
| Clean Air Planning Act of 2006 | S.2724 | Senator Tom Carper | Restricts GHG emissions from the electric power sector at the 2006 level between 2010 and 2014. Further reduces GHG emissions to the 2001 level beginning in 2015. | GHG emission reduction credits from sectors outside of the electric power sector can offset 100 percent of a company’s regulated GHG emission level. Agriculture must compete with other sectors that also provide credits. |
| Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2006 | S.3698 | Senators Jim Jeffords and Barbara Boxer | Starting in 2010, reduces GHG emissions from the electric power sector to 1990 levels by 2020. From 2020, GHG emissions are further reduced to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. | Like the California Bill, it does not specifi cally design an emissions trading market, but instructs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set standards for measurement, monitoring, and verifi cation of carbon storage in agricultural soils. |
| Global Warming Reduction Act of 2006 | S.4039 | Senators John Kerry and Olympia | Freezes emissions in 2010 and reduces them yearly to a final goal of 65 percent below 2000 levels by 2050. | Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish standards for accrediting, monitoring, measuring and verifying biological carbon sequestration. Establishes a National Climate Change Vulnerability and Resilience Program that assesses potential local, State, regional and national climate change impacts. |