FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 24, 2021
CONTACT: [email protected]
One Country Project Applauds Senate Passage of the Growing Climate Solutions Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, One Country Project (OCP) applauded the Senate passage of the Growing Climate Solutions Act by a vote of 92-8. The bipartisan legislation will create new opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and landowners to generate revenue and be a key part of the climate change solution by capturing carbon in their soil and adopting climate-smart practices.
“The Growing Climate Solutions Act is an important step to help family farms and rural communities play a leading role in the fight against climate change,” said OCP co-founder Senator Heidi Heitkamp. “Producers across the country already utilize climate-smart practices to grow healthier crops, reduce carbon emissions, and mitigate the impact of global warming events such as drought, flooding, and tornadoes. This bill will reward farmers for their use of such sustainable practices and enable smaller landowners to more fully reap the profits of emerging carbon credit markets. I hope this bill will pass swiftly through the House, so President Biden can sign this legislation into law as we continue to build back better.”
The Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021 is a paramount effort by 55 legislators – Democrats and Republicans from across the United States in both the House and Senate – to help farmers, foresters, and ranchers to profit from reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The agriculture industry is currently responsible for 10 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and this legislation will help farmers and ranchers to take an active role in confronting the climate challenge and use their knowledge and skills to reap immediate economic benefits and safeguard future harvests by reducing their own carbon emissions.
The bill will reduce barriers to participating in carbon markets while driving further policy innovation to help rural America benefit from climate change solutions. This historic legislation will now go to the House of Representatives for consideration.
To learn more about carbon sequestration and its benefits to the environment and American farmers, check out the first installment of our Rural Roadmap Policy Series on carbon sequestration HERE.
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About One Country Project
The One Country Project, led by former Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, is working to promote greater opportunities for rural communities and ensure leaders earn their support. One Country is reengaging with rural Americans, serving as a clearinghouse of research and information for rural Americans, and working to ensure leaders regain trust by fighting for these communities. To learn more, visit the website, OneCountryProject.org.