Reports

Lessons for the EU’s carbon farming plans

As Europe considers a carbon removal framework that includes so-called “carbon farming” from the agriculture sector to meet its net zero goal by 2050, the U.S. experience with agriculture carbon offset credits should raise questions about whether such an approach is desirable or feasible. Agriculture carbon markets have floundered in the U.S.

World’s largest meat company, JBS, increases emissions in five years despite 2040 net zero climate target, continues to greenwash its huge climate footprint

Payments for Pollution: How federal conservation programs can better benefit farmers and the environment

Emissions Impossible Europe

Executive Summary At a time when governments must dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global meat and dairy giants in Europe are increasing emissions by ramping up production and exports.

Forever Chemicals and Agriculture Case Study

Introduction 

New research shows 50 year binge on chemical fertilisers must end to address the climate crisis

The rising costs of synthetic nitrogen (N) fertilisers, triggered by a spike in natural gas prices, has governments panicking about a catastrophic global food crisis. At the same time, new research shows that synthetic N fertilisers are a major driver of the climate crisis, responsible for 1 out every 40 tonnes of GHGs currently pumped into the atmosphere.

Closed out: How U.S. farmers are denied access to conservation programs

According to data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), between 2010 and 2020, just 31% of farmers who applied to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and only 42% of farmers who applied to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) were awarded contracts. Overall, EQIP turned down 946,459 contracts and CSP denied 146,425 contracts, at least partially for lack of funds.

Media Briefing on PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Legislation, January 28, 2021

To read the full statement delivered by Senior Attorney Sharon Treat during the January 28, 2021 Press Conference on Maine PFAS Legislation, please click here. 

The Rural Climate Dialogues

Climate change offers an opportunity to engage differently with rural communities in a way that focuses on solutions rather than assigning blame. Instead of trying to “sell” climate policy to rural communities, we must engage organizations and leaders rooted in rural areas in the development stage to identify solutions that work for them. As important, we need community-level engagement tools designed to overcome our current toxic political environment and map out rural-appropriate responses to climate change that feed up into policy and concrete action.

Agricultural Finance for Climate Resilience

U.S. agricultural financial policy and institutions, both public and private, have not yet adapted to climate change. Instead, Congress responds to more frequent extreme weather events with larger and increasingly frequent ad hoc disaster payments and increasing subsidies for private crop insurance from taxpayer funds. These short-term responses are not sustainable fiscally, economically or environmentally.