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May 7, 2021
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and U.S. Nature4Climate (USN4C) held a briefing on the role natural climate solutions can play in both mitigating climate change and stimulating the economy. Natural climate solutions, such as sustainable forestry and regenerative agriculture, reduce carbon emissions and sequester carbon through management of the world’s forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Policymakers are increasingly recognizing the important role America’s natural and working lands can play in efforts to tackle climate change. There is also growing evidence that these natural climate solutions can serve as a powerful mechanism to drive an equitable economic recovery—with lasting benefits for both rural and urban communities.
Panelists provided an overview of the diverse range of climate-sensitive strategies that can be implemented in America’s farms and ranches, forests, grasslands and urban communities. They also discussed the many economic benefits—from jobs to increased land productivity to new income for landowners—that can be derived by implementing natural climate solutions. We will also hear from on-the-ground practitioners who are already unlocking these benefits in both rural and urban communities. Finally, they explored how major U.S. corporations are supporting the adoption of natural climate solutions to help meet their sustainability goals and improve their bottom lines.
Catherine Macdonald, North America Director - Natural Climate Solutions, The Nature Conservancy
Kris Reynolds, Midwest Regional Director, American Farmland Trust; Farmer
Robert Shaut, Director of Tree Operations, Casey Trees
Chris Adamo, Vice President for Federal & Industry Affairs, Danone
Q&A Session
The work you each described today will be happening alongside things like increased urbanization and water scarcity. How do we build in staying power to natural climate solutions so they do not go away because of trends impacting them five to 10 years from now?
What are some of the best opportunities for natural climate solutions to contribute to our resilience and ability to adapt to climate change?
Compiled by: Jocelyn Rendon