Addressing Climate Change Without Legislation - Volume 3: USDA

109 Pages Posted: 28 Apr 2015

See all articles by Romany Webb

Romany Webb

Columbia University - Sabin Center for Climate Change Law

Steven Weissman

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law

Date Written: August 2014

Abstract

The agricultural industry is currently the fifth largest source of greenhouse gases in the U.S., contributing over eight percent of national emissions in 2012. Reducing the industry’s greenhouse gas emissions will therefore be important to avoid significant temperature increases and other climatic changes in future years. The extent of future climate change can be further minimized by enhancing carbon sequestration on agricultural and forest lands. These lands currently absorb approximately thirteen percent of annual greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., but have the capacity to absorb up to twenty five percent of annual emissions.

As the federal agency overseeing the agricultural and forestry sectors, the U.S. Department of Agriculture can play an important role in mitigating climate change. The Department has already acted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities and increase carbon sequestration on agricultural lands. However, its work is far from complete. This report identifies additional actions the Department can take, under existing law, to reduce emissions and increase sequestration.

Keywords: agriculture, USDA, climate change, greenhouse gases, carbon sequestration

Suggested Citation

Webb, Romany and Weissman, Steven, Addressing Climate Change Without Legislation - Volume 3: USDA (August 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2599749 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2599749

Romany Webb (Contact Author)

Columbia University - Sabin Center for Climate Change Law ( email )

Jerome Greene Hall
435 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10027
United States

Steven Weissman

University of California, Berkeley - School of Law ( email )

215 Boalt Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
United States

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