Comment Log Display

On behalf of the California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN) 
and our member groups, including California Certified Organic
Farmers (CCOF), Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF),
Ecological Farming Association (EFA), Occidental Arts & Ecology
Center (OAEC), and Center for Food Safety (CFS), we are pleased to
provide the following comments regarding CARB’s draft Concept Paper
for the Cap-and-Trade Auction Proceeds Second Investment Plan.

California’s agricultural landscapes, which cover nearly a third of
the state’s landmass, hold tremendous potential for carbon
sequestration, greenhouse gas reduction, and avoidance of future
emissions. At the same time, improved management of these
landscapes can produce significant co-benefits, most notably in the
form of greater climate change resiliency and improved air and
water quality. 

Our overarching interest is to ensure that sustainable and organic
agricultural solutions to climate change are sufficiently
encompassed in the next 3-year Investment Plan. As the Concept
Paper notes, Governor Brown has emphasized the role of carbon
storage on farms and rangelands in his 2030 climate and energy
goals for the state. The challenges to achieving this vision cannot
be overcome without robust investments that demonstrate how
farmers, ranchers, and landowners can benefit from implementing
climate-friendly agricultural practices and farmland protection.

The attachment to this message includes our specific comments on
the Concept Paper. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.