Webinar: Natural Solutions

Policymakers are increasingly turning to natural solutions to climate change as commonsense policy options for emissions mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. In our next webinar, we’ll take a look at policy proposals intended to expand natural carbon sinks and facilitate private sector investment in voluntary carbon markets. Panelists will include Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR), Senator Mike Braun (R-IN), and David Tenny, President and CEO of the National Alliance of Forest Owners.  

Planting one trillion trees across the world could sequester 205 gigatons of carbon — roughly the equivalent of two-thirds of all manmade carbon since the Industrial Revolution. Rep. Westerman will give his perspective on legislation embracing this goal, the Trillion Trees Act, which he introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year.

While demand for carbon offsets is on the rise, access to voluntary carbon markets remains elusive for many farmers and forest owners. Senator Braun will discuss legislation he recently introduced, the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which seeks to break down barriers to carbon markets by creating a program at the Department of Agriculture to help facilitate participation.

Healthy, working forests and forest products play a critical role in emissions mitigation, adaptation, and increased climate resilience. Dave Tenny provided a private sector perspective on these two bills as well as other initiatives that private forest owners are pursuing.