We know from the Pachamama Alliance Introduction to Drawdown course that Regenerative Agriculture and Forest Protection are two of the solutions identified by Project Drawdown for keeping a significant amount of carbon in the soil and out of the atmosphere.
Oregon has an opportunity to support both these ready-to-implement solutions but they appear to have been overlooked in the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)’s most recent Rule Making document. Now local scientists and activists Dr. Ray Seidler and Dr. Alan Journet are urging us all to write to DEQ to correct the oversight. The more of us to comment, the better.
Here is the email address at DEQ where you can send your comments: GHGC*****@**q.state.or.us
Note that the comment period closes on Oct. 4, 2021 at 4 pm.
Below is one example of a letter—this one written by SOPA Core Team member Julie Caldwell—that provides some helpful background information.
TO: GHGC*****@**q.state.or.us FROM: Julie Caldwell SUBJECT: Don’t Forget Carbon Sequestration in Oregon Climate Plan Dear DEQ (Oregon Department of Environmental Quality), According to the book “A Finer Future” by Hunter Lovins, scientists have determined that sequestering enough carbon by 2030 buys us enough time to reduce our carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. We need both actions. Sequestering carbon and reducing our carbon emissions. This comment politely demands that Oregon land holders (foresters, agriculturalists) have a voluntary option to enter a carbon sequestration program on their lands and receive a financial incentive to offset some of the startup costs. The Oregon Global Warming Commission said in their “Natural and Working Lands Proposal” issued in July of this year, “Carbon (dioxide) sequestered in natural and working lands reduced total GHG emissions in the United States by 12 percent (EPA 2020). Researchers estimate that the amount of carbon sequestered annually in natural and working lands could be more than doubled by protecting and restoring natural habitats and modifying management practices in our forests, farms and rangeland.” I don’t understand why, in the final draft rules document released on August 5, 2021, Oregon DEQ has not provided any option for Oregon land holders to receive financial incentives to enter a carbon sequestration program that would significantly reduce net Oregon greenhouse gas emissions. I note that the DEQ program already includes a Community Climate Investment fund that offers ‘offsets’ allowing emitters who can’t easily meet their emissions reduction requirements to buy ‘credits’ to achieve compliance. Unfortunately, under this plan these funds can only be expended on projects that promote emissions reduction (like improving home insulation, windows, heating/cooling systems, etc.), not for sequestration. Despite repeated requests to include it, it appears that carbon sequestration has been excluded, and I urge you to change that promptly. My grandchildren (have four minors living in Oregon) and their family members, including myself, need and want a voluntary carbon sequestration program in Oregon. Thank you for reading my comment, and taking note of my request. Sincerely, Julie Caldwell Founder, Emerging Futures Network Member, Southern Oregon Food Solutions & Southern Oregon Pachamama Alliance |