USDA appoints members to climate solutions council

Council supports farmers in carbon market access

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has established the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council.  

This newly formed group, also called the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council, includes 36 members representing agriculture, forestry, science, and environmental credit markets. 

The council focuses on supporting farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners in adopting sustainable practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and participate in voluntary carbon markets. It aims to lower barriers to entry, improve market efficiency, and ensure transparency in environmental credit systems.

Key roles of the council include - 

• Reviewing protocols for generating environmental credits. 

• Recommending qualifications for technical assistance providers. 

• Advising on sustainable activities for farmers and landowners.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the council’s importance -

“The representatives appointed to this council provide a robust cross section of knowledge and experience to help farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners understand how to use science-based practices to reduce emissions, sequester carbon on their land and access new income streams through carbon markets.”

The council will also report its findings to Congress and provide periodic assessments to the Secretary of Agriculture. Members include experts from federal agencies, private sectors, and scientific research.

To learn more about the council’s work, visit the USDA Greenhouse Gas Advisory Council website.