President Biden signed a multi-faceted executive order to steer the new administration’s climate crisis objectives. The first part of the executive order addresses the United States’ role in addressing climate concerns in terms of foreign policy and national security. This includes re-joining the Paris Agreement, hosting a Leaders’ Climate Summit, reconvening the Major Economies Forum on energy and climate and establishing the Presidential Envoy for Climate, Secretary John Kerry.

The next major element of the executive order focuses on establishing a path for the U.S. to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. In addition, the executive order emphasizes prioritizing resources for disadvantaged communities through focusing on climate policy solutions in those areas.

The executive orders direct the administration to increase government agency cross-collaboration on these issues. In addition, the executive order establishes the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy creating high-profile positions to advise the Office of the President on Climate. The executive order also establishes the National Climate Task Force – which includes key cabinet members such as the Secretary of Agriculture, Secretary of Labor, Secretary of Environmental Protection and many more.

The order also establishes a few other requirements involving agriculture such as:

  • Establishing a civilian climate corps.
  • A report within in the first 90 days on the goal to conserve 30 percent of lands and water by 2030.
  • Input within the first 60 days from the Secretary of Agriculture on key stakeholders’ suggestions for climate policy.
  • A report in the first 90 days from the Secretary of Agriculture for the Climate Task Force on agriculture and forestry climate strategies.

NASDA is optimistic about the Biden Administration’s intention to include agriculture on tackling climate change. NASDA has been engaging on a variety of agriculture and climate issues that coincide with the executive order. In particular, the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance , of which NASDA is a founding member, plans to meet with the Biden Administration on these issues. As more details are given within the executive order, NASDA will continue to engage in opportunities to develop voluntary and science-based climate solutions that benefit farmers and ranchers while serving society.

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