22
Aug
Groups Call for Organic Action to Implement Climate Solutions under Historic Federal Law
(Beyond Pesticides, August 22, 2022) The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is, as President Biden claims, “The single most aggressive action the U.S. is taking to tackle the climate crisis and create clean energy solutions in American history.” However, that is a low bar to clear. There is much more required to meet the President’s climate goals and much is needed to ensure that the IRA is implemented in a way that helps farmers, fenceline communities, and biodiversity. As stated by Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, “President Biden and his administration should take this moment not only to celebrate, but also to recommit and refocus on addressing the environmental injustice and wildlife crises.” For more in-depth coverage, see Beyond Pesticides’ Daily News.
We cannot meet climate goals while maintaining a dependence on fossil fuels. Eliminating that dependence requires more than a shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, shifting from oil- and gas-generated electricity to wind and solar generation, or adopting quick fixes like carbon capture. It requires us to think of systems differently. Conserving energy by reducing consumption, eliminating planned obsolescence in products, better urban planning, and improved agricultural systems is as important as producing power differently.
Organic agriculture, with its elimination of chemical fertilizers and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, is an example of an improved system. Organic producers are required to create and act upon an organic system plan that maximizes biological diversity and minimizes adverse environmental impacts. Organic farming increases sequestration of carbon in the soil. Provisions in the IRA that enhance the success of organic farmers and encourage transition to organic farming promote a climate-friendly system.
The organic system should be applied to all land management. Organic farming and land management not only help meet climate goals, but also reduce the impacts of hazardous chemicals and resource extraction on fenceline communities and ecosystems, making it responsive to environmental justice threats.
As monies are expended under this legislation, the government must prioritize programs that attack the existential crises associated with pesticide threats, including health, biodiversity, and climate. This mandate must come from the White House and ensure that all funds first and foremost effect a transformative change necessary to meet the current looming crises. To this end, 100% of funds dedicated to conservation (Conservation Stewardship Program and all other affected agricultural programs), environmental quality incentives program (EQIP), environmental justice, and other related programs, must go to organic transition that eliminates toxic pesticides and fossil fuel-based chemicals and fertilizers.
Experts have now identified the current climate emergency, a health emergency, and an ecological emergency. Advocates are calling on President Biden to heed calls to declare a climate emergency and initiate creative, systemic solutions to existential threats to human life and life on Earth.
Members of U.S. Congress
Congratulations! The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed, “the single most aggressive action the U.S. is taking to tackle the climate crisis and create clean energy solutions in American history.” However, that is a low bar to clear. There is much more required to meet our climate goals, and much is needed to ensure that the IRA is implemented in a way that helps farmers, fenceline communities, and biodiversity. As stated by Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, “President Biden and his administration should take this moment not only to celebrate, but also to recommit and refocus on addressing the environmental injustice and wildlife crises.”
We cannot meet climate goals while maintaining a dependence on fossil fuels. Eliminating that dependence requires more than a shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, shifting from oil- and gas-generated electricity to wind and solar generation, or adopting quick fixes like carbon capture. It requires us to think of systems differently. Conserving energy by reducing consumption, eliminating planned obsolescence in products, better urban planning, and improved agricultural systems is as important as producing power differently to meet the existential crises of the day.
Organic agriculture, with its elimination of chemical fertilizers and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, is an example of an improved system. Organic producers are required to create and act upon an organic system plan that maximizes biological diversity and minimizes adverse environmental impacts. Organic farming increases sequestration of carbon in the soil. Provisions in the IRA that enhance the success of organic farmers and encourage transition to organic farming promote a climate-friendly system.
The organic system should be applied to all land management. Organic farming and land management not only help meet climate goals, but also reduce impacts of hazardous chemicals and resource extraction on fenceline communities and ecosystems.
As monies are authorized and appropriated under this and much needed future legislation, Congress must prioritize programs that attack the existential crises associated with pesticide threats, including health, biodiversity, and climate. Congress must mandate the expenditure of funds, first and foremost, to effect a transformative change necessary to meet the looming crises. To this end, 100% of funds dedicated to conservation (Conservation Stewardship Program and all other affected agricultural programs), environmental quality incentives program (EQIP), environmental justice, and other related program, must go to organic transition that eliminates toxic pesticides and fossil fuel-based chemicals and fertilizers.
We are experiencing a climate emergency, a health emergency, and an ecological emergency. I call upon you to heed calls to declare a climate emergency and initiate creative, systemic solutions to existential threats to human life and life on Earth.
In addition, please support H.R. 794, which requires President Biden to declare a climate emergency and prioritize investments and actions enabling a racially and socially just transition to a clean energy economy. Thank you.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Department of Interior
Congratulations! The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed, “the single most aggressive action the U.S. is taking to tackle the climate crisis and create clean energy solutions in American history.” However, that is a low bar to clear. There is much more required to meet your climate goals, and much is needed to ensure that the IRA is implemented in a way that helps farmers, fenceline communities, and biodiversity. As stated by Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, “[You] should take this moment not only to celebrate, but also to recommit and refocus on addressing the environmental injustice and wildlife crises.”
We cannot meet climate goals while maintaining a dependence on fossil fuels. Eliminating that dependence requires more than a shift from gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles, shifting from oil- and gas-generated electricity to wind and solar generation, or adopting quick fixes like carbon capture. It requires us to think of systems differently. Conserving energy by reducing consumption, eliminating planned obsolescence in products, better urban planning, and improved agricultural systems is as important as producing power differently to meet the existential crises of the day.
Organic agriculture, with its elimination of chemical fertilizers and reduced dependence on fossil fuels, is an example of an improved system. Organic producers are required to create and act upon an organic system plan that maximizes biological diversity and minimizes adverse environmental impacts. Organic farming increases sequestration of carbon in the soil. Provisions in the IRA that enhance the success of organic farmers and encourage transition to organic farming promote a climate-friendly system.
The organic system should be applied to all land management. Organic farming and land management not only help meet climate goals, but also reduce impacts of hazardous chemicals and resource extraction on fenceline communities and ecosystems.
As monies are expended under this legislation, the government must prioritize programs that attack the existential crises associated with pesticide threats, including health, biodiversity, and climate. This mandate must come from the White House and ensure that all funds, first and foremost, effect a transformative change necessary to meet the looming crises. To this end, 100% of funds dedicated to conservation (Conservation Stewardship Program and all other affected agricultural programs), environmental quality incentives program (EQIP), environmental justice, and other related program, must go to organic transition that eliminates toxic pesticides and fossil fuel-based chemicals and fertilizers.
We are experiencing a climate emergency, a health emergency, and an ecological emergency. I call upon you to encourage President Biden to declare a climate emergency and initiate creative, systemic solutions to existential threats to human life and life on Earth.
Thank you.
