All –

FOE strongly urges groups to sign on to the following letter to oppose the  carbon markets and offsetting schemes proposed by some members of Congress, with support from the Biden administration. Offsets and carbon markets are ineffective at reducing emissions; increase air pollution and other harmful health and environmental impacts in environmental justice, Indigenous, and low wealth communities; and undermine efforts to build a healthy, sustainable, and resilient food system. We went down this carbon market path a decade ago with Waxman-Markey and must not repeat that “mistake” in 2021. The letter and sign-on form are here -- sign-on letter.  Deadline is April 2 (Friday).

Please see the email below from Food and Water Watch for more information.

Thank you for your consideration,

Karen

From: Jim Walsh jwalsh@fwwatch.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2021 10:51 AM
Subject: GCSA

All:

Friends and Allies:

As Congress begins to discuss ways to address the climate crisis, fossil fuel interest are teaming up with Big Ag to push carbon offsets as a “solution” to the climate crisis and a boon for US farmers. In reality these offset schemes are little more than a scheme to prop up factory farms, increase pollution in environmental justice communities  and continue our reliance on fossil fuels.

Join us in opposing offset schemes: https://forms.gle/jPvrYZLLM5SKeajy8

We soon expect the reintroduction of the Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021, legislation that will lay the groundwork for a national carbon offset program by creating a network of US Department of Agriculture certified 3^rd party carbon offset verifiers. These verified credits could be purchased by power plants, refineries, and other polluters, which will use them to offset their emissions instead of reducing and eliminating pollution. The previous version of the legislation is here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/7393/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%5B%22growing+climate+solutions+act%22%5D%7D&r=1&s=2

We worked collaboratively with over a dozen organization representing farmers, front line communities, people of faith, businesses, consumers and more to draft this letter that takes a strong stand against this climate scam, and call for polices that will support sustainable farming and a transition off fossil fuels.

Support Sustainable Ag and a Real Climate Solutions:https://forms.gle/jPvrYZLLM5SKeajy8

I would like to thank the original signatories who worked diligently to pull this together:

Biofuelwatch
Businesses for a Livable Climate
Call to Action Colorado
CatholicNetwork.US
Family Farm Defenders
Food & Water Watch
Friends of the Earth
Indigenous Environmental Network
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Loretto Earth Network
Organic Consumers Association
Progressive Democrats of America
Public Justice
RapidShift Network

Please let me know if you have any questions or need any additional information about this legislation.

Jim Walsh
Senior Energy Policy Analyst
Food & Water Watch and Food & Water Action

(C) 732.979.6883
@jimrwalsh

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