Through its research and advocacy, the Northeast Climate Alliance and its member groups are identifying and promoting natural strategies to protect, manage, and restore land and water that will be critical for achieving global climate goals. At the same time, they are working at all levels of government to secure funding to implement them.
In April 2021, The Northeast Carbon Alliance (NECA) partnered with the Legislative Climate Alliance working group of the Council of State Governments - East to co-host a virtual conference to explore how Northeastern states can develop regional strategies to advance natural climate solutions. Legislative and executive leaders shared groundbreaking work already occurring in both the public and private sectors. In addition to identifying best practices related to carbon sequestration on natural and working lands, the conference provided a starting point for enhancing regional communication that could lead to synergistic actions and policies in member states.
Research conducted by members of the Northeast Carbon Alliance that quantifies the effectiveness of natural solutions for confronting climate change will play an increasingly important role in informing efforts to advocate for policies that support and incentivize farmers’ adoption of regenerative agricultural practices, as well as legislation regarding sustainable forestry management and wetlands protection.
NECA is committed to sharing all data, broadening its potential to have the widest possible scope and impact in shaping policy. In the future, NECA also plans to engage in its own advocacy to advance measures that will boost carbon sequestration, building upon the work already underway by individual NECA member groups. Among its priorities is ensuring that the upcoming federal Farm Bill becomes a vehicle for converting from conventional to regenerative agriculture and supporting the vital role that Soil and Water Conservation Districts can play in this context.
Some NECA members have joined the Northeast Land and Food Resiliency Network, which also includes land trusts in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. The group has drafted a shared platform and is mounting a campaign to educate congressional leaders and Biden administration appointees about the importance of a strong regional food and land system — including the potential for climate solutions on natural and working lands.
Assemblymember Didi Barrett champions pilot project for Columbia and Dutchess Counties.
This program aims to reduce the impact of agriculture on climate change and to increase New York farms' resiliency.
Supporting New York's diverse agricultural businesses in improving water quality and environmental stewardship.
A bill to provide incentives for agricultural producers to carry out climate stewardship practices, to provide for increased reforestation across the United States, to establish the Coastal and Estuary Resilience Grant Program, and for other purposes.
The ARA increases funding for existing programs and creates new programs in the areas of research, incentives to improve soil health, pasture-based livestock, on-farm renewable energy, food loss and waste, and farmland preservation and farm viability.
This bill would provide direct debt relief for small farmers around the country by providing a one-time loan forgiveness of up to $250,000 across three types of USDA FSA loans: Direct Operating, Direct Farm Ownership, and Emergency Loan.
This program supports technical assistance to socially disadvantaged and young and beginning farmers and ranchers through the community-based organizations, tribes, and minority serving educational institutions best prepared to reach and serve them.
The Justice for Black Farmers Act would enact reforms within USDA to finally end discrimination within the agency, would protect the remaining Black farmers from losing their land, and would provide land grants to create a new generation of Black farmers and begin to restore the land base that has been lost by Black farmers due to discrimination.
The 2018 Farm Bill was enacted on December 20, 2018, and provides financial and technical support for America’s farmers, ranchers, and forest stewards through a variety of safety net, farm loan, conservation, and disaster assistance programs.
