Oregon’s Untapped Climate Solution
Written by Natural Climate Solutions Partners, February 9th, 2023
Oregon landscapes shape the beauty, culture, and economy of the state. Farms, forests, urban parks, wetlands, and other lands are a source of life-sustaining resources, community vitality, and pride. We need to protect these lands from climate extremes and harness their potential as a climate solution.
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources has scheduled a hearing on SB 530 (Natural Climate Solutions)! SB 530 is common-sense legislation that will help increase carbon sequestration on our forests, agricultural lands, and wetlands and improve the resilience of our water, wildlife, and communities. It will provide incentives and support to forest owners, farmers, and ranchers to implement Natural Climate Solutions.
Please sign up to testify! See the steps below.
Use the below guidance, which includes information on how to testify, sample testimony, and talking points, to show your support for SB 530 at the upcoming hearing!
What: Senate Natural Resources Committee hearing on SB 530
When: Wednesday, February 15th at 8:00 am PT
Where: In person and online (see details below)
HOW TO ENGAGE
Sign up to testify
SNR website → Click ‘“Register to testify” button next to SB 530 → Identify whether you will be testifying in person or virtually.
IN PERSON:
Oregon Capitol, 900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301, Room HR B
Note: Plan to arrive no later than 7:45 am
VIRTUAL: After signing up, you will receive an email from OLIS with a personalized Microsoft Teams link, which you should use to join the hearing. For more info, see this how-to guide.
*Note: Please submit a written version of your verbal testimony.
Submit written testimony
SB 530 Testimony Form → Enter your information → ‘Support’ → Upload your testimony by no later than 8:00 am on Friday, February 17th
SAMPLE VERBAL TESTIMONY SCRIPT*
Chair Golden, Vice-Chair Girod, members of the Committee, for the record my name is [full name]. [Provide position/affiliation or place of residence].
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today in support of SB 530, which will help maximize carbon sequestration and improve the resilience of Oregon’s forests, agricultural lands, wetlands, and natural resource economies.
I am proud to be part of a broad coalition of non-profit organizations, local elected officials, farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners across Oregon who are eager to see the legislature advance Natural Climate Solutions and pass SB 530 this session.
I support SB 530 because [state your personal reasons– feel free to pull from “additional talking points” below! If you’re a landowner/manager, please share about the practices you’re implementing or interested in implementing on your land.]
Ex: “Natural Climate Solutions are a win-win for Oregon’s climate and for farmers, ranchers, forest owners, and entire communities across the state: The same practices that sequester and store carbon also make our lands and waters more resilient to climate-fueled drought, wildfires, and extreme temperatures. SB 530 will provide the resources needed to implement these practices.”
For these reasons, I strongly urge you to vote YES on SB 530. Thank you for your time.
*Note: Remember to keep your testimony to 2 minutes (~250 words) or less!
ADDITIONAL TALKING POINTS
The Climate Crisis
Oregon has made important progress in recent years to reduce emissions from some of our top polluting sectors; however, we know that additional state action will be necessary to build on this progress.
Science tells us that in order to avoid climate catastrophe, we must transform the way we use and manage our land– from how we grow our food, to how we manage our forests and wetlands.
Advancing Natural Climate Solutions will be key to achieving net zero emissions by no later than 2050, which is what the IPCC has concluded is necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
At the same time, there is an urgent need to protect Oregon families, communities, and natural resource economies from ever-worsening climate impacts.
Natural Climate Solutions are a win-win for Oregon’s climate and for farmers, ranchers, forest owners, and entire communities across the state: The same practices that sequester and store carbon also make our lands and waters more resilient to climate-fueled drought, wildfires, and extreme temperatures.
By investing in Natural Climate Solutions, SB 530 will both help address climate change and make our natural resource economy more resilient in the face of ever-worsening climate impacts.
Landmanager + Stakeholder Benefits
Healthy forests, waters, and agricultural lands are vital to Oregon’s economy, culture, and way of life.
Recent climate-fueled wildfires, droughts, and unprecedented heat waves in Oregon are devastating to our natural resources and the local economies and communities that depend on them.
Natural Climate Solutions are a win-win for Oregon’s climate and for farmers, ranchers, forest owners, and entire communities across the state: The same practices that sequester and store carbon also make our lands and waters more resilient to climate-fueled drought, wildfires, and extreme temperatures.
Healthy soils produce healthier crops, retain more moisture, and improve water quality, while increasing producers’ net earnings over time.
Healthy forests provide clean drinking water, habitat for fish and wildlife, and protection from wildfire.
Healthy coastal wetlands sequester carbon as they filter water, provide critical habitat, and protect communities from storm surges.
Note: If you’re a farmer, rancher, or forestland owner please share a little bit about the practices you’re implementing or interested in implementing on your land. The Natural Climate Solutions Bill will provide the incentives and resources that farmers need to implement these practices.
How does SB 530 help?
The legislature has a vital opportunity this session to support and invest in climate-smart land management practices in Oregon by supporting SB 530.
This common sense legislation will help ensure our forests, waters, and agricultural lands and natural resource economy is more resilient in the face of ever-worsening climate impacts, while maximizing carbon sequestration to help achieve our climate goals.
SB 530 will fund and direct state agencies to provide incentives and technical support to forest owners, farmers, and ranchers to implement natural climate solutions on natural and working lands; It will also invest in a comprehensive Oregon natural and working lands inventory and study opportunities for workforce development and training.
In doing so, SB 530 will position the state to harness billions of dollars in recently-passed federal funding and private investments in natural climate solutions, by creating a source of state funding for voluntary actions to remove climate pollution from the atmosphere and store it in natural and working lands.
Federal Funding Opportunity/Nexus
SB 530 will be critical to leveraging historic federal funding that can help Oregon’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners lead on climate solutions and reward their stewardship.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes roughly $30 billion in incentives for climate-smart agriculture, conservation, and sustainable forestry.
The legislature must make the most of this unprecedented opportunity to achieve our climate sequestration and resilience goals and ensure that communities with the greatest need can benefit from these funds.
If you own, manage or reside on forest or farmland and would like to support this bill, we would like to hear from you. Please contact our Climate Director (joseph@kswild.org) if you have any questions, and he can help prepare you to testify, either remotely during the hearing or by delivering written testimony.