Climate Mitigation &
Water Resilience
Climate Mitigation Policy
Western states including California and Oregon, and countries that signed the United Nations Paris Agreement have established strong emission reduction targets. However, both the U.N. and California continue pursuing their emission reduction targets through carbon offset projects that have failed to reduce emissions. Offset projects include harmful new dams, tree plantations that displace Indigenous communities, and even coal power plants. These projects generate tradeable emission reduction credits (aka carbon credits) that allow polluters to avoid reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Climate Change & Water Allocation
California’s water allocation and storage policies have yet to catch up with the reality that climate change is reducing snowpack and spring water supplies. We must amend our water allocation policies to reflect this climate reality. One of the biggest supporters and beneficiaries of this transition is the growing community of sustainable, water-efficient family farmers.
Climate Change & Water Conveyance
Water conveyance is one of California’s largest users of electricity, and agriculture is California’s largest consumer of water. Water allocation policies that prioritize water for ecosystems and sustainable agriculture will have the co-benefit of reducing emissions, and thus satisfying emission reduction targets of the California Global Warming Solutions Act.
Climate Adaptation & Water Scarcity
Climate adaptation policies and funding programs promote agricultural water conservation, and forestry practices that protect water sources. Unfortunately, water conserved through these public programs is typically not dedicated for ecosystem use (rivers, lakes & wetlands), even when this is the specific wish of farmers and forestry professionals engaging in water conservation and source protection. To adapt to climate change, we must start allocating water that is conserved through publicly-funded projects to rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands.
