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Introducing a different way for farmers to invest in their lands and sustainable practices
Soil Enrichment Protocol provides long-term incentives for farmers and landowners to transition towards more sustainable and profitable farming systems, striking a powerful blow against climate change
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors adopted the Soil Enrichment Protocol (SEP) Version 1.0, creating a new way for farmers to improve the health, profitability and resilience of their agricultural lands while helping address climate change, which continues to have a significantly negative impact on their work and livelihoods. In the US, agriculture accounts for nine percent of all GHG emissions, and agricultural lands have a unique capacity to sequester, store and emit CO2 while sustainable management of these lands also can reduce emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O. This offset protocol provides an opportunity for farmers to invest in sustainable management of their agricultural lands while addressing climate change for the benefit of everyone.
Farming in a way that promotes soil enrichment improves the health of soil over time through adaptive change in farming practices. The SEP provides guidance for developing offset projects that involve the adoption of agricultural management practices that are intended to increase soil organic carbon storage and/or decrease net emissions of CO2, CH4 and N2O from agricultural operations. The protocol rewards a wide variety of practices that support soil enrichment activities, and it allows farmers and landowners at their discretion to apply the most appropriate practices for their given situations and for such lands to be aggregated together for larger, more economically feasible projects.
“Farmers are stewards of the land, and unfortunately, their work and livelihoods have been seriously impacted by global climate change. The Soil Enrichment Protocol provides a tool for them to minimize the impact as much as possible, address climate change to help prevent even more detrimental future effects and change farming practices in a way that can be financially feasible and rewarding for them,” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors. “This protocol was developed by a workgroup that included farmers, academics, agronomists, environmental representatives and corporate voices. It was truly a collaborative and thorough effort that went through two public comment periods to provide opportunities for all voices to be heard. The end result is guidance on soil enrichment offset projects that we expect will lead to projects that make a remarkable difference in more ways than one.”
“Farmers are ready to be part of solutions, rather than be blamed for problems. Through a robust partnership between farmers, companies and others, we can work together towards a positive outcome in building agriculture’s sustainable future,” said Mitchell Hora, Founder and CEO of Continuum Ag. “Now more than ever, farmers need opportunities for economic relief, and carbon markets are one of the most promising developments for future success and providing hope for a prosperous future for family farms. Farmers need financial help now more than ever, and they need tools to help improve their farms for future generations.”
Projects developed under the SEP must be located on land that is cropland or grassland and remains in agricultural production throughout the offset crediting period. Projects may not include areas that have been cleared of native ecosystems or other restored or protected areas within 10 years prior to the offset project start date. Land management practices considered for soil enrichment projects include those that result in one or more changes to any of the following:
- Fertilizer (organic or inorganic) application
- Application of soil amendments (organic or inorganic)
- Water management/irrigation
- Tillage and/or residue management
- Crop planting and harvesting
- Fossil fuel usage
- Grazing practices and emissions
In addition to the requirements for improving and demonstrating activities to increase soil organic carbon, projects must demonstrate they will not undermine progress on other environmental issues such as air and water quality, endangered species and natural resource protection and environmental justice. Projects also must ensure no harm is inflicted, and co-benefits such as reductions in other air pollutants, improvements in water quality and enhancement of wildlife habitat are encouraged. Additionally, the Climate Action Reserve recognizes and deeply appreciates the significant contributions already made by farmers who have implemented sustainable agricultural practices and served as true pioneers and leaders.
Please visit the Climate Action Reserve website to learn more about the SEP and the Reserve’s other protocols.
Adipic Acid Production Protocol adopted by Reserve Board
Nylon is about to become less climate intensive
New offset protocol opens opportunities for greenhouse gas emissions reductions during the manufacture of adipic acid, a key compound used in the manufacture of nylon
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors adopted the Adipic Acid Production Protocol (AAPP) Version 1.0 today, opening the opportunity for significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions from the manufacture of products that people use in their lives every day. Adipic acid is among the top 50 synthetic chemicals produced in the United States each year. The largest use for adipic acid is in the manufacture of nylon, which is used in carpets, tire cord, safety air bags, apparel, upholstery, auto parts, and in hundreds of other applications that impact our life in many ways.
The offset protocol creates new financial incentives for the installation and use of emission control technology to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions as a byproduct of adipic acid production. N2O is an unavoidable byproduct that is emitted in the production of adipic acid. It is a potent greenhouse gas with 298 times the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide . For every molecule of adipic acid produced, a molecule of N2O is produced as a byproduct. In 2018, adipic acid plants were responsible for a reported 10.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. In the absence of an offset system or a regulatory reason to reduce GHG emissions, facilities have no incentive to make a capital investment to adjust their operations.
“Climate change is here. Its impacts are being felt across the nation, from coast to coast, as we deal with wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, hurricanes, and flooding. We need to seize upon every opportunity to meet the climate challenge, and this protocol is a great tool for accelerating climate solutions in the industrial sector.” said Linda Adams, Chair of the Climate Action Reserve Board of Directors. “The manufacturing process for the materials we use and rely on in our daily lives, including nylon and other synthetic products, generates N2O as a byproduct of production. While N2O is commonly known as laughing gas, it isn’t a laughing matter in regard to our environment. It’s a harmful, potent greenhouse gas.”
Adipic acid plants that destroy or recycle N2O by installing and operating new N2O abatement technology or implementing a capital investment expenditure to improve the abatement efficiency of an existing control technology are eligible under the protocol. Both new installations and enhancement of adipic acid projects face financial barriers to project implementation. The sizeable investment commitment required to implement technological upgrades meets the protocol’s performance threshold to ensure the additionality of the project, meaning the project would not have happened without the incentive of the carbon offset market. Eligibility is limited to projects at existing, relocated, or upgraded adipic acid plants in the United States, thereby precluding the possibility of incentivizing new adipic acid plants. Projects may receive credits for up to two ten-year crediting periods, or until the date the project activity is required by law.
Public comments and responses to public comments for the draft Soil Enrichment Protocol V1.0 are now posted online. The protocol will go before the Reserve Board for consideration for adoption on September 30.
Public comments and responses to public comments for the draft Soil Enrichment Protocol V1.0 are now posted online. The protocol will go before the Reserve Board for consideration for adoption on September 30.
Public comments and responses to public comments for the draft Adipic Acid Production Protocol V1.0 are now posted online. The protocol will go before the Reserve Board for consideration for adoption on September 30.
The updated Grassland Project Handbook v2.1a is now available
We’re hiring! Join our team as a Business Development Manager
Women in the Climate Change Workforce infographic
Women are uniquely situated to be champions of change, including in the workforce, and while more women today are represented in leadership positions, there is still a significant gender gap. Women, especially women of color, continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions even though it is well established that diversity is highly beneficial to creativity, innovation, effectiveness and ultimately problem-solving.
Please join our Climate Week NYC event, Women in the Climate Change Workforce, to hear from an inspiring panel of women in climate and environmental leadership positions sharing their experiences and what they view as the challenges and opportunities to institute equity, diversity, and inclusion in environmental organizations. Speakers include:
- Teveia Barnes
Former Executive Director, California Infrastructure and Economic Development Bank and Board Member, Climate Action Reserve (moderator) - Mary Nichols
Chair, California Air Resources Board - Nancy Sutley
Senior Assistant General Manager & Chief Sustainability Officer, LADWP - Marilyn WaiteProgram Officer in Environment, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
Women in the Climate Change Workforce infographic pdf | png
The draft Soil Enrichment Protocol is available for a second public comment period – comments due August 25