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What role will ag play in next climate bill?
Reports out of Washington indicate that revamped climate legislation could be introduced in the Senate by late April.
Senators John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman have spent the past several months crafting the new bill. They have apparently scrapped the controversial “cap and trade” concept contained in the previous climate change bill. In its place would be a new approach that addresses emissions by the utilities, manufacturing and transportation sectors differently, rather than capping nationwide emissions and allowing emitters to trade allowances.
Just what role agriculture will play in the new plan is still unknown. But Nebraska Farmers Union president John Hansen, who also chairs the National Farmers Union’s legislative committee, says they have been providing input to the three senators.
“Our interest in all of these things is to make sure of two things,” Hansen says. “One is to minimize the adverse economic impact—to minimize the downside. And two, maximize the upside so that we’re having the full opportunity that’s available to agriculture.”
Hansen believes agriculture needs to remain actively engaged in the climate discussions.
“We continue to believe that you’re either on the agenda and you’re involved—or you’re likely to be what’s for dinner,” he says, “and so you need to pick—which would you rather be—would you rather be constructively engaged—or would you rather do nothing and then end up reaping the shortfall.”
Hansen says, unless Congress acts, the EPA will issue its own regulations on greenhouse gas emissions—regulations that may not be as kind to farmers and ranchers.
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