Growing Crops in a Changing Climate

The document outlines the potential for California farmers to benefit from the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) through financial incentives, the sale of emissions offsets, and the production of bioenergy. It details specific strategies for reducing carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, while noting that the California Air Resources Board (CARB) is tasked with developing the regulatory framework to meet 2020 emissions targets.

• The Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), signed in 2006, mandates that California reduce its global warming pollution to 1990 levels by 2020, which represents a decrease of approximately 29 percent.
• California farmers can potentially gain financial advantages through a cap-and-trade system via state-run auctions of emission allowances and the sale of 'offsets' from projects like methane digesters, provided the reductions are permanent, quantifiable, and verifiable.
• Estimates for annual agricultural emissions reductions by 2020 vary by agency: the Economic and Technology Advancement Advisory Committee (ETAAC) estimates 16.8 million metric tons of CO2-equivalent, while the California Climate Action Team estimates 8.9 million metric tons.
• Agricultural mitigation strategies offer various co-benefits to farmers, such as lower operation costs through energy and water efficiency, increased income from selling biofuels, and reduced input costs through improved nitrogen fertilizer management.
• There is a stated need for further scientific research to accurately quantify emissions reductions and understand the impact of bioenergy expansion on biodiversity, food production, and soil and water quality.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2008). Growing Crops in a Changing Climate. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/ca_ag_climate_fact_sheet.pdf

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. Growing Crops in a Changing Climate. 2008. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/ca_ag_climate_fact_sheet.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=Growing Crops in a Changing Climate |date=June 2008 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/ca_ag_climate_fact_sheet.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2008growing, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{Growing Crops in a Changing Climate}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2008}, month = jun, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/2019-09/ca_ag_climate_fact_sheet.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }