Sustainable farm bill a smart way to combat climate change | Guest Opinion

Climate change will impact all of us. Economic growth will falter, more of our tax dollars will be spent dealing with the impacts of climate change, and human beings and wildlife will suffer.

The costs of inaction are already clear. The federal government is distributing an unprecedented $16 billion, mostly to southeastern states, to prepare for natural disasters worsened by climate change. The state of California is considering issuing $4.2 billion in bonds to cover some of the future impacts of climate change.

Anticipating the growing frequency of extreme weather, floods and drought, insurance costs are expected to rise, making life more difficult for homeowners, farmers, and businesses. ·

The costs are not only economic. Last fall Audubon released a groundbreaking report — Survival by Degrees — showing that if we fail to stop the rate of global warming, two-thirds of North America’s birds will be vulnerable to extinction.

To reduce these and other impacts, individuals and elected officials of all political persuasions, businesses, governments, and non-profit organizations, must work together to develop effective solutions.

Fortunately, this process has already begun. Many businesses and individuals are taking significant steps to reduce their energy use and minimize, if not eliminate, carbon footprints. Some have done so to reduce costs, others out of a commitment to environmental stewardship. Microsoft and several other businesses have made major commitments to become carbon neutral. BP, the Natural Gas Supply Association, and a growing list of major companies, healthcare systems, and large energy consumers on the Pacific Coast have endorsed a price on carbon.

We applaud all of these actions. We also applaud efforts to advance smart public policies that encourage investment in renewable energy and key sectors of our economy that will create jobs, improve the health of Washingtonians, and reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions.

Because climate change impacts all of us, regardless of our political affiliation, we must pursue complementary policies that help as many Washingtonians as possible to be a part of the solutions to our shared problems. This year, one bill in particular offers an example of the kind of bipartisan collaboration we’re looking forward to seeing more of in Olympia.

The Sustainable Farms and Fields bill (SB 5947) builds on the success of similar state programs that offer voluntary, competitive, matching grants for projects that benefit Washingtonians in communities across the state. It will help rural economies and leverages the growing body of research underway at Washington State University.

Farmers have a long-standing commitment to conservation and land stewardship, while efficiently providing the food supply and nourishment we need. Our state can and should do more to help farmers improve the health of their soil and decrease carbon emissions by planting trees, adopting regenerative practices, and reducing the use of fossil-fuel-based fertilizers and pesticides.

This is a smart solution that supports rural economies but it’s certainly not the only solution. Our organizations invite all interested parties — especially conservatives and the business community — to join us in working towards effective solutions to climate change, for our long-term health and well-being and to protect the state we call home.