Inside Climate News: Biden Administration's 'Climate Smart' Agricultural Investments May Hinder Climate Goals
Source: The DairyNews
Inside Climate News reports that two recent analyses suggest the Biden administration's "climate smart" funding for the Department of Agriculture includes methods that might be detrimental to the climate.
Despite the administration's intention to prioritize American farmers and address climate issues, billions of dollars are being directed towards agricultural practices with questionable benefits and potential contributions to increased greenhouse gas emissions. T
he Environmental Working Group (EWG) reviewed specific practices added to the USDA's list of eligible funding recipients through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), highlighting concerns that some practices lack climate benefits. Another report from Friends of the Earth and the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project suggests that USDA spending on methane digesters has inadvertently led to larger dairy herds, resulting in increased methane production. The reports raise questions about the effectiveness of the administration's initiatives and their alignment with climate goals.
he Environmental Working Group (EWG) reviewed specific practices added to the USDA's list of eligible funding recipients through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), highlighting concerns that some practices lack climate benefits. Another report from Friends of the Earth and the Socially Responsible Agriculture Project suggests that USDA spending on methane digesters has inadvertently led to larger dairy herds, resulting in increased methane production. The reports raise questions about the effectiveness of the administration's initiatives and their alignment with climate goals.
