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A Different Type of Root Cellar
09/17/2002
Listen in RealAudio 
Hi, I'm Bryan Yeaton for The Weather Notebook's weekly report on Global Climate
Change. Someday, we might be able to pay farmers to store excess CO2 in the earth.
But correspondent Curt Nickisch points out, Bush administration policies may nullify
some benefits farmers see.
Companies that may soon be forced to limit carbon dioxide emissions might be able
to offset those by paying farmers to sequester carbon. That is, change their practices
so that crops take more carbon out of the air and put it in the ground. The Bush
administration is funding more research on what could be a windfall for farmers.
BUSH: We will look to increase the amount of carbon stored by America's farms
through a strong conservation title in the farm bill. I have asked Secretary Veneman to
recommend new target incentives for landowners to increase carbon storage.
But another White House policy may limit the benefit farmers would get. The Bush
administration has rejected the Kyoto Protocol, which officially recognizes carbon
sequestration in farmland. If the agreement goes ahead without the United States,
American polluters, the largest national group, wouldn't be required to cut emissions,
significantly reducing demand for carbon sequestration. Meaning farmers would get
less money. But some experts say that eventually there will be more pressure on
American polluters. Neil Cohn works for Natsource, a brokerage and consulting firm
for emissions trading.
NC: The Kyoto Protocol, of course, is one of the main drivers in the climate change
process. It is not the only driver and while the U.S. has backed out of the Kyoto
Protocol process there will continue to be legislation in carbon constraints in the U.S.
and it's market is continuing to develop.
How soon farmers will get direct cash payments for fighting global warming, however,
is still up in the air. In Sioux Falls, this is Curt Nickisch.
The Weather Notebook's series on Global Climate Change is supported by The New
England Science Center Collaborative, and the Roy A. Hunt Foundation.
Today's Links
The July 13, 2001 statement by President Bush
http://www.gcrio.org/OnLnDoc/bush_statement010713.html
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