Climate and Environmental Strategy for U.S.Agriculture : A Climate Note

This report addresses the controversy over the effects on American farmers of a ratified Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Some studies have suggested that the results would be economically devastating for U.S. agriculture. Yet, this new WRI report finds that the implementation of policies to address climate change would not create a disaster, and indeed may even present new economic opportunities for farmers.

By running a series of economic scenarios, Paul Faeth and Suzie Greenhalgh have demonstrated that the right policies, including support for nutrient trading, could actually increase farm income, enhance the environment, and reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, while decreasing soil erosion and nutrient pollution.