What’s Happening
Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-AR) reintroduced The Trillion Trees Act to the House of Representatives on Monday. The bill was first introduced in the 116th Congress and supported former President Trump’s entry into the global Trillion Trees Initiative, a project launched by the World Economic Forum.
Why It Matters
The bipartisan Trillion Trees Act is a common sense climate bill. Studies have shown that planting one trillion trees worldwide would sequester 205 gigatons of carbon. According to The Nature Conservancy, natural climate solutions could account for up to one-third of the emissions-reductions needed by 2030.
This legislation has a three-pronged approach:
-
Regeneration: Allocates resources to both public and private reforestation and tree-planting initiatives, with an emphasis on urban tree-planting
-
Management: Streamlines review processes and enhances current governmental programs to support increased tree-planting
-
Utilization: Directs resources toward natural carbon sequestration research and establishes a tax credit for building sustainable residential and commercial properties
My Take
The Trillion Trees Act is a must-pass bill in the 117th Congress. Even with the benefit of unified government, Democrats are struggling to sell comprehensive, economy-transforming climate action to the American people. Natural solutions are backed by science and backed by voters on both sides of the aisle. Planting trees is far more appealing to rural communities and conservative voters than mandates and regulation.
The Trillion Trees Act is not a silver bullet solution to climate change, but it is an actual step in the right direction. While there is still some work to be done reconciling the House and Senate versions of the bill, we hope to see the bill passed and Americans planting climate solutions this Congress.
Quote Me on It
“Ninety percent of Americans support planting one trillion trees. Scientists say it could get us one-third of the way to our 2030 climate goals. Republicans and Democrats back the Trillion Trees Act. This is the low-hanging fruit of climate policy – what are we waiting for?” – VP of Government Affairs Quill Robinson