Sierra Club Statement on White House Announcement on Measurement Monitoring Reporting and Verification Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Biden Administration pledged significant funding for the Measurement Monitoring Reporting and Verification (MMRV) of greenhouse gas emissions for agriculture and forestry. In a statement this morning, the United States Department of Agriculture announced $300 million for MMRV, to be funded through the Inflation Reduction Act climate law. The administration also unveiled a proposed Federal Strategy to Advance Greenhouse Gas Measurement and Monitoring for the Agriculture and Forest Sectors, which seeks to improve accuracy in greenhouse gas emissions estimates.

In response, Anna Medema, Sierra Club’s Associate Director of Legislative and Administrative Advocacy, Forests and Public Lands, released the following statement: 

“Agriculture and forestry must be at the center of our efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The Inflation Reduction Act pledged $20 billion for USDA programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to address climate change, and it is critical that that funding is fulfilled in 2023 and beyond. These USDA conservation programs will provide farmers and ranchers with incentives to adopt climate-conscious innovations, such as farming practices that integrate trees back into agricultural production, which can ultimately help us take on this crisis and increase our food security. It will require not only adequate funding, but also informed science and accurate data, like that produced through MMRV, to ensure these climate programs are as robust as possible.