Pacific Forest Trust writes letter of support for Oregon climate bill SB 1530

This week, PFT submitted a letter to Senator Michael Dembrow, Chair of the Senate Interim Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, to express our strong support for SB 1530, which will reduce climate emissions in Oregon. It’s critical to take meaningful action for climate, and to take it now; this bill builds on the prior work by a coalition of organizations, companies, and legislative leaders including Senator Dembrow and Representatives Ken Helm, Karin Power, and Pam Marsh, to generate support for an approach to fighting the climate crisis that includes a significant role for forests and other natural lands, and invests where investments are needed most. Read the full letter below.

February 11th, 2020

Senator Michael Dembrow
Chair, Senate Interim Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
Oregon State Legislature
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301

Re: Support for SB 1530

Dear Senator Dembrow:

The Pacific Forest Trust (PFT) commends your leadership on SB 1530 and its goal of economy-wide carbon emissions reductions. I want to express our strong support for this bill. SB 1530 clearly recognizes the vital role of lands and landowners/managers in helping solve the climate crisis. We are particularly pleased that you are “putting money where your words are” by establishing the Climate Investments Fund and committing:

• 25% to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for natural and working lands, up from the 20% allocation to natural and working lands in HB 2020; and
• 25% to the State Forestry Department for wildfire mitigation efforts.

Urgent action on climate is needed for our communities, especially rural communities who depend on natural and working lands for their livelihoods. Oregonians are already experiencing the effects of climate change, such as floods, drought and wildfire. Not only are significant cuts to the state’s emissions needed, but investments to natural and working lands are critical in sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, protecting regional economies, enhancing water security, and improving wildlife habitat. Protecting and restoring the state’s natural and working lands are a cost-effective and readily-available carbon bank.

We appreciate your leadership and urge you to take swift action to pass SB 1530 this session. PFT supports sectoral policies that aim to reduce carbon emissions that are putting our landscapes, communities, health and heritage at risk. We strongly encourage support for this bill to mitigate climate change while also generating new investments in Oregon’s forests, rivers, lands and working people.

Sincerely,
Laurie A. Wayburn
President

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