California Governor Newsom’s Earth Day announcement about the state’s Nature Based Solutions Climate Targets sets a clear path forward. This
is a pioneering effort: a national, and global, model of what’s needed to successfully address the climate crisis.

The policy sets significant, feasible targets for actions and emissions reductions through changing how we manage our natural and working lands for climate. Called for by AB 1757, the targets were initially recommended in November 2023 by the AB1757 Expert Advisory Committee, which I am honored to chair. PFT has been advocating for such an approach for years; this is an extraordinary step forward.

Near-term emissions reductions that can be achieved are well over 150,000,000 tons of CO2 and CO2 equivalent in the next 10 years, with far more in the decades that follow. Changes in how we manage and retain our forests bring the most emissions reductions the most rapidly. These actions have immediate benefits for CO2 reductions, distinguishing them from many actions in other emissions sectors, such as transportation, where emissions reductions come only after several years.

Natural climate solutions are an immediate bridge to a safer future. They benefit our health, water, biodiversity, and economies. This new policy is a transformative step in the climate challenge.