Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement in response to the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) new special report on Climate Change and Land Use:
“Today’s IPCC report confirms what we are already experiencing: food and water systems are extremely vulnerable to climate change. If we don’t take action to protect these resources, the climate crisis will quickly translate into a food and water scarcity crisis, with no community left unaffected.
“However the report also makes clear that we are not helpless. We have the power and the capacity to solve the climate crisis, and sustainable use of land and water resources must be part of that solution. Our farmers and ranchers are on the front lines of the climate crisis every day, as increasingly severe floods and droughts continue to upend their lives and livelihoods - they deserve better. They can play a critical role in driving carbon out of our atmosphere while also maintaining the long-term productivity of their land and the economic stability of rural communities. They deserve a prominent seat at the table as we work to develop solutions that are a win-win for them and our environment."
