USDA Seeks Nominations for Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Verifier Program Advisory Council

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2024 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced its plans to launch the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program Advisory Council, colloquially referred to as the Growing Climate Solutions Act Advisory Council. This announcement was made in a Federal Register notice issued today.

The establishment of this Council is facilitated by the Growing Climate Solutions Act (GCSA), which was enacted as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (Public Law 117-328). The Act mandates the Secretary of Agriculture to form the Council.

“The initiative authorized by the Growing Climate Solutions Act will help the USDA minimize market confusion by linking qualified experts and third-party verifiers with producers looking to secure carbon credits,” stated Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “Creating this Advisory Council with a diverse group of knowledgeable members will be a crucial advancement in allowing a broad range of stakeholders to tap into verified and robust environmental credit markets, supporting the Biden-Harris Administration’s pledge to promote climate-smart agriculture and generate new revenue streams for small and medium-sized farmers.”

The Advisory Council’s mission is to aid in facilitating participation for farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners—especially those who are beginning, underserved, limited resource, or veterans—in voluntary environmental credit markets that offer credits promising genuine, additional, lasting, unique, and independently verified emissions reductions or removals.

The formation of this Council aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to its Principles for Responsible Participation in Voluntary Carbon Markets, which aim to establish robust standards for carbon credit supply and demand, enhance market function, guarantee equitable treatment for all participants, and promote environmental justice, including fair revenue distribution.

Among the key functions of the Council will be:

• Regularly reviewing and recommending updates to:
  • The recognized protocols for generating environmental credits.
  • The qualifications required for entities providing technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, and landowners.
  • The activities for which technical assistance providers and third-party verifiers can register to deliver services that prevent, reduce, or mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

• Advising the Secretary of Agriculture on:
  • Current methodologies for quantifying and verifying greenhouse gas emissions reductions in voluntary environmental credit markets.
  • Strategies to lower entry barriers and transaction costs associated with these markets.
  • Strengthening market integrity in line with the administration’s objectives by helping to identify high-integrity carbon credit generation protocols that ensure consistency, efficiency, and transparency.

The Council will draft an initial assessment for Congress regarding the program and will conduct follow-up periodic assessments in consultation with the Secretary.

The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 32 members to the Council, as well as appoint a chairperson. The membership will represent USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), farmers, ranchers, private forest landowners, the forestry and forest products sector, relevant scientific research institutions—including land-grant colleges and universities—experts in voluntary environmental credit markets and verification standards, as well as representatives from nongovernmental and civil society organizations. Private sector businesses involved in voluntary environmental credit markets will also be included.

At least 51 percent of the Council will consist of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners, with representation from beginning, underserved, limited resource, and veteran communities. The Council is required to convene at least once a year. Members will typically serve two-year terms, although the initial appointees will serve staggered terms ranging from one to three years. Members may not hold more than four additional two-year terms and will not receive compensation, but USDA will reimburse approved travel expenses as per the guidelines of the U.S. General Services Administration.

Those interested can find detailed information on candidate qualifications and requirements in the Federal Register notice. Comments can be submitted online until October 15, 2024.

Nomination packages must be postmarked by October 15, 2024. Submissions can be sent electronically to GCSA@usda.gov or mailed to: Sasha Strohm, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Stop 0249, Washington, DC 20250, Attn: GCSA Advisory Council. Electronic submissions are preferred.

For further information about the Greenhouse Gas Technical Assistance Provider and Third-Party Verifier Program or the formation of this Council, please visit www.ams.usda.gov/services/GCSA or reach out to Sasha Strohm, Program Manager, at sasha.strohm@usda.gov or call 202-720-5705.

The AMS manages initiatives that foster domestic and international marketing avenues for U.S. producers of food, fiber, and specialty crops. It also offers essential services to ensure the quality and availability of safe food for consumers both nationally and globally. AMS services and significant grant investments create opportunities for American farmers, ranchers, and businesses across the supply chain, stimulating economic growth in rural areas and small towns.

The USDA positively impacts the lives of all Americans daily. Under the Biden-Harris administration, USDA is reshaping the nation’s food system, emphasizing resilient local and regional food production, equitable markets for all producers, and ensuring access to safe, nutritious food across communities. The Department is focused on creating new markets and income sources for farmers and producers through climate-friendly food and forestry practices, making historic investments in rural infrastructure and clean energy, and advancing equity throughout the Department by eliminating systemic barriers and building a workforce reflective of American demographics. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.

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