Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Combat Global Deforestation and Carbon Emissions

Strategic Insights -

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has introduced the America Mitigating and Achieving Zero-emissions Originating from Nature for the 21st Century Act (AMAZON21 Act), a bipartisan legislation aimed at combating global deforestation and supporting carbon emission reduction efforts worldwide. The bill authorizes $4.5 billion over four years for a new program to support carbon sequestration and mitigation projects in developing countries. If enacted, it is estimated that projects initiated under AMAZON21 would help prevent up to 180 metric tons of carbon emissions annually.

Key Takeaways:

  • The AMAZON21 Act authorizes $4.5 billion over four years for a new program to support carbon sequestration and mitigation projects in developing countries.
  • The legislation establishes the International Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration Program at the State Department, which will create and fund multi-year results-based payments (RBPs) agreements with developing countries to preserve their forests and other natural carbon sinks.
  • The bill assists developing countries in participating in carbon markets to finance forest-conservation, terrestrial, and ecosystem projects and to protect globally significant forests and natural carbon sinks.
  • The AMAZON21 Act reaffirms the importance of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) to ensure projects' environmental integrity as well as important program design elements aimed at protecting women, indigenous peoples, and other local stakeholders' interests.
  • The legislation has the support of leading environmental groups and organizations focused on combating climate change through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
  • The AMAZON21 Act is co-sponsored by Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Co-Chair of the Climate Solutions Caucus, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).

Statistics:

  • $4.5 billion: The amount of funding authorized over four years for the new program to support carbon sequestration and mitigation projects in developing countries.
  • 180 metric tons: The estimated annual amount of carbon emissions that projects initiated under AMAZON21 would help prevent.
  • 4 years: The duration of the authorized funding for the International Terrestrial Carbon Sequestration Program.
  • 20 years: The maximum duration of the multi-year results-based payments (RBPs) agreements with developing countries to preserve their forests and other natural carbon sinks.

Sources:

  • U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations:

"U.S. Senators Menendez and Braun Introduce Bipartisan Amazon21 Act to Combat Global Deforestation, Advance U.S. Climate Leadership." (No date)

  • Conservation International: No date (Direct quote from Dr. M. Sanjayan)
  • American Conservation Coalition: No date (Direct quote from Quill Robinson)
  • The Hill: "House Majority Leader Hoyer introduces bill to combat global deforestation" (No date)