Rural Climate Action in the U.S. and China

In China and the United States--the top two emitters of greenhouse gasses--most climate policies and civil society campaigns have focused on reducing fossil fuels.. At this China Environment Forum (CEF) meeting, speakers will instead shine a light on the need for rural climate action that helps farming communities become more resilient in the face of worsening flooding and droughts and broader development pressures on land.

In the United States, fossil fuels provide 67% of the energy consumption in rural communities, and this energy is on average 33% more expensive than in urban areas. China’s rural economy notably uses as much coal as Germany and Russia combined. Production and use of agricultural fertilizers and chemicals are also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in both countries.

Speakers at this meeting will share stories of how a comprehensive approach to climate action can be a win-win for rural communities. Bidisha Bhattacharyya (Center for American Progress) will kick off the meeting with an overview of clean energy, soil enrichment, water protection policies, and other actions that could increase revenue streams and climate resilience in rural America. Pipa Elias (The Nature Conservancy) will discuss TNC’s work across the agricultural supply chain to increase the adoption of climate mitigation practices that help U.S. farmers become more resilient. Ming Yang (Global Environment Facility) will talk about pilot renewable energy projects and a GEF initiative aiming at overcoming obstacles to zero-carbon rural development in the third wave of rural electrification in China. Karen Mancl (Ohio State University) will dive into how China is leading the way to capture methane from agricultural waste and highlight strategies that can help enhance soils to increase food security and create critical carbon sinks.