Illinois EPA Director honors farmers/landowners for reducing greenhouse gases in farming practices as part of the Illinois Conservation Climate Initiative

CHAMPAIGN — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott was joined in Champaign today by the Department of Natural Resources, Delta Institute, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts to applaud farmers and landowners who have voluntarily adopted conservation practices that will reduce greenhouse gases, while earning payments through the Chicago Climate Exchange. 

 

By pledging to capture emissions contributing to global warming, such as carbon dioxide, nearly 200 farmers throughout the Illinois earned "carbon credits" that were then sold as offset credits. The Illinois EPA, Department of Natural Resources, Delta Institute and Soil and Water Conservation Districts recognized landowners' role of adopting conservation practices that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, from being released into the environment was acknowledged.

 

In January 2006, Illinois became the first state government to offer farmers and other landowners the opportunity to earn and sell greenhouse gas emissions credits by adopting conservation practices through the Illinois Conservation and Climate Initiative (ICCI).   The program allows landowners to earn credits when they practice conservation tillage, plant grasses and trees, or capture methane with manure digesters, for example. 

 

"We are all proud of how our farmers and other landowners in Illinois are stepping up to the plate to be part of the solution to the challenge of global warming," said Director Scott.

 

"The role of the landowner is critical to the state's conservation efforts and in reducing the effects of greenhouse gases on the environment. These individuals should be commended for their voluntary support of those efforts," said IDNR Deputy Director Leslie Sgro.

 

Director Scott also noted that Baxter International, Inc., a founding member of the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), and a global biotech, medical device and special pharmaceutical company based in Deerfield, was the first company to purchase carbon credits offered by Illinois farmers and landowners through ICCI.

 

"As a market-based program, it is important to have solid support from the corporate community, such as Baxter International," said Scott.  "They are supporting this important environmental endeavor both as a purchaser of carbon credits, but also serve on the Chicago Climate Exchange board."

 

A total of 123 landowners have enrolled 46,362 acres of conservation tillage and grasslands in the first pool submitted to the Delta Institute last October.  After verification by the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the Chicago Climate Exchange issued 44,000 tons of carbon credits, with the subsequent sales providing a total of $119,838 in payments to the participants. Since the close of the first pool, an additional 67,527 acres of conservation tillage, grassland and forestry offsets have been enrolled in ICCI by 447 additional landowners, bringing the total so far to 570 landowners and 113,889 acres.

 

The CCX allows greenhouse gas benefits from conservation practices to be quantified and sold.  The credits from many different producers and landowners are collected by the Delta Institute, which is a non-profit organization that is partnering with the State on ICCI.  Credits are sold on the Chicago Climate Exchange trading platform to CCX members such as Baxter International, which have made voluntary commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas contributions.

 

As part of the State's global warming initiative, Illinois joined New Mexico to become only the second state in the nation to join the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX).  As a CCX member, the state makes a voluntary, but legally binding, commitment to reduce GHG emissions from state buildings and vehicle fleets. 

 

Scott also presented plaques to representatives of the top five counties in acres enrolled in the program: Edgar, Jersey, Jefferson, Iroquois, Winnebago; as well as the top five counties with contracts submitted: Iroquois, Carroll, Winnebago, Peoria, Edgar. 

 

Scientists have reached consensus that increasing emissions of carbon dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels, methane from landfills and other sources of GHGs are trapping heat and warming the earth's atmosphere.  These gases remain in the atmosphere for decades or even centuries. 

 

According to scientists, global warming could cause a variety of serious problems in Illinois, including more frequent droughts, flooding, and extreme heat events.  Such changes could endanger public health, decrease agricultural production, overwhelm sewage infrastructure, and cause property damage.  Increased temperatures could also lead to dangerous increases in the level of air pollution and to the introduction of non-native invasive species that could damage Illinois' ecosystems.

 

More information on the Illinois Conservation and Climate Initiative can be found at:  http://www.illinoisclimate.org/

-30-