Our natural and working lands (NWLs) — from farmlands and grasslands to freshwater wetlands and more — play a critical role in protecting against the growing impacts of climate change. In fact, NWLs offset approximately 12 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across Alliance states and territories. Efforts to quantify and model how NWLs sequester and store these emissions are essential to tracking, evaluating, and sharing progress towards critical climate goals.
This Learning Lab on Quantifying Greenhouse Gases in Natural and Working Lands provided an opportunity to spotlight and discuss some of the most innovative approaches to quantifying and modeling GHG emissions and sequestration.
Over two days, state and territory officials convened with experts from the research and NGO communities to learn from one another to improve NWL GHG inventories and tracking changes in agriculture, forestry, wetlands, and other lands and waters. Specifically, participants highlighted recent innovations enhancing data collection and inventory methodologies; identified paths forward for modeling NWLs in the short- and long-terms; and exchanged opportunities for peer learning and expert consultation.
This included plenary discussions, focused breakout panel presentations, and a fireside chat between Alliance Executive Director Casey Katims and Daniel Dudis, Democratic Staff Director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environmental and Public Works.
The Learning Lab took place at the American Geophysical Union’s headquarters, the site of Washington, D.C.’s first net zero energy commercial building renovation. The building incorporates green features, including solar panels, a six-story hydroponic phytoremediation wall system, a water reclamation cistern, and radiant cooling.
Alliance National Learning Labs bring together states and territories to dive deep into pressing topics across the Alliance’s 10 Policy Priorities. Learn about our previous Natural & Working Lands 2023 National Learning Lab, Learning Lab on Methane Monitoring and Mitigation Technologies, and Learning Lab on Accelerating Progress in Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry.
Learn more about Alliance action across the Natural & Working Lands sector.
