Secretary Ross — On to Scotland for COP26!

By CDFA Secretary Karen Ross

I am grateful for the opportunity to join California’s delegation in Scotland for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 26) from November 9^th through the 12^th. The conference presents an opportunity to meet with many colleagues from around the world in our common pursuit of climate-change solutions while meeting the essential food security needs of our communities.

While on the ground in Scotland, I’ll be focusing on the ways our farmers and ranchers in California and around the world can be – and in many cases already are – accomplishing meaningful progress toward our climate goals. California is accustomed to leading, but we are also constantly learning. That’s what this trip is about – leading, but also learning how to do it better. Specifically, I’m focusing on issues and elements such as:

• Supporting farmers and ranchers as part of the solution on climate change
• Building climate resilience in our natural and working lands
• Scaling up technologies and practices that are already proven
• Bolstering research efforts to keep those solutions coming

I am looking forward to a meeting with the Irish minister for land use and biodiversity as well as meetings with the Scottish and English ministers for agriculture. And I’m honored to be making presentations at several events to provide information about California’s Climate Smart Agriculture programs. Our state is home to amazingly innovative farmers and ranchers! I am proud to share their success stories and eager to hear from our partners around the world.