The Oregon Climate Action Commission has proposed nearly doubling the state's natural carbon storage targets. The new goal aims to capture an additional 10 million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year by 2035 through better management of forests, grasslands, croplands, and wetlands. This is up from the 2021 target of 5 million metric tons by 2030. The commission's recommendations are not legally binding but are meant to guide lawmakers and state agencies. They come as federal policies under the Trump administration push for more logging and grazing on federal lands, which cover over half of Oregon. The commission argues that state-level action is more important than ever to protect these natural carbon sinks. Oregon's lands and waters already absorb emissions equivalent to about 11 million gas-powered cars annually. If the new targets are met, that figure would rise to over 13 million cars. Key recommendations include investing in technical assistance, data collection, and grants for land managers, with a heavy focus on forest conservation since forests sequester more carbon than any other land type in the state.
