Climate Week NYC, held annually alongside the UN General Assembly, serves as a critical moment for the global climate community to come together, share strategies and advocate for meaningful action to combat climate change. This year’s event was no exception, bringing together leaders from government, business and civil society to discuss pathways toward a more sustainable, climate-resilient future.

For organizations like Solutions from the Land (SfL), Climate Week NYC offers a unique platform to amplify the voices of farmers, foresters and other land-based stakeholders who are on the frontlines of climate change. This year was no exception.

SfL’s Presentation: Decarbonization and Regeneration

On September 24, SfL Co-Chair Fred Yoder participated in a side event at Climate Week NYC titled “From Decarbonization to Regeneration: How to Make Insetting Work for Climate, Nature and Communities.”

Yoder’s presentation underscored the vital role that agriculture can play in not only reducing carbon emissions but also regenerating ecosystems and strengthening rural communities.

“Insetting can be an important tool for companies looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within their supply chain,” says Yoder, a fourth-generation farmer who has lived and farmed near Plain City, Ohio, for over 40 years. “Farmers and land managers have a critical role to play, but it’s essential that these efforts also benefit the communities where these projects take place. We need solutions that are sustainable for both the environment and the people on the ground.”

The presentation highlighted a multi-stakeholder project that explores ways to integrate insetting into corporate supply chains, making the case for how businesses can invest in agriculture and forestry practices that contribute to both climate mitigation and resilience.

Yoder’s participation in this event provided SfL with an opportunity to share its message with a broader audience of climate advocates, policymakers and corporate leaders.

Advancing Climate-Smart Agriculture

While Yoder’s side event was SfL’s only formal presentation during Climate Week NYC, the organization’s work is deeply aligned with the event’s overarching themes. SfL has long been a proponent of climate-smart agriculture (CSA), which integrates sustainable farming practices that reduce emissions, enhance resilience and promote biodiversity. The organization’s state-based initiatives—such as the Iowa, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Missouri Smart Ag Work Groups—are prime examples of how SfL is helping farmers deploy CSA practices on the ground.

According to SfL President Ernie Shea, “The work we are doing in states across the country is proof that agriculture can not only produce food, feed, fiber and energy, but it can concurrently be part of the climate solution. Farmers are innovators and they are already implementing practices that sequester carbon, improve water quality and make their operations more resilient to extreme weather. Climate Week is important to highlight these efforts and push for the policies and investments that will scale them up.”

Through its Climate-Smart Agriculture programs, SfL is engaging directly with farmers, ranchers, foresters and academic leaders to identify challenges and solutions tailored to local conditions. For example, the Missouri Smart Agriculture Work Group brought together farmers, government leaders and academics to address the impacts of extreme weather on the state’s agriculture and forestry sectors. Similarly, the Florida Climate Smart Work Group is exploring how the state’s farmers and foresters can adapt to increasing climate risks, including rising temperatures and more frequent hurricanes. In addition, farmer-led teams in Iowa, Ohio and North Carolina have developed climate-smart action plans for their states.

Leveraging Global Platforms for Local Solutions

SfL’s participation in global events like Climate Week NYC is part of its broader strategy to bring local solutions to the global stage. With the team’s facilitation of  the North America Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (NACSAA) and attendance at key international events like the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP), SfL is ensuring that the voices of farmers and land managers are included in high-level climate discussions.

“As we head into COP29, it’s essential that agriculture and farmers remain at the center of the climate conversation,” Shea notes. “Farmers are often portrayed as contributors to the problem, but in reality, they are essential to the solution. We need to continue advocating for policies that support land-based climate solutions and make sure that the people who produce our food, fiber and fuel are empowered to lead.”

This year, SfL’s proposed COP29 events will include discussions on:

• Circular bioeconomy systems that mitigate climate change while delivering other ecosystem services.
• Climate change-fueled invasive species challenges and solutions.
• Public health benefits from replacing carcinogenic aromatic compounds in gasoline with renewable biofuels.
• Cross-boundary strategies for improving water storage and management.

Climate Week NYC and Beyond

As Climate Week NYC comes to a close and preparations for COP29 continue, SfL calls on policymakers, businesses and civil society leaders to prioritize land-based solutions in the fight against climate change.

By supporting climate-smart agriculture, these leaders can help create a more sustainable future for both the planet and the communities that rely on its resources.

“Our farmers, ranchers and foresters are ready to lead,” Shea said. “But they can’t do it alone. We need to support them with the right tools, programs, policies and investments that help producers sustainably intensify production, improve resilience and deliver high-value ecosystem services.  Doing so can make climate-smart practices the norm, not the exception.”