On April 28, 2015, the American Carbon Registry (ACR) presented Secretary Vilsack with its 2015 Climate Leadership award, intended to recognize an individual whose career commitments to address the changing climate have made a difference and whose example we hope will inspire other individuals to action.
ACR stated that it recognized Secretary Vilsack for his career-long actions as a steward of the environment from his accomplishments as Governor of Iowa to his more recent achievements as Secretary of Agriculture. ACR specifically mentioned the Secretary’s leadership in establishing the USDA Regional Climate Hubs, enabling record enrollments of farmers, ranchers and forest landowners in voluntary climate-beneficial conservation programs, efforts to lower GHG emissions on US dairies through innovative waste-to-energy projects, and work to improve the health and resiliency of forest ecosystems.
"I am honored to accept this award from the American Carbon Registry. I accept the award on behalf of the real climate leaders--America's farmers, ranchers and forest landowners,” said Secretary Vilsack. “They are responding to climate change and extreme weather events in the same way that they respond to every challenge, with resilience, innovation and a commitment to stewardship for future generations.”
The ACR award comes on the heels of a speech on April 23, 2015 in which Secretary Vilsack unveiled a plan to help farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners respond to climate change. The plan builds on a framework consisting of ten mitigation "building blocks" that span a range of technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase carbon storage, and generate clean renewable energy. Learn more about the building blocks and read a transcript of the Secretary’s speech.
Read more about the Secretary’s Climate Leadership award.