Nearly a dozen agricultural commissioners from Republican-led states sent a letter on Tuesday urging senior officials in the Trump administration and GOP lawmakers to cut federal funding for organizations advocating “net-zero” climate policies.
The letter, acquired exclusively by the Hill, claims that the net-zero initiatives taken by these organizations are causing significant harm to American consumers, farmers, and ranchers, jeopardizing food security for low-income Americans.
The agriculture commissioners highlighted the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as key entities promoting these policies.
They argued that each organization is acting counter to President Trump’s executive order regarding U.S. funding for the UN and similar international bodies. As such, they should not receive taxpayer money if it conflicts with U.S. interests, according to the letter.
Commissioners from states like Texas, Iowa, West Virginia, Florida, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Carolina signed the correspondence.
The aim of net-zero policies is to lower carbon emissions to help mitigate climate change. The UN emphasizes transitioning from fossil fuel-based energy systems to renewable sources as a crucial step towards reaching net-zero targets.
In their letter, the agriculture commissioners expressed concerns over the IMO’s push for emissions fees on transportation and the FAO’s stance on beef consumption, both seen as threats to the agricultural sector.
Will Hild, executive director of consumer research and a supporter of the letter, stated, “American farmers and ranchers don’t just feed our country; they feed the world. These initiatives that mandate compliance with extreme climate agendas can hurt American agriculture, inflate consumer prices, and threaten food security for working families.”
Hild also noted that consumer research backs state farm leaders in their call for the defunding of these organizations. He emphasized the need for these groups to align with President Trump’s environmental policy goals or forfeit federal funding.
