Goal Setting for Natural and Working Lands Report

Natural climate solutions are activities that enhance or protect net biological carbon sequestration on natural and working lands, while maintaining or increasing ecosystem resilience and human well-being. They are carbon removal strategies that can be taken immediately to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help Oregonians adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. 

ORS 468A.193 directed ODOE and the Oregon Climate Action Commission, in coordination with the land managing agencies, to establish a non-binding net sequestration and storage goal for Oregon’s natural and working lands and update those goals as new information becomes available. In this draft report, ODOE presents three goal options for the Commission’s consideration. The goal that will be established, while voluntary, will provide a guidepost for considering land management as part of climate action.

Now accepting comments through July 2, 2026 

ODOE welcomes comments on the draft Goal Setting for Natural and Working Lands Report by 5 p.m. on July 2, 2026. In particular, the Commission and ODOE would like to know:

• What questions do you have/clarification would help you better understand the goal options?

• How should the Commission and ODOE weigh the characteristics of a good goal in their decision?

• What actions should the Commission or ODOE, in their respective roles, take to support next steps to achieve the goal? 

• Specifically for the Commission, what policy and capacity needs are important to help achieve the goal? 

Please submit your comments to OCAC@energy.oregon.gov. 

The Commission will discuss the draft report at its June 12, 2026, meeting and tentatively make a decision on the goal in July.