Business News
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Air Resources Board are announcing the launch of a public-private initiative to advance climate smart agriculture and reduce greenhouse gas emissions on agricultural lands.
This partnership will create a mechanism for leading businesses in the food and fiber supply chain to directly fund climate projects on California farms and ranches.
Agricultural lands play a pivotal role in fighting climate change. This collaboration will enable private dollars to support state priorities and practices that the state uses in its climate smart agriculture programs.
“Farmers and ranchers have long been at the forefront of the battle against climate change,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This partnership is an opportunity for eaters and buyers to share in land-based solutions. Also, I am proud to be deepening the collaboration between CARB and CDFA, demonstrating how natural and working landscapes bring climate-change solutions to the earth.”
Rooted in the climate and agricultural expertise of CARB and CDFA, this public-private collaboration will bring together food and fiber producers, consumers, and businesses to fund on-farm carbon reductions.
CARB and CDFA will convene a working group composed of subject matter experts to design an approach to invest private dollars in climate smart agricultural projects.
Jared Blumenfeld, California’s Secretary for Environmental Protection at the California Environmental Protection Agency, home to CARB, expressed his enthusiasm for this new approach. “It is incredibly exciting to see California continue to demonstrate its climate policy leadership through this program that will simultaneously address climate change and support iconic landscapes that feed the nation.”
In developing this new effort, CARB and CDFA will work with an established California non-profit, the Perennial Farming Initiative and it’s Zero Foodprint Program to launch Restore California Renewable Restaurants. Through this voluntary initiative, diners can choose zero carbon restaurants that are funding real on-farm emissions reductions.
“This initiative creates exciting new opportunities for Californians to participate in the state’s battle against climate change,” said CARB Chair Mary Nichols. “Restore California gives every Californian who cares about climate the opportunity to put their hard-earned money where their mouth is.”
By 2030, Restore California restaurants can deliver millions of tons of carbon reductions on California farms and ranches. More information on Restore California Renewable Restaurants is available at https://www.perennialfarming.org/restoreca .
“We’re excited to be working with CARB and CDFA on a program that will engage chefs, producers, and diners across the state in a transition to a renewable economy that is not only resilient and renewable, but also delicious, healthy, and prosperous.” Said Karen Leibowitz and Anthony Myint of The Perennial Farming Initiative.
This partnership will create a mechanism for leading businesses in the food and fiber supply chain to directly fund climate projects on California farms and ranches.
Agricultural lands play a pivotal role in fighting climate change. This collaboration will enable private dollars to support state priorities and practices that the state uses in its climate smart agriculture programs.
“Farmers and ranchers have long been at the forefront of the battle against climate change,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross. “This partnership is an opportunity for eaters and buyers to share in land-based solutions. Also, I am proud to be deepening the collaboration between CARB and CDFA, demonstrating how natural and working landscapes bring climate-change solutions to the earth.”
Rooted in the climate and agricultural expertise of CARB and CDFA, this public-private collaboration will bring together food and fiber producers, consumers, and businesses to fund on-farm carbon reductions.
CARB and CDFA will convene a working group composed of subject matter experts to design an approach to invest private dollars in climate smart agricultural projects.
Jared Blumenfeld, California’s Secretary for Environmental Protection at the California Environmental Protection Agency, home to CARB, expressed his enthusiasm for this new approach. “It is incredibly exciting to see California continue to demonstrate its climate policy leadership through this program that will simultaneously address climate change and support iconic landscapes that feed the nation.”
In developing this new effort, CARB and CDFA will work with an established California non-profit, the Perennial Farming Initiative and it’s Zero Foodprint Program to launch Restore California Renewable Restaurants. Through this voluntary initiative, diners can choose zero carbon restaurants that are funding real on-farm emissions reductions.
“This initiative creates exciting new opportunities for Californians to participate in the state’s battle against climate change,” said CARB Chair Mary Nichols. “Restore California gives every Californian who cares about climate the opportunity to put their hard-earned money where their mouth is.”
By 2030, Restore California restaurants can deliver millions of tons of carbon reductions on California farms and ranches. More information on Restore California Renewable Restaurants is available at https://www.perennialfarming.org/restoreca .
“We’re excited to be working with CARB and CDFA on a program that will engage chefs, producers, and diners across the state in a transition to a renewable economy that is not only resilient and renewable, but also delicious, healthy, and prosperous.” Said Karen Leibowitz and Anthony Myint of The Perennial Farming Initiative.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Food and Agriculture
Governor signs bill eliminating unfair tax advantage online retailers had over California businesses
Sen. Mike McGuire, Chair of the Senate Committee on Governance and Finance, Assemblywoman Autumn Burke, Chair of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation and California Treasurer Fiona Ma partnered on AB 147 – which implements the United States Supreme Court decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc.
This decision authorizes states to begin collecting sales and use tax from online and out-of-state retailers without a physical presence in California.
AB 147 allows California to correct the competitive advantage out-of-state businesses, who did not collect tax, had over California retailers, who did. This inequity can give a big edge to online retailers over small businesses – in many cases the competitive advantage is between 7 and 10 percent.
“The enactment of AB 147 will bring in significant revenues from out-of-state retailers to fund essential state and local services. This represents a major step forward for both California and its tax system. AB 147 will level the playing field between California retailers and their out-of-state competitors. It also reduces administrative burdens for small online retailers, so they can spend time and resources to focus on their business and not tax compliance,” said Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke (D-Inglewood).
“This critical legislation removes the competitive advantage online and out-of-state businesses, who did not collect sales tax, had over brick and mortar California retailers, who have always collected taxes,” Senator Mike McGuire said. “Local mom and pop businesses across California have been clamoring for relief for years and this legislation levels the playing field and not only implements Wayfair effectively, but also fairly. We are grateful for Governor Newsom’s support and our partnership with Chairwoman Burke and Treasurer Ma on this important legislation.”
“This is a long time coming! I've been working on comprehensive sales tax reform since 2007 with the National Conference of State Legislatures. I’m glad we now have clarity and uniformity regarding online sellers through the Wayfair case. This new law will close this major loophole by mandating that all online retailers collect and remit all the state AND local sales taxes due and level the playing field between our brick and mortar businesses in our state,” said State Treasurer Fiona Ma, CPA.
The Wayfair decision made by the US Supreme Court on June 21, 2018, allows California and all other states to require out-of-state retailers to collect and remit taxes when selling property to this state’s residents. Thirty three states have already implemented the Wayfair decision, with every other state with a sales tax expected to follow.
AB 147 will take effect immediately. The requirement for online marketplaces to collect taxes on all of their sales in California will commence Oct. 1.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
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