State Agriculture Officials Fear That Wall Street’s Net Zero Pledges Will Hurt America’s Farmers

‘If we’re not able to feed ourselves as a nation, we’re not able to protect ourselves,’ says Georgia agriculture commissioner.

Three combines harvest the winter wheat on a farm near Roggen, Colo. on July 9, 2009. Ed Andrieski/AP Photo

Agriculture commissioners from 12 states have issued a letter to Wall Street’s largest banks, demanding answers about their pledges to achieve the United Nations’ net-zero goals, and what effect this will have on farm loans and America’s ability to feed itself.

The Jan. 29 letter cites the banks’ membership in the U.N. Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and the coinciding pledge that the loans they make will “align with pathways to net-zero by mid-century or sooner.”