To: Governor Kotek
Cc: Geoff Huntington, Chandra Ferrari, Janine Benner, Leah Feldon
From: MCAT Steering Committee*
Date: December 3, 2025
Subject: Climate Executive Orders
Re EO 25 – 26 Directing State Agencies to Take Urgent Action to Promote The Resilience Of Our Communities and Natural and Working Lands And Waters
We want to express our gratitude for your Executive Order, No. 25 – 26 focused on mitigating the climate crisis we face. We are especially pleased that you recognize in this EO the exceptional qualities of Oregon’s “natural and working lands and waters.” On a per acre basis our natural forests are among the most productive in the world in sequestering and storing carbon. By simply growing trees longer Oregon can contribute significantly to mitigating the climate crisis. What many do not realize is that we can continue to be a leading supplier of wood products and a world leader in drawing down carbon – a real Win/Win. Research has made clear that when we log our forests on an 80 year cycle vs a 40 year cycle we more than double the timber volume and more than double the carbon storage.
We are thrilled that you have charged your key natural resource agencies with taking concrete actions to “foster resilient lands, waters and communities.” We pledge to you our support of those agencies as they act to fulfill your EO. We appreciate that you emphasize the need to “Keep Oregon’s Working Lands and Waters Working.” We know that we can realize significant economic and social benefits from the ecosystem services that our working lands and waters provide us. Thank you for asking your natural resource agencies to “protect, conserve, connect or restore ten percent of lands and waters in Oregon within ten years.” And, thanks, especially for recognizing the need for an implementation timeline for the Forest Climate and Carbon Plan. ODF developed this plan over four years ago, but sadly little has been accomplished as ODF has continued to log at unsustainable levels.
We encourage you to assess how ODF can monetize carbon on our state forests just as is being done with the Elliott State Forest. In addition we encourage you to hire a State Forester who will ensure that the ODF Climate Change Carbon Plan is not just words on paper but rather a concrete guide to achieving climate smart forestry, (CSF optimizes carbon sequestration, storage and resiliency, grows trees longer, and maintains a diversity of species, ages and structures.)
We are delighted that you have established a Natural Resources Cabinet charged with increasing cross-agency collaboration and developing a Dashboard that will ensure accountability and transparency.
Re EO 25 – 29 On Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Advancing Oregon’s Clean Energy Future
We want to express our gratitude for your Executive Order, No. 25 – 29 focused on mitigating the climate crisis. We especially want to recognize the emphasis you place on affordability and reliability as no doubt these are key to our continued economic development. You rightly identify the many threats to our economic and environmental well-being: wildfire, water scarcity, extreme weather and rising energy costs. This EO will go a long way towards addressing those threats which are only increasing as carbon accumulates in our atmosphere and temperatures continue to rise.
Yes, energy efficiency improvements across all sectors are one of the most cost-effective strategies. Yes, grid modernization is key. Yes, streamlining permitting is vital to accelerate our green energy transition. Yes, a coordinated state-wide approach is necessary.
We are pleased that you have affirmed the five pathways critical to our Oregon Energy Strategy. Together these five pathways will help us achieve the needed transition to a clean energy economy. Just as three words are most important to any real estate transaction: location, location, location, so too are three words essential to this transition: electrify, electrify, electrify.
We appreciate that you have identified a role for the Department of Land Conservation and Development. Oregon has been blessed for over 50 years to have statewide comprehensive land use planning based on 19 goals. These goals are unique to Oregon and have contributed greatly to keeping our forests and farms whole. By doing so DLCD can ensure the coordination needed to realize the range of actions you have identified such as clean energy siting, transmission siting, and deploying energy storage.
In summary, MCAT pledges to work with you, with your Natural Resources Cabinet, with your key state agencies to ensure progress towards meeting Oregon’s ambitious climate goals. Synergy will be essential so that the total effect will be greater than the sum of the individual effects.
Sincerely,
MCAT Steering Committee