Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy

Overview

Air quality, climate change and energy are three issues that increasingly are being addressed by the NRCS.  Air quality already is a functional part of the NRCS conservation portfolio (the first ‘A’ in SWAPA+H).  Climate change and energy are now becoming significant considerations in conservation planning.  This course will provide a broad overview of these three topics, and how they are related to each other and SWAPA+H components.  Students will learn how agricultural activities can contribute to air emissions, sequester carbon, manage greenhouse gas emissions, and better conserve energy.  The course also will provide examples of addressing these issues via NRCS planning and programs.

Objectives

Upon completion of the training, participants will be able to:

• Define air quality, climate change, and energy as they relate to the NRCS mission and explain how they are interrelated
• Explain the importance of these issues for land managers and NRCS itself
• Recognize how soil, water, air, plants, animals and human activity all affect, and are affected by, energy and climate change
• Identify examples of how air quality, climate change, and energy concepts apply to agricultural conservation
• List and locate additional resources that can be used to expand knowledge of these topics

Prerequisites

None

Delivery Method

This program is Web-based.

Duration

Approximately 90 minutes.

Target Audience

The course is designed for all NRCS employees, but particularly for State Air Quality and Energy Contacts, conservation planners, partnership employees, and conservation technical assistance providers to assist them in integrating air quality, energy and climate change into conservation planning and programs.

NEDC Contact

NEDC Webmaster.

Technical Contact

Air Quality:  Greg Johnson;  Climate Change:  Carolyn Olson;  Energy:  Stefanie Aschmann.

Enrollment for Air Quality, Climate Change and Energy

Enrollment instructions are provided below.  Be sure to select the appropriate link to ensure successful enrollment. 

USDA Employees

Proceed to the Aglearn to login using your USDA eAuthentication ID and password.  This is the same as your WebTCAS ID and password.
Select Catalog, Select Natural Resources Conservation Service under Subject Area Menu, Choose the course name by selecting either the button Launch content or Add to Learning Plan to register and complete the course.

District Employees with Aglearn account

Proceed to the Aglearn to login using your USDA eAuthentication ID and password. This is the same logon ID and password used for the TechReg TSP application or profile.
Select Catalog, Select Natural Resources Conservation Service under Subject Area Menu, Choose the course name by select the button Launch content or Add to Learning Plan to register and complete the course.

If you do not have an account.  Specific instructions on securing a USDA user account and password are located at getting started.  For further assistance contact the USDA state office in your state for assistance in obtaining an eAuthentication ID and password and AgLearn account.

Technical Service Providers

Proceed to the Aglearn to login using your USDA eAuthentication ID and password. This is the same logon ID and password used for the TechReg TSP application or profile.
Select Catalog, Select Natural Resources Conservation Service under Subject Area Menu, Choose the course name by select the button Launch content or Add to Learning Plan to register and complete the course.

If you are anticipating becoming a Technical Service Provider please review the entire process at TechReg.  Please familiarize yourself with this process if you have not already done so.  Specific instructions on securing a USDA user account and password are located at getting started.

Other USDA Customers

For those not in the above categories contact the USDA state office in your state for assistance in obtaining an eAuthentication ID and password and AgLearn account.
To obtain this contact information for your state you can go to the Aglearn website click on contact us. Scroll down to NRCS and click on the link that says state contacts.

Air Quality, Climate Change, and Energy (NEDC-NRCS-000253)