ODOE Draft Report on Natural Climate Solutions Workforce Needs Available for Public Comment

The Oregon Department of Energy released a draft report for the Natural Climate Solutions Workforce Development and Training Programs Needs study Monday and opened a public comment period through noon on Dec. 22, 2025.  

In 2023, the Oregon legislature passed House Bill 3409, a package of laws on climate and natural climate solutions. It defined natural and working lands and directed the Oregon Climate Action Commission and ODOE to assess Oregon’s natural climate solutions workforce and related workforce development and training programs to identify gaps and opportunities for growing this workforce’s ability to meet Oregon’s climate goals.

This study identifies specific training, skills, education, and resources that could help prepare the Oregon workforce to meet future demands for natural climate solution implementation. The breadth of resources required to support this workforce will require public-private partnership. As a result, this study’s recommendations are intended to serve as a roadmap for ongoing collaboration between decisionmakers; Tribal governments and state, federal, and local agencies; workforce development training providers; non-governmental organizations; and contractors, philanthropic entities, and others. 

Public Comment Opportunity: 

The draft report is now available on the Natural Climate Solutions webpage. The public is invited to share feedback on the draft by email through noon on Dec. 22, 2025.  

Feedback will inform the final Natural Climate Solutions Workforce Development and Training Programs Needs study, which will be submitted to Governor Kotek and the Oregon Legislature by Dec. 31, 2025. 

Related work:

ODOE has another natural climate solutions program draft report out for public comment. The draft of Oregon’s first Land-Based Net Carbon Inventory is available for review on the Natural Climate Solutions webpage and comments are accepted by email through Dec. 19, 2025.