International treaties, conventions, etc.

• UNFCCC, Paris Climate Agreement
  The UNFCCC, adopted at the “Rio Earth Summit” in 1992, is an international agreement that aims to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations to limit the impacts of climate change. The follow-on Paris Agreement, which entered into force in November 2016, specifically set a goal to keep global temperature rise this century below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and set out new financial resources, a new technology framework and an enhanced capacity building framework to assist developing countries to take adaptation and mitigation actions.

U.S. National Laws

Appropriations

• Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 
  The Act states that no less than $123,500,000 shall be made available for sustainable landscapes programs, including funding for CARPE
   
• Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill, 2016 (sec 7060 (c) (3), SR 114-79, p. 65 
  The Bill recommends $176,710,00, including $29,810 to the Strategic Climate Fund, be given in assistance through the Department of State and USAID to help developing countries adapt to decreases in agricultural productivity, water scarcity, and rising temperatures and sea levels.
   
• Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017, Sec. 7060(c)(4), Sustainable Landscapes 
  Of the funds appropriated under this Act, not less than $123,500,000 shall be made available for sustainable landscapes programs.

Executive Actions

• Executive Order on Promoting Energy Independence and Economic Growth
  The March 28, 2017, EO requires all federal agencies to immediately review existing regulations that potentially burden the development or use of domestically produced energy resources and appropriately suspend, revise, or rescind those that unduly burden the development of domestic energy resources beyond the degree necessary to protect the public interest or otherwise comply with the law. This includes the president's 2016 Memo on Climate Change and National Security directing USAID and other agencies to ensure that climate change-related impacts are fully considered in the development of national security doctrine, policies, and plans.
   
• Executive Order 13677 - Climate Resilient International Development
  EO 13677 requires all Federal departments and agencies with international development programs to factor in current and future climate change impacts and resilience considerations into international development programs, projects, investments, overseas facilities, and related funding decisions, as well as to promote a similar approach among relevant multilateral entities.

Agency Policy

• USAID ADS Chapter 201mal - Climate Risk Management
  ADS chapter 201mal provides guidance for climate risk management in USAID projects and activities. USAID Project and Activity Design Teams are required to identify relevant climate risks and qualitatively assess them as low, moderate or high. The CRM processes and results—including identified climate risks, risk ratings, how risks are addressed, opportunities and any further analysis needed—must be documented in Project Appraisal Documents (PADs) and Environmental Compliance Analyses, as well as integrated into USAID solicitations and awards, as appropriate.
   
• USAID ADS Chapter 201mat - Climate Change in USAID Country/Regional Strategies
  Effective October 1, 2015, climate risk management is required as part of the development of all new country/regional USAID strategies, regardless of whether or not the mission receives Global Climate Change (GCC) funding. ADS chapter 201mat describes the process through which climate change risks should be assessed and addressed as well as considerations for climate change mitigation in USAID mission/regional strategies. This is a companion document to ADS 201mal.
   
• New) ADS Chapter 200maa- Guidance on Writing and Reviewing Development Policy
  This guidance document created by the Bureau for Policy, Planning, and Learning, Office of Policy (PPL/P) provides overall guidance on Agency policy formulation, development, and review, and works to ensure policy coherence across USAID. It contains instructions on how to comply with Executive Order 13677 on Climate-Resilient International Development, which requires USAID to assess Agency policies and programs for climate-related risks and to address those risks as appropriate, in the Annex: Climate Change Requirements in New Agency Policies.

Implementation Guidelines, Tools, and Other Resources

• USAID Climate Risk Screening and Management Tools
  Climate risk screening and management tools are meant to help Agency staff assess and address climate risks in strategy, project and activity design to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of USAID development interventions.
   
• Clean Energy Emission Reduction (CLEER) Tool
  The CLEER Tool provides simple, standardized methodologies for calculating emission reductions from clean energy activities. The tool enables users to estimate, track, and report GHG reductions from clean energy, which may help users identify high impact activities with cost effective GHG reductions, assess emissions reduction potential of planned activities or alternatives, and measure benefits from indirect clean energy activities.

Number of USAID Missions implementing

• Approximately 35 in-country and, 15 regional/global GCC programs. All USAID missions are required to address Climate Risk Management in each project or activity design, with a few exceptions (see ADS 201mal).

Agency Initiatives

• SO 1: Mitigation
• SO 2: Adaptation
• SO 3: Integration

Related Issue Areas

• Forestry and Biodiversity
• Water
• Agriculture (Climate-smart Adaptation)
• Health
• Indigenous Rights
• Energy
• Land Tenure, Land Use, Urban Issues, Infrastructure
• Economic Growth

AGENCY POC

• GCC Office Director: Allen Eisendrath
• USAID Page