On November 8, USAID announced ambitious new targets to support implementation of the Global Climate Ambition Initiative, which the White House launched at the Leaders' Summit on Climate in April. The Global Climate Ambition Initiative seeks to coordinate U.S. government support to partner countries to strengthen and implement their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) under the Paris Agreement, and advance towards net-zero and newer enhanced commitments.
USAID’s new Agency-wide climate strategy aims to align development and humanitarian assistance programs with NDCs, NAPs, and partner country climate policy priorities in at least 80 countries by 2030. In addition, USAID plans to support at least 40 partner countries in demonstrating significant and sustained progress towards achieving ambitious country commitments in that time.
This builds on USAID’s previously announced targets to support partner countries to mitigate 6 billion tons of CO2 equivalent, support the protection, restoration, or management of 100 million hectares of critical landscapes, and support more than half a billion people with climate adaptation - all by 2030.
Select new activities include:
- USAID and the State Department are answering the call to support partner countries around the world in their efforts to develop, implement, and finance their adaptation priorities, as communicated in their NDCs, NAPs and other adaptation planning documents.
- USAID plans to provide support to the African Union Commission, African countries, and additional high-risk countries to strengthen their capacity to implement strong NAPs and NDCs.
- A new Southeast Asia Smart Power Program, which will accelerate a clean energy transition and support the renewable energy goals of ASEAN member states.
- Supporting countries’ implementation of commitments aligned with the World Health Organization-led Initiatives to Build Resilient and Sustainable Health Systems and implementation of Health National Adaptation Plans.