Multilateral Fora and Negotiations
The climate crisis knows no boundaries, and both the challenge and its solutions range from local to global in scale. Because of this, international cooperation and collaboration through negotiation and implementation of international agreements are essential. The Negotiations Team represents the United States in negotiations under the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and in many other international fora that address climate change, including the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), G7, G20, and others.
Science
The science of climate change is clear. Scientists have analyzed decades worth of data and warn that our planet is warming at an unprecedented rate. The window to take meaningful action to limit warming to 1.5°C and avoid the worst consequences of climate change is closing rapidly. The United States is committed to leveraging scientific information as a foundation for policy and action in this decisive decade.
The Science Team leverages the best available climate science to inform policy and decision-making. The Office of Global Change leads U.S. government participation in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which assesses scientific and technical information related to climate change. The IPCC completed its sixth assessment report in March 2023. The Science Team also manages strategic bilateral and multilateral partnerships on climate change such as the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.
Initiatives and Partnerships
No country can solve the climate crisis alone. As the United States and countries around the world increase their ambitions to combat the climate crisis, more urgent implementation is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the most vulnerable communities adapt to and manage the climate impacts already occurring.
The Initiatives and Partnerships Team builds and fosters relationships through bilateral, multilateral, and global partnerships on a range of issues from strengthening energy security and expanding clean energy economic opportunities to conserving forests and critical ecosystems, cutting greenhouse gases other than carbon dioxide, increasing resilience to climate-related disasters, and preventing global temperatures from rising above 1.5°C to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis. A few key initiatives include:
- The President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE) Call to Action to the Private Sector: In their role co-leading the implementation of PREPARE, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry and Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Samantha Power launched a global Call to Action at the UNFCCC 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) for businesses to make new commitments to build climate resilience in partner countries. The Call to Action aims to galvanize private sector action in six areas: climate information services, infrastructure, water, health, agriculture, and finance. Ten companies came forward in November 2022. Learn more about their commitment on the Global Resilience Partnership website and read more about PREPARE in the Action Plan.
- Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETP): The United States is participating in JETPs with South Africa, Indonesia, and Vietnam. JETPs are landmark, launched in 2022, long-term partnerships designed to create an ambitious and just power sector transition in each of these countries and aim to significantly accelerate transition toward a cleaner energy future. JETP initiatives focus not only on delivering strong emissions reductions, but also on driving sustainable development and economic growth, while protecting the livelihoods of communities and workers in affected sectors.
- Global Methane Pledge (GMP): Launched at the UNFCCC 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in 2021, the Global Methane Pledge established a goal to cut global methane emissions originating from human activity by at least 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. More than 150 countries representing over 50 percent of global emissions and 75 percent of global GDP have signed on to the GMP. This pledge is catalyzing global action and recognizes the role of the private sector, development banks, financial institutions, and philanthropy in implementing efforts to fulfill the pledge. Learn more about the GMP – including the countries that have joined and the three pathways for policies and initiatives to drive methane reductions in the energy, food and agriculture, and waste sectors – on the pledge’s website.
- Green Shipping Corridors: The United States is leading the transition to zero-emissions shipping by facilitating the establishment of Green Shipping Corridors. Since joining the Clydebank Declaration at the UNFCCC 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26), the United States has announced multiple projects to help facilitate the transition to green shipping. These include establishing green shipping corridors between major ports in the United States and the Republic of Korea, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among others. Furthermore, the United States launched the Green Shipping Corridors Initiation Project to support feasibility studies for green shipping corridors involving developing countries.
Climate Programming
The Program Team requests funding, develops programs, and oversees and evaluates the implementation of Department of State climate change foreign assistance. The team focuses on clean energy, adaptation and resilience, and sustainable landscapes, including through U.S. participation in the Green Climate Fund (in coordination with the Treasury Department). Examples include:
- The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network supports developing countries to prepare, finance, implement, monitor, and update national adaptation plans. National adaptation plans enable developing countries to identify and address their medium- and long-term priorities for adapting to climate change. These efforts facilitate coordination, mobilize resources, allocate support, and track progress. National adaptation plan processes are the foundation for adaptation action at scale. The NAP Global Network facilitates sustained peer learning, provides short- and long-term technical assistance to countries, and fosters knowledge production and sharing. The network connects over 1,500 participants from more than 150 countries working on national adaptation planning and action and has delivered direct support to more than 50 countries. Additional information about the NAP Global Network can be found on its website.
- The Global Climate Action Partnership (GCAP) supports global, regional, national, and subnational climate action to advance transitions to low- and zero-carbon, and to support resilient economies and sectors in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The Partnership aims to achieve near-term climate goals and to develop long-term resilient, just, and inclusive low emission and net-zero economies. Learn more about GCAP on its website.
- SilvaCarbon supports more than two dozen partner countries in developing and managing forest and climate data as well as monitoring and reporting systems to support better land management decisions, enhance efforts to curb deforestation, support livelihoods, set ambitious climate targets, fulfill international reporting requirements, and access financial instruments. More information on this interagency technical cooperation program can be found on its website.