Our Approach to Advancing Climate Action

Climate Change

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A smiling woman tends to her moringa trees in Malawi
© 2020 WFP / Francis Thawani
Increasing global climate action is essential to protect our development gains and progress sustainable development in our partner countries. USAID’s climate programs don’t just help limit warming and protect critical ecosystems—they create sustainable jobs, tackle historical inequality, and build stronger communities.

Featured Story

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A smiling woman engineer in the foreground of a hilltop with several wind turbines

USAID’s Climate Work: FY 2023 Year in Review

In FY 2023, USAID supported our partners to prevent 295 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, help over 60 countries build resilience to climate impacts, conserve 82 million hectares of tropical rainforests, and mobilize $16.7 billion in climate finance.
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The world must halve carbon dioxide and other emissions driving climate change by 2030 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This requires big changes in how economies are powered, cities and buildings designed, and forests and land managed. At the same time, climate variability and change is already affecting social and economic development in multiple ways.

USAID is sharing world-class knowledge, data, and tools to help countries predict, prepare for, and adapt to climate change. We also help countries achieve more ambitious targets under the Paris Agreement and lay the foundations for sustainable growth through renewable energy and natural climate solutions.

Our Strategy

USAID Climate Strategy 2022–2030

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USAID’s 2022–2030 Climate Strategy guides our whole-of-Agency approach to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, help partner countries build resilience to climate change, and improve our operations.

USAID Climate Strategy 2022–2030

USAID’s 2022–2030 Climate Strategy guides our whole-of-Agency approach to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, help partner countries build resilience to climate change, and improve our operations.

Learn about our strategy

Our Focus Areas

Climate Adaptation

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USAID strengthens the resilience of vulnerable populations to the impacts of climate change by partnering with countries to apply best practices, science, knowledge and tools.

Renewable Energy

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USAID’s renewable energy programs promote deployment, financing, and grid integration of renewable energy generation as a means to mitigate climate change while lowering costs, spurring economic growth, and increasing access to affordable modern energy services.

Natural Climate Solutions

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USAID helps partner countries conserve, manage, and restore forests and other lands to combat climate change while improving livelihoods and resilience. USAID works with communities, businesses, and governments across entire landscapes to have impact at scale.

Climate Integration

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Climate change affects nearly everything we do at USAID. As such, the Agency mainstreams climate change considerations across much of our development and humanitarian assistance work: we look at how our programs—from economic growth to global health to conflict prevention—affect and are affected by climate change.

Climate Change Country Profiles

USAID plays a key role in the climate-and-development arena, with a portfolio of climate change programs, partnerships, and expertise in more than 45 countries across the globe.

Explore country profiles

Our U.S. Government Partners

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U.S. State Department partners with USAID to support knowledge sharing about resilience and low emission development across countries, as State leads the United States in global climate talks.

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Logo of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

NREL, the U.S. Renewable Energy Lab is a core partner supporting USAID’s energy work.

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NASA Logo

U.S. Space Agency NASA partners with USAID in the SERVIR program, which helps countries access and use satellite data to predict and prepare for climate risks.

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Logo of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
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Shield logo of the U.S. Forest Service of U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA & U.S. Forest Service helps USAID to help countries improve forest and landscape management.

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U.S. Weather Service (NOAA) works with USAID to help countries access and use world-class weather and climate information and technology to predict and prepare for changing risks.

Knowledge-Sharing Portals

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USAID’s Climatelinks.org

A portal for USAID staff, implementing partners, and the broader community working in climate change and development. The portal curates and archives technical guidance and knowledge related to USAID’s work to help countries mitigate and adapt to climate change.
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USAID’s Resiliencelinks.org

A platform for resilience practitioners, USAID staff, implementing partners, and all others working to facilitate mitigation of, adaptation to, and recovery from shocks and stresses. The platform curates resources, guidance, trainings, and evidence to strengthen and inform resilience work at USAID and beyond.
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USAID’s AgriLinks.org

A community for food security and agricultural development practitioners. Discover curated content and resources related to agricultural development, food security, climate and natural resources, and other cross-cutting issues.
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USAID’s Globalwaters.org

This knowledge resource is for USAID staff, implementing partners, and the broader community working in the international development water sector. The site curates knowledge and ideas to solve global water and sanitation challenges.
A smiling female renewable energy engineer stands in front of the large turbines on a wind farm.

USAID Energy

USAID’s energy sector work seeks to expand access to modern energy services to power economic and social development. Access USAID’s energy sector strategies, initiatives, programs, and toolkits through this portal.

For More Information

USAID Climate Strategy 2022–2030

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An antelope crosses the Kenyan savanna at dusk.

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USAID’s 2022–2030 Climate Strategy guides our whole-of-Agency approach to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions, help partner countries build resilience to climate change, and improve our operations.

Climate Change

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USAID plays a vital role in mitigating climate change and addressing its impacts by working with partner countries to implement ambitious emissions reduction measures, protect critical ecosystems, transition to renewable energy, build resilience against the impacts of climate change, and promote the flow of capital toward climate-positive investments.

Environment, Energy, and Infrastructure

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The conservation and stewardship of natural resources; reliable and affordable access to secure, modern energy services; and modern, resilient infrastructure are critical to promote sustainable growth, enhance security, and accelerate progress toward resilience and prosperity.

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