The following is attributable to USAID Spokesperson Jessica Jennings:
Today, Administrator Samantha Power participated in events and meetings as part of COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt to speak to the progress we have made over the last year in upholding our climate commitments and supporting our partner countries who are coping with the impacts of climate change.
This morning at a United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change event on Scaling Practical Solutions to Accelerate Industrial Decarbonization by 2030, Administrator Power announced the Powering a Just Energy Transition Green Minerals Challenge open call for innovations and the global expansion of the Comprehensive Action for Climate Change Initiative.
The Administrator then met with human rights activists in Egypt and the group discussed their tireless efforts to advocate for universal human rights and civil liberties in the country.
Administrator Power met with Amazon’s Chief Sustainability Officer, Kara Hurst, to discuss USAID’s partnerships with Amazon, including the newly launched Climate Gender Equity Fund and the Powering a Just Energy Transition Green Minerals Challenge. They specifically discussed ways that both organizations can leverage their global networks to secure at least $60 million in additional funding to advance the critical issue of gender-responsive climate finance.
At an event on the Agricultural Innovation Mission (AIM) for Climate, Administrator Power spoke on the importance of investing in agricultural research for climate adaptation that benefits smallholder farmers. There, she announced another installment of $43 million in funding in line with AIM for Climate objectives that support innovations in climate smart food systems, including investments that will protect the yield and quality of crops and livestock from climate change. Administrator Power also announced two new partnerships that will increase private sector investments in climate-smart food systems: one with Bayer Crop Science and the International Rice Research Institute to improve the quality of life of smallholder rice farmers; and one with Olam Food Ingredients, Nestlé, Mars Wrigley, Costco Wholesale, Mondelēz International, and Blommer Chocolate Company to help smallholder cocoa farmers use more climate-smart agricultural practices.
The Administrator attended remarks by President Biden where he discussed the United States progress on advancing climate goals and supporting developing countries around the world to cope with climate shocks.