USAID, science, climate change, and development

Background/Question/Methods and Results/Conclusions

Climate change is one of the greatest economic, social, and environmental challenges of our time.  USAID’s Climate Change and Development Strategy details how the Agency is working to help countries accelerate their transition to climate resilient, low emission development, advancing the global green economy.  Science guides USAID’s investments in clean energy, sustainable forestry and adaptation to climate change which are all also investments in sustainable economic growth.

For example, more variable rainfall, stronger storms, and increasing temperatures have the potential to reduce agricultural productivity; warming ocean temperatures and ocean acidification are already negatively impacting fisheries. These impacts are poised to undermine the livelihoods of millions in developing countries, especially the poorest. Similarly, increased incidence of flooding and drought, saltwater intrusion into drinking water supplies, and the migration of disease vectors into new areas (such as mosquitoes carrying malaria) will affect public health by undermining access to clean water and sanitation, undercutting nutritional gains, and changing disease distribution patterns and prevalence.

Implementing practical adaptation responses to these threats is an important element of risk mitigation, both to ensure the livelihoods and health of USAID’s beneficiaries and to ensure the sustainability of past, current, and future USAID development investments. Likewise, USAID’s investments in clean energy and sustainable forestry drive sustainable economic growth while helping to reduce current and future greenhouse gas emissions.

USAID is considering both how our activities affect greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts that a changing climate is already having (and will continue to have) on our globe. The strategy prioritizes development planning and programming for sustainable economic growth that is not only resilient to climate change but also reduces contributions to greenhouse gas emissions. This includes integrating climate mitigation and adaptation priorities across the Agency’s development portfolio.