Today, U.S. Representative Ted Deutch (FL-22) and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) introduced legislation requiring the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to report to Congress on efforts to address the global climate change crisis and improve the agency's energy and resource efficiency.

Specifically, the legislation will require the Secretary to report to Congress on the Department’s plan underlining the strategic use of the full power of U.S. diplomacy and development tools to address the global climate crisis. This would include an assessment of the global threat of climate change; articulation of the guidelines for international finance flows via public and private sector to promote sustainable development; and the integration of adaption, mitigation, and resiliency activities into climate security, conflict mitigation, economic policy, and geographic policy parameters with a particular focus on the countries and communities most vulnerable to climate change, including women and girls.  

"Climate change is a global crisis that demands a united global response," said Congressman Deutch. "The United States must use all of our foreign policy and diplomatic tools, from the State Department to USAID, to confront the global challenges of climate change. This will help ensure President-elect Biden's success in executing foreign policy that leads the global effort to protect our planet. Congress must play an active role in helping to advance these efforts."

"As President-elect Biden Prepares to restore U.S. leadership in the fight against climate change, we must ensure that the State Department and USAID implement a coordinated campaign. Developing and implementing a joint strategy, as required by this legislation, will ensure that America's diplomatic corps has a clear game plan to respond to the grave national security threat of climate change," said Senator Cardin.

Text of the legislation can be accessed here.