WWF is one of 100 diverse organizations urging President Biden and House and Senate Leaders to ensure strong funding for foreign assistance programs in a final agreement on FY23 spending levels for the US government, and specifically to include the highest possible investments for international climate finance programs. These programs support developing country efforts to mitigate climate change and build resilience to its impacts, including through the protection of tropical forests and other critical, carbon-rich ecosystems. The ask was communicated in a letter sent by 100 signatory organizations representing environment and conservation, development, faith, health, science, foreign policy, and business communities and their millions of members and supporters.
Achieving significant increases in US government climate finance programs is essential to meeting US international commitments, including President Biden’s pledge to provide $11.4 billion in such finance by 2024, and to unlocking the global ambition needed to halt runaway climate change and protect the future of both people and nature. It is also very much in America’s own interest. As stated in the letters:
“Financing for international climate programs serves vital US interests by promoting global stability and security, creating economic opportunities for US businesses and workers, alleviating global poverty and food insecurity, protecting investments in international development, complementing global health efforts, and ensuring significant cost savings by promoting resilience and disaster preparedness.”
