Photo provided by AIM for Climate
At the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack emphasized the progress made under the Biden-Harris Administration to position U.S. agriculture and forestry as climate leaders, develop climate solutions, and build climate-smart markets that generate new revenue streams for rural communities.
Secretary Vilsack highlighted the success of the Inflation Reduction Act, the single largest investment in combating the climate crisis in the nation’s history. He also outlined USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, a historic and innovative funding opportunity that expands markets for commodities produced using climate-smart practices. In addition, Secretary Vilsack announced the latest accomplishments of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a joint initiative from the U.S. and UAE. These include $29.2 billion in investments, 129 Innovation Sprints, and 800 partners worldwide (read more about AIM for Climate’s success here).
“Over the past four years, the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic progress in tackling climate change by making unprecedented investments in climate action, providing producers with needed conservation assistance, and helping them tap into new markets for climate-smart commodities and products,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Farmers, ranchers, and foresters in the U.S. and across the world have experienced the increasing destruction caused by natural disasters – including droughts, floods, and extreme weather – all of which are expected to continue and worsen due to climate change. The best way to combat the impacts of climate change is to equip producers of all sizes with the tools they need to adapt and build resilience.
“The progress made under the Biden-Harris Administration will leave a lasting legacy through a food and agricultural system that is more equitable, sustainable and resilient,” he added.
More on USDA’s Climate Actions and Investments
Historic Investments through the Inflation Reduction Act
This historic law aims to position farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners as part of the solution to climate change while stimulating economic growth in rural areas and protecting the communities most vulnerable to climate change impacts.
USDA’s investments to date total nearly $40 billion and include:
- Close to $4 billion in conservation assistance, on top of the assistance USDA provides through the Farm Bill, which has helped more than 28,500 farmers and ranchers to adopt climate-smart practices.
- More than $1 billion to help nearly 7,000 farmers and rural small businesses develop their own clean energy and energy efficiency systems, benefitting rural communities and
- More than $2.6 billion to reduce wildfire risk on 1.8 million acres (0.7 million hectares), encompassing 550 communities, 2,500 miles of power lines, and 1,800 watersheds with an economic value of $700 billion.
Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities
Since 2022, USDA has invested more than $3 billion through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities, supporting more than 21,000 farms and expanding markets for climate-smart commodities.
Thanks to these projects, consumers can access more than 40 climate-smart commodities, including rice, beef, milk, coffee, beer, and gin. Projects have also produced low-carbon biofuels, and additional projects are still emerging.
Sharing Resources with the Global Community
USDA’s International Climate Hub, launched in 2023, aims to share U.S. climate science and increase the resilience of global farmers, ranchers, and foresters to the impacts of climate change. The Hub has attracted 26,000 users worldwide who use its climate-informed decision support tools, webinars, resources, and international events. In the coming months, the Hub plans to launch several new initiatives and products, including the AgroClimate Atlas, which will provide regional climate and crop data.