ICYMI: White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Advances Biden-Harris Administration Climate Agenda During COP28
Since day one, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and the entire Biden-Harris Administration have treated climate change as the existential threat of our time. The Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda has already led to more than $350 billion in private investment commitments in electric vehicle and battery manufacturing, clean power plants, and clean energy supply chains that will help deliver a decarbonized future in the United States. After spearheading the most significant climate action in history and leading efforts to tackle the climate crisis head on with partners around the globe, the United States deployed a coalition of leaders to the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) to demonstrate how the Biden-Harris Administration is delivering on its commitment for the United States to lead the global response to combatting the climate crisis.
In coordination with other U.S. departments and agencies, which collectively announced new domestic and international actions by the Biden-Harris Administration during COP28, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) advanced President Biden’s ambitious climate agenda by leading the following initiatives:
12/2/23: Biden-Harris Administration Launches International Strategy for Fusion Energy
OSTP and the National Security Council, in coordination with the Department of State, Department of Energy, and other federal agencies, launched an international strategy to help support the timely development, demonstration, and deployment of commercial fusion energy in strategic areas such as research and development, harmonization of regulatory frameworks, assessment and growth of the future global fusion marketplace, and the development of a diverse global workforce. The Strategy was announced by Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Forum and OSTP joined the discussion during a subsequent panel, An Inclusive Fusion Energy Future.
12/2/23: Biden-Harris Administration Advances International Efforts to Accelerate Nuclear Energy Capacity
In partnership with the National Security Council, the Department of Energy, and the Department of State, OSTP contributed to advancing multiple COP28 commitments to accelerate nuclear energy capacity. More than 20 countries launched a declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Additionally, a multilateral commitment was made to secure the nuclear fuel supply chain, involving the United States, Canada, Japan, France, and the United Kingdom. These nations aim to invest at least $4.2 billion in government-led initiatives to enhance collective enrichment and conversion capacity over the next three years, with a view to catalyze private sector finance and additional partners.
12/6/23: Department of Housing and Urban Development Joins the U.S. Global Change Research Program
OSTP named the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as the 15th member of its U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP). HUD adds key insights and perspectives to USGCRP that will strengthen environmental justice efforts by increasing climate resilience in low-income and climate-vulnerable communities and preparing communities to adapt and respond to climate disasters.
12/6/23: Assessing Progress Towards the Achievement of Emission Reductions
In partnership with the Department of State, the Department of Energy, and the White House Climate Policy Office, OSTP contributed to the Multilateral Assessment process for the United States at COP28. The assessment evaluates progress in implementation towards the achievement of emission reductions and removals related to the United States’ quantified economy-wide emission reduction targets for 2020.
The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and OSTP released the first-ever U.S. Ocean Justice Strategy to advance environmental justice for communities that rely on the ocean and Great Lakes for economic, cultural, spiritual, recreational, and food security purposes. The Strategy outlines how the federal government will integrate principles of equity and environmental justice in federal ocean activities, and furthers the Administration’s commitment to ensuring equitable access to the benefits provided by the ocean.
OSTP, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Commerce, with support from the State Department, announced U.S. joint cooperation with Australia and Canada to put nature on our nations’ balance sheets, so we can measure how nature contributes to the economy and to climate solutions. This builds on the partnership announced at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 15th Conference of the Parties meeting last year between the United States and Australia and fulfills one of our joint goals to create and coordinate a high-ambition group of participating countries on these issues.
OSTP and CEQ and several agencies announced new actions to implement recommendations in the National Nature-Based Solutions Roadmap launched at COP27. These actions included the United States joining the partnership to Enhance Nature-Based Solutions for an Accelerated Climate Transformation (ENACT). These efforts support nature-based solutions in the United States and across the globe to strengthen President Biden’s commitment to unlocking the full potential of nature-based solutions and expand the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis, make our nation more resilient to extreme weather, and strengthen communities and local economies.
12/9/23: Nature-Based Solutions Resource Guide 2.0: A New Guide to Funding Nature-Based Solutions Resources
OSTP and CEQ, in coordination with 15 federal agencies, released an updated compilation of information and programs to equip communities and agencies with successful implementation examples, tools, and evidence to advance effective nature-based solutions, and to provide communities with information on potential funding opportunities. The Resource Guide 2.0 was announced at the COP28 U.S. Center during an OSTP-moderated event on Building a Resilient Future: Whole-Community Approaches to Nature-Based Solutions.
12/9/23: Advancing Actionable Climate Information and Services
OSTP announced enhanced information resources to help communities plan for, and act on, climate change. This included newly launched features in the Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation portal that provides enhanced connectivity to U.S. federal funding opportunities and programs, including for nature-based solutions. The portal’s Assessment Tool includes new data from FEMA’s National Risk Index, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Billion Dollar Disasters, and important information to help communities prepare for extreme cold. In addition, new functions in the interactive Atlas of the Fifth National Climate Assessment provide the most up-to-date climate knowledge and allow users to visualize and use future climate data at decision-relevant scales. The aforementioned actions were highlighted during Advancing Early Warning Systems and Climate Services for All, an OSTP-led and moderated event held at the COP28 U.S. Center.
###
