Kerry plan weaves climate into development programs

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) floated legislation Wednesday that would formally integrate consideration of climate change into U.S. foreign policy on sustainable development and poverty reduction.

The bill notes that the U.S. policy to promote sustainable global development will include recognition that climate change is a “potentially significant national and global security threat multiplier that is likely to exacerbate economic and social inequality and increase competition and conflict over agricultural, vegetative, marine, and water resources.”

Kerry’s plan also lays out views on global development that include recognition that climate change affects poor nations more than developed countries, and that climate change is harming food security because developing nations face climate-related decreases in crop yields.

The effort is just one part of a far broader bill that authorizes various diplomatic and foreign assistance programs at the State Department and elsewhere, addressing conflict prevention and peacekeeping, Internet freedom, terrorism and many other issues.

The bill comes as House GOP lawmakers are seeking to end U.S. funding for international climate-change programs that aid developing countries.

House spending legislation for the State Department and foreign operations — which is moving through the Appropriations Committee — would block U.S. funding for a pair of World Bank-led climate and clean-energy programs and nix funding for United Nations climate efforts.