Commerce & USTDA Seek Climate Adaptation Input for Projects

The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) is seeking stakeholder input to integrate climate adaptation and resilience into its programming across priority sectors. The agency's goal is to support the export of U.S. technologies and services that help developing and middle-income countries prepare for and respond to climate change-related external shocks and stresses. This input will shape the development of project preparation activities, partnership-building activities, and the connection of U.S. companies to climate adaptation and resilience-related export opportunities while fostering sustainable infrastructure development.

USTDA helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. The agency links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership-building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.

The agency achieves its mission by funding feasibility studies, technical assistance, and pilot projects that integrate U.S. private sector innovation into infrastructure projects at the critical early stages when design choices and technology options are determined. USTDA also connects overseas project sponsors with U.S. partners through its reverse trade missions, industry conferences, and expert workshops.

Climate adaptation involves strengthening the capacity of individuals, communities, assets, and systems to withstand climate shocks or stressors, while climate resilience refers to the ability to prepare for and recover from climate change impacts. USTDA is focusing on both established and emerging technologies and services that contribute to the adaptive capacity and resilience of foreign partners in managing climate change-related challenges.

Potential areas for climate adaptation and resilience-related technologies and services include emergency response and preparedness, infrastructure resilience, hydro-meteorological systems, energy resilience, environmental technologies, ICT for resilient communication systems, water use efficiency, resilient transportation systems, coastal and flood protection, climate-smart food systems, sustainable building materials, capital markets solutions, innovative insurance products, and sustainable lending and financing products.

This initiative supports the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) in coordinating U.S. government export promotion activities, including activities supporting U.S. exports of climate and clean technologies and services. The TPCC is an interagency committee chaired by the Secretary of Commerce and was established to provide a unifying framework for coordinating export promotion and export financing activities in the U.S. government.

[88 FR 27552]