U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted significant advancements in agriculture and climate initiatives at the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event marks the second occasion where a COP conference has focused on food and agriculture sectors.
Secretary Vilsack emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts over the past four years to enhance U.S. agriculture's role in climate leadership through substantial investments. He pointed out the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, which nearly doubles support for conservation and climate-smart practices on farm and forestlands.
"Over the past four years, the Biden-Harris Administration has made historic progress in tackling climate change by making unprecedented investments in climate action," Vilsack stated. He noted that natural disasters such as droughts and floods are worsening due to climate change, highlighting the need for producers to adapt and build resilience.
Vilsack also discussed USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative aimed at creating markets that meet climate objectives while providing income opportunities for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. Recent accomplishments of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) were also announced.
AIM for Climate has expanded since its launch at COP26 in 2021 to include over 800 partners from 56 countries. The initiative has mobilized $29.2 billion towards climate-smart agriculture innovations above a 2020 baseline. The U.S.'s contribution is over $4.3 billion, with almost $4 billion from USDA.
At COP29, AIM for Climate introduced its final cohort of innovation sprints, increasing their total number to 129. Secretary Vilsack announced an $80 million provision to Atlas Agro North America Corporation through USDA’s Fertilizer Production Expansion Program.
The Inflation Reduction Act was underscored as a pivotal investment in American history aimed at clean energy solutions while encouraging economic activity in rural areas. USDA investments under this act total nearly $40 billion across various initiatives supporting farmers and rural communities.
USDA's Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities have invested over $3 billion since 2022, aiding more than 21,000 farms across five million acres in expanding markets for climate-smart commodities like rice, beef, yogurt, milk, coffee, beer, vodka, rye whiskey, bourbon, gin and sustainable aviation fuel.
The International Climate Hub launched by USDA in 2023 was highlighted as a resource sharing U.S. climate science globally with plans to introduce new tools like the AgroClimate Atlas soon.
Detailed information about U.S. government activities at COP29 can be accessed online including video links to Secretary Vilsack’s sessions.
