Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis concluded her participation in the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Baku, Azerbaijan. During the event, she engaged with international leaders and stakeholders to emphasize the Department of the Interior's commitment to addressing climate change through collaborative and science-based solutions.
Throughout the week, Daniel-Davis participated in several U.S.-hosted events focusing on Indigenous Knowledge inclusion in policymaking, Tribal co-stewardship value, nature-based solutions for climate impacts, and strengthening Indian Country through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
On behalf of the United States, Daniel-Davis delivered remarks at the Azerbaijani Presidency's Water Declaration. This initiative launched the Baku Water for Climate Dialogue, a platform for collaboration between COP conferences that addresses water-related issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and desertification at various levels.
The Department had a strong presence at events focused on international coalitions aimed at building resilience against climate challenges. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act represent significant investments in climate resilience. These laws have funded 640 projects worth $5.1 billion from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and additional projects totaling $2.5 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act.
During her visit, Daniel-Davis met with members of the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA) to discuss partnerships for a more water-secure future. She spoke at an AGWA-hosted event about adapting to water extremes like droughts and floods. She highlighted investments made by her department in coastal resilience on the East Coast through initiatives like restoring salt marshes.
Daniel-Davis also met with officials from Uzbekistan to discuss cooperation between their government and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) efforts supporting climate adaptation through scientific research agreements.
Furthermore, she engaged with leaders from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which collaborates with various Interior Department offices on infrastructure projects across regions like Micronesia and Marshall Islands using Compact of Free Association grants alongside ADB resources. An agreement between USGS and ADB aims to provide technical research assistance for reducing risks related to water supplies across Pacific regions.
