[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 2014)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 58231-58236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-23228]



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Vol. 79

Friday,

No. 187

September 26, 2014

Part IV





The President





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Executive Order 13677--Climate-Resilient International Development



Memorandum of September 23, 2014--Deepening U.S. Government Efforts To 
Collaborate With and Strengthen Civil Society
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  Federal Register / Vol. 79 , No. 187 / Friday, September 26, 2014 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

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                Executive Order 13677 of September 23, 2014

                
Climate-Resilient International Development

                By the authority vested in me as President by the 
                Constitution and the laws of the United States of 
                America, and to safeguard security and economic growth, 
                protect the sustainability and long-term durability of 
                U.S. development work in vulnerable countries, and 
                promote sound decisionmaking and risk management, it is 
                hereby ordered as follows:

                Section 1. Policy. The world must reduce greenhouse gas 
                emissions to prevent the most dangerous consequences of 
                climate change. Even with increased efforts to curb 
                these emissions, we must prepare for and adapt to the 
                impacts of climate change. The adverse impacts of 
                climate change, including sea-level rise, increases in 
                temperatures, more frequent extreme precipitation and 
                heat events, more severe droughts, and increased 
                wildfire activity, along with other impacts of 
                greenhouse gas emissions, such as ocean acidification, 
                threaten to roll back decades of progress in reducing 
                poverty and improving economic growth in vulnerable 
                countries, compromise the effectiveness and resilience 
                of U.S. development assistance, degrade security, and 
                risk intranational and international conflict over 
                resources.

                Executive Order 13514 of October 5, 2009 (Federal 
                Leadership in Environmental, Energy, and Economic 
                Performance), and Executive Order 13653 of November 1, 
                2013 (Preparing the United States for the Impacts of 
                Climate Change), established a strong foundation for 
                coordinated and consistent action to incorporate 
                climate-resilience considerations into policies and 
                procedures throughout the Federal Government. Executive 
                departments and agencies (agencies) with international 
                development programs must now build upon the recent 
                progress made pursuant to these orders by 
                systematically factoring climate-resilience 
                considerations into international development 
                strategies, planning, programming, investments, and 
                related funding decisions, including the planning for 
                and management of overseas facilities.

                This order requires the integration of climate-
                resilience considerations into all United States 
                international development work to the extent permitted 
                by law. Dedicated U.S. climate-change adaptation funds 
                are critical to managing the risks posed by climate-
                change impacts in vulnerable countries. Coping with the 
                magnitude of the consequences of accelerating climate 
                change also requires enhanced efforts across the 
                Federal Government's broader international development 
                work. Consideration of current and future climate-
                change impacts will improve the resilience of the 
                Federal Government's broader international development 
                programs, projects, investments, overseas facilities, 
                and related funding decisions. The United States will 
                also promote a similar approach among relevant 
                multilateral entities in which it participates.

                By taking these steps and more fully considering 
                current and future climate-change impacts, the United 
                States will foster better decision-making processes and 
                risk-management approaches, ensure the effectiveness of 
                U.S. investments, and assist other countries in 
                integrating climate-resilience considerations into 
                their own development planning and implementation. 
                Collectively, these efforts will help to better 
                optimize broader international development work and 
                lead to enhanced global preparedness for and resilience 
                to climate change.

[[Page 58232]]

                The international climate-resilience actions required 
                by this order complement efforts by the Federal 
                Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home 
                and globally. The more greenhouse gas emissions are 
                reduced, the less need there will be to adapt to the 
                impacts of a changing climate.

                Sec. 2. Incorporating Climate Resilience into 
                International Development. (a) Agencies with direct 
                international development programs and investments 
                shall:

                    (i) incorporate climate-resilience considerations 
                into decisionmaking by:
                    (A) assessing and evaluating climate-related risks 
                to and vulnerabilities in agency strategies, planning, 
                programs, projects, investments, overseas facilities, 
                and related funding decisions, using best-available 
                climate-change data, tools, and information, including 
                those identified or developed pursuant to sections 3 
                and 4 of this order; and
                    (B) as appropriate, adjusting strategies, planning, 
                programs, projects, investments, and related funding 
                decisions, including the planning for and management of 
                overseas facilities, based on such assessments and 
                evaluations;
                    (ii) collaborate with other agencies to share 
                knowledge, data, tools, information, frameworks, and 
                lessons learned in incorporating climate-resilience 
                considerations into agency strategy, planning, 
                programs, projects, investments, and related funding 
                decisions, including the planning for and management of 
                overseas facilities;
                    (iii) work with other countries, as appropriate, to 
                identify climate risks and incorporate climate-
                resilience considerations into their international 
                development assistance efforts;
                    (iv) when determining how to use resources, support 
                efforts of vulnerable countries to integrate climate-
                resilience considerations into national, regional, and 
                sectoral development planning and action; and
                    (v) monitor progress in integrating and promoting 
                climate-resilient development considerations as 
                required by this subsection.
                    (b) Agencies that participate in multilateral 
                entities and other agencies with representation in 
                multilateral development entities, including 
                multilateral development banks and United Nations 
                organizations, shall, as appropriate:
                    (i) work to encourage multilateral entities to:
                    (A) assess and evaluate climate-related risks to 
                and vulnerabilities in their strategies, planning, 
                programs, projects, investments, and related funding 
                decisions, using best-available climate-change data, 
                tools, and information; and
                    (B) adjust their strategies, planning, programs, 
                projects, investments, and related funding decisions, 
                as appropriate, based on such assessments and 
                evaluations;
                    (ii) collaborate with multilateral entities and 
                share with agencies and other stakeholders knowledge, 
                data, tools, information, frameworks, and lessons 
                learned from the multilateral entities in incorporating 
                climate-resilience considerations into strategies, 
                planning, programs, projects, investments, and related 
                funding decisions;
                    (iii) encourage multilateral entities to support 
                efforts of vulnerable countries to integrate climate-
                resilience considerations into national, regional, and 
                sectoral development planning and action; and
                    (iv) monitor the efforts of multilateral entities 
                in integrating climate-resilient development 
                considerations as encouraged by this order.

                Sec. 3. Enhancing Data, Tools, and Information for 
                Climate-Resilient International Development. Agencies 
                with direct international development programs and 
                investments and those that participate in multilateral 
                entities shall work together with science and security 
                agencies and entities, through

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                the Working Group on Climate-Resilient International 
                Development established in section 4 of this order, to 
                identify and develop, as appropriate, data, decision-
                support tools, and information to allow the screening 
                for and incorporation of considerations of climate-
                change risks and vulnerabilities, as appropriate, in 
                strategies, plans, programs, projects, investments, and 
                related funding decisions, including the planning for 
                and management of overseas facilities. In addition, 
                such agencies shall coordinate efforts, including those 
                undertaken pursuant to Executive Order 13653, to 
                deliver information on climate-change impacts and make 
                data, tools, and information available to 
                decisionmakers in other countries, so as to build their 
                capacity as information providers and users. United 
                States participants in relevant multilateral entities 
                shall share this information with the respective 
                multilateral entity, as appropriate.

                Sec. 4. Working Group on Climate-Resilient 
                International Development. (a) Establishment. There is 
                established a Working Group on Climate-Resilient 
                International Development (Working Group) of the 
                Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience 
                (Council) established by Executive Order 13653. The 
                Secretary of the Treasury and the Administrator of the 
                United States Agency for International Development, or 
                their designees, shall co-chair the Working Group. 
                Agencies with direct international development programs 
                and investments, agencies that participate in 
                multilateral entities, and science and security 
                agencies and entities shall designate a representative 
                from their respective agencies or entities to 
                participate in the Working Group. Representatives from 
                other agencies or entities may participate in the 
                Working Group as determined by the Co-Chairs.

                    (b) Mission and Function.
                    (i) The Working Group shall:
                    (A) develop, for agencies with direct international 
                development programs and investments, guidelines for 
                integrating considerations of climate-change risks and 
                climate resilience into agency strategies, plans, 
                programs, projects, investments, and related funding 
                decisions, including the planning for and management of 
                overseas facilities;
                    (B) assess and identify, for agencies with direct 
                international development programs and investments, 
                existing climate-change data, tools, and information, 
                as described in section 3 of this order, to help 
                agencies assess climate risks and make decisions that 
                incorporate climate-resilience considerations, such as 
                through project screening. To the extent the Working 
                Group identifies needs for new data, tools, and 
                information, it shall work with relevant science and 
                security agencies and entities to advance their 
                development, as appropriate;
                    (C) identify approaches for adjusting strategies, 
                planning, programs, projects, investments, and related 
                funding decisions, including the planning for and 
                management of overseas facilities, to respond to the 
                findings of climate-risk assessments;
                    (D) facilitate the exchange of knowledge, data, 
                tools, information, frameworks, and lessons learned in 
                assessing climate risks to and incorporating climate-
                resilience considerations into strategies, planning, 
                programs, projects, investments, and related funding 
                decisions, including the planning for and management of 
                overseas facilities, of agencies with direct 
                international development programs and investments, 
                including efforts referenced in section 3 of this 
                order;
                    (E) work through existing channels to share best 
                practices developed by the Working Group with other 
                donor countries and multilateral entities to facilitate 
                advancement of climate-resilient development policies;
                    (F) promote interagency collaboration, including 
                through joint training; and
                    (G) develop, for agencies with direct international 
                development programs and investments, methods for 
                tracking and reporting on Federal Government

[[Page 58234]]

                progress in institutionalizing more climate-resilient 
                development approaches, including performance metrics.
                    (ii) The Co-Chairs of the Council may designate 
                additional Co-Chairs of the Working Group. The Co-
                Chairs of the Working Group may establish sub-working 
                groups, as appropriate.

                Sec. 5. Implementation and Reporting of Progress. (a) 
                Implementation. To promote sustained focus on 
                implementation, both at agency headquarters and in the 
                field, the Working Group shall:

                    (i) establish a 2-year timeline, divided into 6-
                month intervals, to implement section 4(b)(i) of this 
                order, setting forth specific goals to be accomplished 
                and milestones to be achieved; and
                    (ii) analyze, at least annually, the Federal 
                Government's progress in implementing this order and 
                provide recommendations for priority areas for further 
                implementation to the Council, Office of Management and 
                Budget, National Security Council, Council on 
                Environmental Quality, Office of Science and Technology 
                Policy, and other agencies, offices, and entities, as 
                appropriate.
                    (b) Reporting.
                    (i) Agencies with direct international development 
                programs and investments shall report on and track 
                progress in achieving the requirements identified in 
                section 2(a) of this order, including accomplished and 
                planned milestones, through the Federal Agency Planning 
                process set forth in section 5 of Executive Order 
                13653. Once the Working Group has developed metrics and 
                methodologies as required by section 4(b)(i)(G) of this 
                order, agency reporting shall include an estimation of 
                the proportion of each agency's direct international 
                development programs and investments for which climate-
                risk assessments have been conducted, as well as an 
                estimation of the proportion of the programs and 
                investments for which climate risk was identified and 
                acted upon.
                    (ii) Agencies that participate in multilateral 
                entities shall report on the efforts of multilateral 
                entities in integrating climate-resilient development 
                considerations into their operations through the 
                Federal Agency Planning process set forth in section 5 
                of Executive Order 13653. Where more than one agency is 
                involved in the U.S. Government's participation in a 
                multilateral entity, the lead agency for such 
                participation shall be responsible for reporting, in 
                coordination with the other agencies involved.

                Sec. 6. Climate-Change Mitigation. As agencies 
                incorporate climate-resilience considerations into 
                international development work, they shall continue 
                seeking opportunities to help international partners 
                promote sustainable low-emissions development. The 
                Federal Government has greatly increased the number and 
                variety of international development initiatives 
                focused on climate-change mitigation, including 
                programs to promote clean energy, energy efficiency, 
                and sustainable land-use and forestry practices, as 
                well as partnerships with more than two dozen countries 
                to formulate and implement sustainable low-emissions 
                development strategies. Within 1 year of the date of 
                this order, and building on the full range of efforts 
                the United States has undertaken to date, the National 
                Security Council shall convene relevant agencies and 
                entities to explore further mitigation opportunities in 
                broader U.S. international development work and develop 
                recommendations for further action.

                Sec. 7. Definitions. As used in this order:

                    (a) ``Adaptation'' has the meaning provided in 
                section 8(b) of Executive Order 13653: adjustment in 
                natural or human systems in anticipation of or response 
                to a changing environment in a way that effectively 
                uses beneficial opportunities or reduces negative 
                effects;
                    (b) ``Direct international development programs and 
                investments'' refers to:

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                    (i) bilateral, regional, and multilateral 
                international development programs and investments over 
                which agencies have primary programmatic and financial 
                management responsibilities; or
                    (ii) the extension of official financing by 
                agencies bilaterally to private sector investors to 
                support international development;
                    (c) ``Climate-change mitigation'' refers to actions 
                that reduce or enhance removals of greenhouse gas 
                emissions;
                    (d) ``Resilience'' has the meaning provided in 
                section 8(c) of Executive Order 13653: the ability to 
                anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing 
                conditions and withstand, respond to, and recover 
                rapidly from disruptions;
                    (e) ``Agencies with direct international 
                development programs and investments'' means the 
                Department of State, Department of Agriculture, 
                Department of the Interior, United States Agency for 
                International Development, Millennium Challenge 
                Corporation, Overseas Private Investment Corporation, 
                United States Trade and Development Agency, and other 
                relevant agencies and entities, as determined by the 
                Working Group Co-Chairs;
                    (f) ``Science and security agencies and entities'' 
                means the Department of the Interior, Department of 
                Energy, Office of Science and Technology Policy, 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
                National Aeronautics and Space Administration, United 
                States Global Change Research Program, Office of the 
                Director of National Intelligence, and other relevant 
                agencies and entities, as determined by the Working 
                Group Co-Chairs; and
                    (g) ``Agencies that participate in multilateral 
                entities'' means the Department of the Treasury, 
                Department of State, and other relevant agencies and 
                entities, as determined by the Working Group Co-Chairs.

                Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order 
                shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

                    (i) the authority granted by law or Executive Order 
                to an executive department, agency, or head thereof; or
                    (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of 
                Management and Budget relating to budgetary, 
                administrative, or legislative proposals.
                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                U.S. obligations under international agreements and 
                applicable U.S. law, and shall be subject to the 
                availability of appropriations.

[[Page 58236]]

                    (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, 
                create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, 
                enforceable at law or in equity by any party against 
                the United States, its departments, agencies, or 
                entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any 
                other person.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    September 23, 2014.

[FR Doc. 2014-23228
Filed 9-25-14; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F4