Climate

“With the right tools and partnerships, American agriculture and forestry can lead the world in solutions that will increase climate resilience, sequester carbon, enhance agricultural productivity, and maintain critical environmental benefits.”  U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

The Foreign Agricultural Service leads USDA's international efforts to put agriculture at the center of solutions to the climate crisis, focusing on trade, food systems, food security, sustainable production growth, capacity building, and related issues.  We recognize that innovation and technology are key to sustainable, climate-smart agricultural production, but that those innovations must be accessible to, and inclusive of, all producers and land managers worldwide.

Climate Solutions at USDA

USDA is engaged in a whole-of-government effort to combat the climate crisis and conserve and protect our nation’s lands, biodiversity, and natural resources. Through research, conservation practices, and partnerships, USDA aims to find solutions to agricultural challenges, enhance economic growth, and create new streams of income for farmers, ranchers, producers, and private foresters. Click here to learn more.

USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities

USDA is committed to supporting a diverse range of farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners through Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. This effort will expand markets for America’s climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production, and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.  Click here to learn more.

USDA Climate Hubs

Since 2014, USDA’s 10 regional Climate Hubs have delivered science-based, region-specific information and technologies to help farmers, ranchers, foresters, other land managers, and rural communities plan for and manage weather- and climate-related risks and vulnerabilities. Click here to learn more.

International Partnerships and Coalitions

Recognizing that joint international action is key to ensuring  global food security while enhancing agriculture's climate resilience and reducing its climate impacts, USDA is partnering with governments, non-governmental organizations, and private enterprises worldwide. 

Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate

The United States and the United Arab Emirates are leading the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a joint initiative to address the climate crisis through increased and accelerated investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation. Click here to visit the AIM for Climate website (external).

White House Fact Sheet: Launching Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate

Global Fertilizer Challenge

The Global Fertilizer Challenge will support innovative research, demonstrations, and training to help countries with high fertilizer usage and loss adopt efficient nutrient management and alternative fertilizers and cropping systems. Click here to learn more.

Global Methane Pledge

The livestock and dairy industries are a key part of the climate solution, implementing systems and practices that reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, including methane. At COP26 in November 2021, the European Union, the United States, and other partners committed to reduce methane emissions by at least 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. Click here to visit the Global Methane Pledge website (external).

State Department Fact Sheet: From Moment to Momentum

Pathways to Dairy Net Zero

USDA is pleased to support Pathways to Dairy Net Zero, which is bringing together organizations throughout the dairy supply chain and dairy farms of every size and type around the world to collectively achieve net zero emissions in the next 30 years. Click here visit the Pathways to Dairy Net Zero website (external).

Sustainable Productivity Growth Coalition

USDA launched the Coalition for Sustainable Productivity Growth at the United Nations Food Systems Summit in 2021. The coalition is another channel for cooperation to foster more sustainable and climate-smart agriculture, while ensuring the availability and affordability of food around the world. Click here to learn more.

US-EU Collaboration Platform on Agriculture (CPA)

Launched in late 2021, the CPA is a joint endeavor between USDA and the EU Directorate-General for Agriculture (DG AGRI) to foster communication, information exchange, and mutual understanding as we work together to ensure a sustainable, climate-smart future for agriculture. Click here to learn more.

FAS has a global network of nearly 100 offices covering approximately 180 countries. These offices are staffed by agricultural attachés and local experts who work with host governments, international organizations, and local partners and land managers to address climate challenges. Learn more about USDA's climate-related activities in various parts of the world by contacting any one of our international offices.