Global Climate Change Programming – Central America

Paul J. SchmidtkeRegional Environmental Advisor

Central America

Climate Change is a Priority for USAID

“I want to convey to all of you the importance I place on reducing emissions and climate vulnerabilities in our partner countries and on incorporating responsiveness to climate impacts into our overall development mission.”

Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID Administrator, in letter to all USAID Mission Directors

USAID Goal: Low emissions, climate-resilient

development

• Net green house gas emissions reduced from baseline• Reduced rate of emissions growth in growing economies • Increased rate of emissions reductions in growing economies

Private and public funds will be needed to achieve these goals.

Three Pillars

Sustainable Landscapes

Clean Energy

Adaptation

USAID Key Lines of Activity Sustainable Landscapes

• Focus on forests• Strong links to biodiversity conservation

Clean Energy – help to build out the region’s potential in renewables• Strategic focus on regulatory reform of energy sectors• Lower energy costs and enhance energy independence

Adaptation• Build institutional capacity to access and apply climate

information• Help countries identify adaptation and development priorities

USAID Climate Change Initiatives and Major Projects• Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas –

ECPA• SERVIR – climate monitoring system in Central

America• Strong historic commitment to disaster preparedness

and disaster response through Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)

LAC GCC Budgets and Programming:FY 2009-2011

• Budgets– FY 2009 -- $3.2 million– FY 2010 -- $44.8 million– FY 2011 Request -- $88 million

The trend of budget commitment is positive.

Panama

• Darien Community Forestry Project– Fostering sustainable landscapes through alternative

livelihoods in indigenous communities

Nicaragua

• No GCC funds but the new eco-tourism and Feed The Future activities will have indirect benefits.

• Micro-renewable energy development included in municipal infrastructure program.

Honduras

• No direct funding for 2010• Possible in 2011• Proparque – indirect sustainable landscapes benefit

(Biodiversity fund)• FTF – indirect adaptation• Micro-renewable energy incorporation.

El Salvador

• No GCC funding expected. • New biodiversity activity in protected areas to have

indirect benefit• FTF to have indirect benefit• Hurricane Ida rehab to include adaptation

Guatemala

• To receive adaptation funds in 2010 and 2011 plus landscapes in 2011

• Landscape fund to be focused in MBR• Adaptation funds to be applied for disaster mitigation• Biodiversity and FTF will also have indirect benefits

Mexico

• Scheduled to receive funds in both clean energy and landscapes

• Energy to focus on macro renewable development• Landscapes to focus on protected areas and REDD

readiness.

Central America Region

• Clean Energy– Harmonize regulation– Energy Efficiency

• Adaptation– Coastal communities – MAREA– Vulnerable rural communities – FTF– Information and analysis tools

Caribbean

• All countries expect to receive some adaptation funds primarily for disaster mitigation and preparedness

• Guyana also to receive landscape funds for REDD readiness.

Paul SchmidtkeRegional Environmental Advisor

pschmidtke@usaid.gov