CARE Welcomes Climate Change Bill, Calls for Increased Support for Poor Communities

"We congratulate Chairman Henry Waxman and Chairman Ed Markey on the committee's approval of this vital piece of climate change legislation. In particular, we recognize their leadership and significant efforts to advance this bill. As the global community moves into another round of negotiations in Bonn in early June, this legislation will be a key indicator of what the United States brings to the table.

"We are pleased that the bill includes provisions to support international adaptation. However, we remain very concerned that the level of financing provided falls far short of the need. Investing in international adaptation is a means of protecting past development progress. Climate change is expected to have a disproportionate impact on the poorest of the poor – people who are least responsible for climate change. So building resilience now reduces economic losses later.

"Estimates of the need for international adaptation are in the tens of billions of dollars. We do not expect the United States to meet this need alone. On the eve of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change meeting in Bonn, though, we are concerned about the message this level of financing sends internationally about the U.S.' commitment.

"We appreciate the chairmen's support of international adaptation and welcome the opportunity to build on this start, working with Congress to provide robust funding for international adaptation as climate legislation moves forward.

"CARE also welcomes the inclusion of measures to support international forest protection activities in the legislation, but we are concerned about the livelihoods and rights of forest-dependent communities. While investments in forest protection have the potential to offer significant benefits for indigenous peoples and other forest-dependent communities in developing countries, they also can do substantial harm to their livelihoods and violate their rights.

"We, therefore, look forward to working with Congress and the administration to ensure that efforts to address climate change do not create new problems but, rather, pave the way for new opportunities from which forest-dependent communities can benefit.

"The United States has an opportunity to demonstrate global leadership and Congress is part of that equation. Understanding that such significant legislation requires intense negotiation, we commend the chairmen for their perseverance. At the same time, we call on Congress to make clear the U.S.' commitment to doing its fair share to support adaptation in developing countries, and we call on the administration to convey that same support to the global community and the American people.

"As global climate negotiations continue, we hope to work together with Congress and the administration to craft policy that responds to the needs of the world's most vulnerable and aggressively tackles climate change."