# Climate-Resilient International Development Optimization Act

This bill requires the U.S. government to think about climate change when it spends money on development projects overseas. Right now, when American agencies help build roads, hospitals, schools, or other infrastructure in other countries, they don't always consider whether those projects will survive future climate impacts like flooding, droughts, or extreme weather. This bill changes that.

The law applies to all U.S. agencies that do international development work—including USAID, the State Department, the Agriculture Department, and others. These agencies must now assess climate risks before approving projects and investments. For example, before funding a water system in a country facing severe droughts, officials would need to evaluate whether that system can handle the water shortages expected over the next few decades. If climate risks are identified, agencies must adjust their plans accordingly. This might mean building infrastructure that's more resilient, choosing different project locations, or redesigning how projects operate.

The bill also creates a working group made up of representatives from various government agencies to coordinate this effort. This group will develop tools, share information, and provide training to help agencies incorporate climate considerations into their work. They'll also track progress and report back to Congress annually. Additionally, the law encourages U.S. representatives at international development banks—like the World Bank—to push those institutions to do the same thing with their projects.

For everyday Americans, this means U.S. development aid will likely be more effective and longer-lasting. Projects won't fail because they weren't designed to handle climate impacts. However, this approach may also slow down some projects initially as agencies conduct climate assessments, and it could increase costs if more resilient infrastructure is more expensive upfront.

Climate-Resilient International Development Optimization Act

Cartwright, Matt

Climate-Resilient International Development Optimization Act This bill directs agencies with direct international development programs and investments to incorporate climate resilience considerations into agency decision making. Agencies that participate in a multilateral entity must encourage the entity to incorporate climate-related risks into the decisions of the entity. The bill also establishes the Working Group on Climate-Resilient International Development in the Department of the Treasury to support such efforts.