InterAction CEO Roundtable on Climate Leadership: A Conversation with the Biden Administration

Recognizing the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, the Leaders’ Climate Summit, and the one-year anniversary of InterAction’s NGO Climate Compact launch, InterAction hosted a virtual event with the Biden Administration focused on the upcoming work by U.S. development agencies to integrate and elevate climate considerations and support vulnerable countries to adapt to climate impacts.

The following members of the Biden Administration were on the panel moderated by Sam Worthington, CEO of InterAction.

• Johnathan Pershing, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate at the U.S. State Department
• Michele Sumilas, Assistant to the Administrator, Policy, Planning and Learning, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
• Alexia Latortue, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
• David Marchick, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

Over 75 NGO CEOs joined the panel discussion on how the different agencies in the Biden Administration commit to addressing the climate crisis and how they are working to support adaptation efforts for communities hit hardest by climate change.

“Today’s panel event is part of an exciting week of discussions around climate,” said Michele Sumilas, Assistant to the Administrator, Policy, Planning and Learning, U.S. Agency for International Development. “As USAID focuses our attention on new strategies and increased efforts to combat climate change we will look to the NGO community to help guide us on how we can best utilize our resources to have the greatest impact around the world.”

“DFC is committed to playing a significant role in President Biden’s Climate Action Plan, addressing the existential threat posed by the climate crisis while supporting development and economic growth around the world,” said DFC Chief Operating Officer David Marchick. “Working in concert with our interagency colleagues, DFC investments and financial tools can have a powerful global impact by helping developing countries mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change while increasing resilience.”

“Climate change, poverty and economic growth are inextricably linked. Only through partnerships will we collectively deliver a response robust and big enough to meet the scale of the climate crisis – the existential issue of our time,” said Alexia Latortue, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).  “MCC will work with country governments, civil society, and the private sector, to expand and deepen our work to address climate change – including adaptation, resilience and mitigation measures – across our investment portfolio and business operations. MCC’s goal is clear: investing in climate-smart development and sustainable infrastructure to reduce poverty through sustainable and inclusive growth for the world’s poor.”

In response, the InterAction coalition prepared a set of strategy considerations and program recommendations for USAID on climate adaptation and integration.

Sam Worthington, CEO of InterAction stated, “We applaud the Biden administration’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis. Today, as the crisis continues to harm vulnerable populations worldwide, America must expand its investments in adaptation programs.”

This event is part of InterAction’s promise to sustain solidarity, urgency, and organizational commitment to the tenets of the NGO Climate Compact via the Biannual CEO Roundtable on Climate Leadership.

Check out a recording of the event below: