The Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI)—one of the three main pillars to the 2010 directive —aims to integrate climate change considerations into relevant foreign assistance through a range of bilateral, multilateral, and private mechanisms to promote sustainable and resilient societies, foster low-carbon economic growth, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and land degradation. The recently launched United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Green Climate Fund, when capitalized, would support programming in all three programmatic initiatives. Funds for these programs are appropriated in the Administration's Executive Budget, the International Affairs Function 150 account, for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. Recent budget authority for the GCCI was reported as $945 million in FY2010, $819 million in FY2011, $857 million in FY2012, $840 million in FY2013, and $834 million in FY2014. Funding for FY2015 has yet to be fully reported by agencies. The Administration's FY2016 GCCI budget request is for $1,290 million, including $500 million for the UNFCCC Green Climate Fund. Congress is responsible for several activities in regard to the GCCI, including (1) authorizing periodic appropriations for federal agency programs and multilateral fund contributions, (2) enacting those appropriations, (3) providing guidance to the agencies, and (4) overseeing U.S. interests in the programs. Congressional committees of jurisdiction for international climate change programs at the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and USAID include the following:
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services, U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. 3288 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, was enacted December 16, 2009, as P.L. 111-117 . 4899 ; P.L. 1473 , the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011, was enacted April 15, 2011, as P.L. 112-10 . 2055 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, was enacted December 23, 2011, as P.L. 112-74 . 933 , the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013, was enacted March 26, 2013, as P.L. 113-6 . 3547 , the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014, was enacted January 17, 2014, as P.L. 113-76 . 83 , the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, was enacted December 16, 2014, as P.L. 113-235 . FY2016 Budget Request

The President's FY2016 budget request for the Global Climate Change Initiative is $1,289.6 million, including the following:
$348.5 million for international climate change programming at USAID; $459.8 million for international climate change programming at the Department of State, including $350.0 million for the Green Climate Fund, $11.7 million for the UNFCCC/IPCC, and $25.5 million for the Montreal Protocol; and $481.3 million for international climate change programming at the Department of the Treasury, including $150.0 million for the Green Climate Fund, $168.3 million for the Global Environment Facility (of which approximately 60% is considered GCCI funding), $170.7 million for the Clean Technology Fund, and $59.6 million for the Strategic Climate Fund. Key Issues for Congress

As Congress considers potential authorizations and/or appropriations for initiatives administered through the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, USAID, and other agencies with international programs, it may have questions concerning the purpose, direction, efficiency, and effectiveness of U.S. agency initiatives and current bilateral and multilateral programs that address global climate change. National Security.
The United States supports international financial assistance for global climate change initiatives in developing countries. Under the Obama Administration, this assistance has been articulated primarily as the Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI), a platform within the President's 2010 Policy Directive on Global Development. The GCCI aims to integrate climate change considerations into U.S. foreign assistance through a range of bilateral, multilateral, and private sector mechanisms to promote sustainable and climate-resilient societies, foster low-carbon economic growth, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and land degradation. The GCCI is implemented through programs at three "core" agencies: the Department of State, the Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Most GCCI activities at USAID are implemented through the agency's bilateral development assistance programs. Many of the GCCI activities at the Department of State and the Department of the Treasury are implemented through international organizations, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's Least Developed Country Fund and Special Climate Change Fund, as well as multilateral financial institutions such as the Global Environment Facility, the Clean Technology Fund, and the Strategic Climate Fund. The GCCI is funded through the Administration's Executive Budget, Function 150 account, for State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs.
Congress is responsible for several activities in regard to the GCCI, including (1) authorizing periodic appropriations for federal agency programs and multilateral fund contributions, (2) enacting those appropriations, (3) providing guidance to the agencies, and (4) overseeing U.S. interests in the programs and the multilateral funds. Recent budget authority for the GCCI was $945 million in FY2010, $819 million in FY2011, $857 million in FY2012, $840 million in FY2013, and $834 million in FY2014. Funding for FY2015 has yet to be fully reported by agencies. Funding has been enacted through legislation including the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 3288; P.L. 111-117); the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 4899; P.L. 111-212); the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (H.R. 1473; P.L. 112-10); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012 (H.R. 2055; P.L. 112-74); the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013 (H.R. 933; P.L. 113-6); the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 (H.R. 3547; P.L. 113-76); and the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015 (H.R. 83; P.L. 113-235). The Administration's FY2016 GCCI budget request is for $1,290 million, including $500 million for the recently launched United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Green Climate Fund.
Congressional committees of jurisdiction over the GCCI include the U.S. House of Representatives Committees on Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and Appropriations, and the U.S. Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations. As Congress considers potential authorizations and/or appropriations for activities administered through the GCCI, it may have questions concerning U.S. agency initiatives and current bilateral and multilateral programs that address global climate change. Some potential concerns may include cost, purpose, direction, efficiency, and effectiveness, as well as the GCCI's relationship to industry, investment, humanitarian efforts, national security, and international leadership. This report serves as a brief overview of the GCCI and its structure, intents, and funding history.