cause of environmental causes, notably land loss and 
degradation, and natural disasters, who have left 
their community or country of origin. 
(7) EXTREME POVERTY.—The term ‘‘extreme 
poverty’’ means having an income level or living 
standard at a level of extreme deprivation based on 
living with income below 50 percent of the poverty 
line as established by the individual country at issue, 
or below $1.90 per day as determined by the World 
Bank. 
(8) EXTREME WEATHER.—The term ‘‘extreme 
weather’’ means unexpected, unusual, unpredictable, 
severe, or unseasonal weather that is at the extremes 
of the historical distribution range that has been 
seen in the past. 
(9) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 
agency’’ means any executive department, Govern-
ment corporation, Government-controlled corpora-
tion, or other establishment in the executive branch 
of the Government (including the Executive Office of 
the President), or any independent regulatory agen-
cy. 
(10) FOOD INSECURITY.—The term ‘‘food inse-
curity’’ means a lack of consistent access to food. 
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(11) MOST
VULNERABLE
COMMUNITIES
AND 
POPULATIONS.—The term ‘‘most vulnerable commu-
nities and populations’’ means communities and pop-
ulations, including women, impoverished commu-
nities, adolescent girls, people with disabilities, indig-
enous peoples, refugees, displaced persons, migrants, 
religious, racial, or ethnic minorities, lesbian and 
trans women, women living in poverty, women and 
girls with disabilities, and those who are living with 
HIV, who are at risk of substantial adverse impacts 
of climate change and have limited capacity to re-
spond to such impacts. 
(12) POVERTY.—The term ‘‘poverty’’ means an 
income level and living standard insufficient to meet 
basic needs. 
SEC. 4. STATEMENT OF POLICY. 
It is the policy of the United States, in partnership 
with affected countries, donor country governments, inter-
national financial institutions, international nongovern-
mental organizations, multilateral organizations, and civil 
society groups, especially those led by women, to combat 
the leading causes of climate change, mitigate the effects 
of climate change on women and girls, and elevate the par-
ticipation of women in policy, program, and community 
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decision-making processes with respect to climate change, 
by— 
(1) establishing the Federal Interagency Work-
ing Group on Women and Climate Change, the mis-
sion of which is to prevent and respond to the ef-
fects of climate change on women globally; and 
(2) implementing a coordinated, integrated, evi-
dence-based, and comprehensive strategy on women 
and climate change throughout United States poli-
cies in the future. 
TITLE I—STRATEGIES, POLICIES, 
AND PROGRAMS 
SEC. 101. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON 
WOMEN AND CLIMATE CHANGE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
Department of State a Federal Interagency Working 
Group on Women and Climate Change (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Working Group’’). 
(b) CHAIRPERSON.—The Senior Coordinator for 
Women and Climate Change designated pursuant to sec-
tion 201 shall serve as the chairperson of the Working 
Group. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Working Group shall be 
composed of one senior-level representative from 
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each of the Federal agencies described in paragraph 
(2), as selected by the head of the respective agency 
from the senior ranks of that agency. 
(2) AGENCIES.—The agencies described in this 
paragraph are the following: 
(A) The Department of State, including— 
(i) the Office of Global Women’s 
Issues; 
(ii) the Office of Civil Rights; 
(iii) the Bureau of Oceans and Inter-
national Environmental and Scientific Af-
fairs; 
(iv) the Bureau of Population, Refu-
gees, and Migration; 
(v) the Bureau of Democracy, Human 
Rights, and Labor; and 
(vi) the Bureau of International Orga-
nization Affairs. 
(B) The United States Agency for Inter-
national Development. 
(C) The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention. 
(D) The Environmental Protection Agency. 
(E) The National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration. 
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(F) The National Institutes of Health. 
(G) The National Science Foundation. 
(H) The Council on Environmental Qual-
ity. 
(I) Such other agencies as may be des-
ignated by the Senior Coordinator for Women 
and Climate Change. 
(d) FUNCTIONS.—The Working Group shall— 
(1) coordinate and integrate the development of 
all policies and activities of the Federal Government 
across all agencies relating to— 
(A) combating the effects of climate 
change on women in the national and inter-
national sphere; and 
(B) improving the response and strategy of 
the Federal Government to fight climate change 
for the security of the United States and the 
international community; 
(2) allow each member of the Working Group 
to act as a representative for the Working Group 
within the Federal department or agency of such 
member to facilitate implementation of the Working 
Group policies within such department or agency; 
(3) ensure that all relevant Federal depart-
ments or agencies comply with appropriate guide-
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lines, policies, and directives from the Working 
Group, the Department of State, and other Federal 
departments or agencies with responsibilities relating 
to climate change; 
(4) ensure that Federal departments or agen-
cies, State governments, and relevant congressional 
committees, in consultation with nongovernmental 
organizations and policy experts in the field and 
State and local government officials who administer 
or direct policy for programs relating to climate 
change and women— 
(A) have access to, receive, and appro-
priately disseminate best practices in the ad-
ministration of such programs; 
(B) have adequate resources to maximize 
the public awareness of such programs; 
(C) increase the reach of such programs; 
(D) share relevant data; and 
(E) issue relevant guidance; and 
(5) identify and disseminate best practices for 
improved collection on the part of each Federal de-
partment or agency of data relevant to the disparate 
impact of climate change on women, including in— 
(A) unpaid care work; 
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(B) community advocacy, activism, and 
representation; 
(C) women’s and girls’ access to education; 
(D) access to comprehensive health care, 
including reproductive health and rights; 
(E) desertification and food insecurity; 
(F) community infrastructure, multilevel 
Government adaptability, and climate resilience; 
(G) climate and weather-related crisis re-
sponse, including safety from gender-based vio-
lence; and 
(H) women’s involvement and leadership in 
the development of frameworks and policies for 
climate resilience. 
(e) CONSULTATION.—The Working Group may con-
sult and obtain recommendations from such independent 
nongovernmental policy experts, State and local govern-
ment officials, independent groups and organizations, or 
other groups or organizations as the Senior Coordinator 
for Women and Climate Change determines will assist in 
carrying out the mission of the Working Group. 
(f) FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS.—The Working Group 
shall— 
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(1) meet not less frequently than once each 
quarter to discuss and develop policies, projects, and 
programs; and 
(2) meet with the Senior Coordinator for 
Women and Climate Change not less frequently than 
once each month to report on and discuss implemen-
tation of such policies, projects, and programs. 
SEC. 
102. 
DEVELOPMENT 
AND 
IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
STRATEGY AND POLICIES TO PREVENT AND 
RESPOND TO THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE 
CHANGE ON WOMEN GLOBALLY. 
(a) INITIAL STRATEGY REQUIRED.—Not later than 
180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
Senior Coordinator for Women and Climate Change and 
the Ambassador-at-Large for the Office of Global Wom-
en’s Issues of the Department of State, in consultation 
with the Working Group, shall develop and submit to the 
appropriate congressional committees a United States Na-
tional and International Strategy to prevent and respond 
to the effects of climate change on women. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The strategy submitted under sub-
section (a) shall include— 
(1) recognizing the disparate impacts of climate 
change on women and the efforts of women globally 
to address climate change; 
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(2) taking effective action— 
(A) to prevent and respond to climate 
change and mitigate the effects of climate 
change on women around the world; and 
(B) to promote gender equality, economic 
growth, public health, racial justice, and human 
rights; 
(3) implementing the United Nations Sustain-
able Development Goals listed in subsection (f), 
through and beyond 2030, as part of the strategy to 
prevent and respond to the effects of climate change 
on women globally; 
(4) implementing balanced gender participation 
to avoid reinforcing binary roles, especially among 
individuals from the communities most impacted, in 
climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, in-
cluding in governance and diplomatic positions with-
in the United States Government; 
(5) working at the local, national, and inter-
national levels, including with individuals, families, 
and communities, to prevent and respond to the ef-
fects of climate change on women; 
(6) systematically integrating and coordinating 
efforts to prevent and respond to the effects of cli-
mate change on women internationally into United 
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States foreign policy and foreign assistance pro-
grams; 
(7) investing in research on climate change 
through appropriate Federal departments or agen-
cies and funding of university and independent re-
search groups on the various causes and effects of 
climate change; 
(8) developing and implementing gender-sen-
sitive frameworks in policies to address climate 
change that account for the specific impacts of cli-
mate change on women; 
(9) developing policies to support women who 
are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate 
change to prepare for, build their resilience to, and 
adapt to such impacts, including a commitment to 
increase education and training opportunities for 
women to develop local resilience plans to address 
the effects of climate change; 
(10) developing and investing in programs for 
the education and empowerment of women and girls 
in the United States and across the global commu-
nity, including to gather information on how climate 
change is affecting their lives and for guidance on 
the needs of their families and communities in the 
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face of climate change, in coordination with the dip-
lomatic missions of other countries; 
(11) consulting with representatives of civil so-
ciety, including nongovernmental organizations, com-
munity and faith-based organizations, multilateral 
organizations, local and international civil society 
groups, and local climate change organizations and 
their beneficiaries, that have demonstrated experi-
ence in preventing and responding to the effects of 
climate change on women; 
(12) supporting and building local capacity in 
developing countries, including with respect to gov-
ernments at all levels and nongovernmental organi-
zations (especially women-led), to prevent and re-
spond to the effects of climate change on women; 
(13) developing programs to empower women in 
communities to have a voice in the planning, design, 
implementation, and evaluation of strategies to ad-
dress climate change so that their roles and re-
sources are taken into account; 
(14) including women in economic development 
planning, policies, and practices that directly im-
prove conditions that result from climate change; 
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(15) integrating a gender approach in all poli-
cies and programs in the United States that are 
globally related to climate change; and 
(16) ensuring that such policies and programs 
support women globally to prepare for, build resil-
ience for, and adapt to, climate change. 
(c) UPDATES.—The Senior Coordinator for Women 
and Climate Change shall— 
(1) consult with the Working Group to collect 
information and feedback; and 
(2) update the strategy and programs to pre-
vent and respond to the effects of climate change on 
women globally, as the Senior Coordinator for 
Women and Climate Change considers appropriate. 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION
PLAN
AND
BUDGET
RE-
QUIRED.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the 
submittal of the strategy under subsection (a), the Senior 
Coordinator for Women and Climate Change shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees an implemen-
tation plan and budget for the strategy. 
(e) ASSISTANCE AND CONSULTATION.—The Senior 
Coordinator for Women and Climate Change shall assist 
and provide consultation to the Secretary of State in pre-
venting and responding to the effects of climate change 
on women globally. 
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(f) UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 
GOALS THROUGH AND BEYOND 2030.—The United Na-
tions Sustainable Development Goals listed in this sub-
section are the following: 
(1) Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere. 
(2) Ending hunger, achieving food security and 
improved nutrition, and promoting sustainable agri-
culture. 
(3) Ensuring healthy lives and promoting well- 
being for all and at all ages. 
(4) Ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality 
education and promoting lifelong learning opportuni-
ties for all. 
(5) Achieving gender equality and empowering 
all women and girls. 
(6) Ensuring the availability and sustainable 
management of water and sanitation for all. 
(7) Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sus-
tainable, and modern energy for all. 
(8) Promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustain-
able economic growth, full and productive employ-
ment, and decent work for all. 
(9) Building resilient infrastructure, promoting 
inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fos-
tering innovation. 
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(10) Reducing inequality within and among 
countries. 
(11) Making cities and human settlements in-
clusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. 
(12) Ensuring sustainable consumption and 
production patterns. 
(13) Taking urgent action to combat climate 
change and its impacts. 
(14) Conserving and sustainably using the 
oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable 
development. 
(15) Protecting, restoring, and promoting sus-
tainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably 
managing forests, combating desertification, and 
halting and reversing land degradation and biodiver-
sity loss. 
(16) Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies 
for sustainable development, providing access to jus-
tice for all, and building effective, accountable and 
inclusive institutions at all levels. 
(17) Strengthening the means of policy imple-
mentation and revitalizing the global partnership for 
sustainable development. 
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TITLE II—OVERSIGHT AND 
ACCOUNTABILITY 
SEC. 201. SENIOR COORDINATOR FOR WOMEN AND CLI-
MATE CHANGE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Ambassador-at-Large of 
the Office of Global Women’s Issues of the Department 
of State shall designate an individual to serve as a Senior 
Advisor, or equivalent role, who shall serve concurrently 
as the Senior Coordinator for Women and Climate 
Change. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Senior Coordinator for Women 
and Climate Change shall— 
(1) direct the activities, policies, programs, and 
funding of the Department of State relating to the 
effects of climate change on women, including with 
respect to efforts to prevent and respond to those ef-
fects; 
(2) advise the Secretary of State, the relevant 
heads of other Federal departments and independent 
agencies, and other entities within the Executive Of-
fice of the President, regarding the establishment 
of— 
(A) policies, goals, objectives, and priorities 
for addressing and combating the effects of cli-
mate change on women; and 
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(B) mechanisms to improve the effective-
ness, coordination, impact, and outcomes of 
programs relating to addressing and combating 
the effects of climate change on women, in co-
ordination with experts in the field, nongovern-
mental organizations, and foreign governments; 
and 
(3) identify and assist in the resolution of any 
disputes that arise between Federal agencies relating 
to policies and programs to address and combat the 
effects of climate change on women or other matters 
within the responsibility of the Office of Global 
Women’s Issues. 
(c) REPORTING.—The Senior Coordinator for Women 
and Climate Change shall report to the Ambassador-at- 
Large for the Office of Global Women’s Issues and the 
Secretary of State. 
SEC. 202. BRIEFING AND REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Ambas-
sador-at-Large and the Senior Coordinator for Women 
and Climate Change shall jointly— 
(1) brief the appropriate congressional commit-
tees on— 
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(A) the effects of climate change on 
women; and 
(B) the prevention and response strategies, 
programming, and associated outcomes with re-
spect to climate change; and 
(2) submit to the appropriate congressional 
committees an assessment of the human and finan-
cial resources necessary to fulfill the purposes of and 
carry out this Act. 
Æ 
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