The Climate Principals

Advancing New American Leadership on Climate Diplomacy

View the Amazon Protection Plan

Global Leadership

About Us

The Climate Principals are former US cabinet officials and chief climate negotiators who have represented Democratic and Republican administrations in global climate policy for nearly three decades – from the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to the 2015 Paris Agreement and beyond.

The Amazon Protection Plan

Policy Recommendations for U.S. Action for Amazon Forests

Drawing on their experience with climate policy and diplomacy, the Climate Principals recommend a four-part plan to the Biden Administration, encompassing public and private funding, forest-friendly trade, transparent and clean supply chains, and robust diplomacy. Adopting this plan would signal that the Administration is making Amazon protection and climate change a priority.

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Public and Private Funding

While success will depend on coordinated global action, the United States will need to do its part to mobilize needed funding for the Amazon region. Among the policies put forward, the Climate Principals recommend that the President, Vice President and Secretary Kerry invite CEOs of major U.S. companies to a White House summit to secure corporate commitments to collectively finance at least one billion tons of greenhouse gas emission reductions in the Amazon by 2025.

Robust Diplomacy

The administration will need to strengthen international alliances to turn protecting the Amazon into a true global priority. Among the policies put forward, the Climate Principals recommend that diplomatic agreements incentivize the protection of forests under local laws and policy frameworks, including through results-based payment systems that are consistent with the Paris Agreement.

Transparent and Clean Supply Chains

The administration should strive to make sure that U.S. companies, investors, consumers and capital markets do not contribute to Amazon deforestation. Among the policies put forward, the Climate Principals recommend that the administration require U.S. companies and financial institutions to disclose, report and manage deforestation-related climate risk.

Forest-Friendly Trade

The administration should consider harmonizing U.S. trade and climate policy for the Amazon. U.S. imports should not fuel illegal deforestation, reward criminals or create an uneven playing field. Among the policies put forward, the Climate Principals recommend that future trade agreements strengthen tropical forest governance and rule of law.

three decades of climate leadership

Meet The Principals

William Reilly

Former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

William Reilly

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Bruce Babbitt

Former Governor of Arizona and U.S. Secretary of the Interior

Bruce Babbitt

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Tim Wirth

Former U.S Senator from Colorado and Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs

Tim Wirth

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Stuart Eizenstat

Former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury and Ambassador to the European Union

Stuart Eizenstat

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Frank Loy

Former Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs

Frank Loy

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Christine Whitman

Former Governor of New Jersey and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Christine Whitman

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Todd Stern

Former Special Envoy for Climate Change

Todd Stern

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Contact: info@climateprincipals.org

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