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Dec 11, 2005 -- STATE DEPARTMENT RELEASE/ContentWorks
Success in addressing climate change requires putting climate actions in a broad agenda that promotes economic growth and energy security, reduces poverty and pollution and mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, says Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky. "We lead the world in funding climate science -- $2 billion this year. And we are spending $3 billion this year to accelerate the commercialization of cleaner energy technologies," the under secretary for democracy and global affairs said. The U.N. Climate Change Conference 2005, held November 28 to December 9 in Montreal, is the 11th conference of the 189 parties to the UNFCCC and the first meeting of the 156 parties to the Kyoto Protocol since that agreement took effect February 16. The conference, attended by 8,000 to 10,000 government delegates, business and civic leaders and environmental activists, was the largest such meeting since the Kyoto Climate Conference in 1997. Dobriansky, also head of the U.S. delegation to COP 11, said partnerships focusing on diversified approaches are the best way forward. "We value our 15 bilateral partnerships with both developed and developing countries," she said. For example, Dobriansky said, "we are cooperating with India to capture carbon dioxide; collaborating with Uganda to clean indoor air; exploring hydrogen technologies with Brazil; developing next-generation nuclear energy with the United Kingdom; exploring renewables with China; and teaming up with Mexico to capture methane." Such partnerships, she added, represent a "constructive and effective means of working together. And we are pleased that they contribute to our efforts under the goals of the Framework Convention." More information on the conference and U.S. positions is available on the State Department Web site. See also "U.S. "Moving Forward' in Commitment to Slowing Climate Change." For additional information on U.S. policy, see Climate Change. Text of Dobriansky's remarks follows: (begin text) U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE Remarks at the Opening Plenary of the Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Dr. Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs and Head of U.S. Delegation to COP 11 Remarks to the Opening Plenary Montreal, Canada December 7, 2005 Mr. President, I would like to thank the government of Canada for hosting this important conference. We remain committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Its ultimate objective underpins the full range of U.S. actions. To address near-term and long-term aspects of climate change, we are: reducing greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012; making major investments in science and technology; and cooperating internationally to develop an effective global response. Between 2000 and 2003, U.S. emissions fell nearly 1 percent, while our economy grew by 1.2 trillion dollars and our population increased by 8.6 million. We lead the world in funding climate science -- $2 billion this year. And we are spending $3 billion this year to accelerate the commercialization of cleaner energy technologies. New legislation includes $11 billion in incentives for wind, geothermal and solar power, clean vehicles, clean coal technology, emissions-free nuclear power, and renewable bio-fuels. Our international efforts reflect the consensus that an effective response to climate change must include all countries. Our common challenge is to address climate change while promoting development. Success requires placing climate actions in a broad agenda that promotes economic growth & energy security, reduces poverty & pollution, and mitigates emissions. G8 leaders endorsed such an approach during July's Gleneagles Summit. The G8 outcome demonstrates that international support exists for taking actions that are both good for people and good for the environment. Technology is the common currency. And partnerships focusing on diversified approaches are the best way forward. We value our fifteen bilateral partnerships with both developed and developing countries. We also value the multilateral initiatives we have launched: the Generation IV Nuclear Initiative; the Global Earth Observation Initiative; the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum; the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy; and the Clean Energy Initiative. These partnerships are making a difference. To give a few examples, we are: cooperating with India to capture carbon dioxide; collaborating with Uganda to clean indoor air; exploring hydrogen technologies with Brazil; developing next-generation nuclear energy with the United Kingdom; exploring renewables with China; and teaming up with Mexico to capture methane. We look forward to the January launch of a new Asia-Pacific partnership on clean development and climate change. Our partners Australia, China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea represent nearly half of the world's economy and population. We believe these partnerships represent a constructive and effective means of working together. And we are pleased that they contribute to our efforts under the goals of the Framework Convention. Thank you, Mr. President. (end text) (Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.) News Provided By |
