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Excerpts from U.S. Policy on Climate Change
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Please click here for the PDF File  Climate change is a serious challenge, the scale and scope of which will require a global response. The United States is committed to doing its part, working at home and abroad on a range of initiatives to strengthen energy security and effectively address climate change. We are fully engaged in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change …and we are committed to developing an environmentally effective and economically sustainable post-2012 framework...by 2009. ****** Our climate policies are part of a broader sustainable development agenda: Countries in the developing world are justifiably focused on economic growth and providing for the health, education and other needs of their citizens. The United States believes that climate policies should recognize and complement these priorities and has launched and participates in dozens of partnerships designed to alleviate poverty and spur economic growth in the developing world by modernizing energy services. The world community must produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions and must do so in a way that promotes economic growth and helps nations deliver greater prosperity for their people.… From 2000-2005, the population of the United States grew by 5 percent (14 million people) and GDP (gross domestic product) grew by 12 percent (about $1.2 trillion) while our GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions increased by only 1.6 percent. Latest estimates show that from 2005-2006, our economy grew 2.9 percent, but our energy-related carbon dioxide emissions decreased 1.3 percent. This compares favorably to many countries that have cap and trade programs. We have a diverse portfolio of policy measures including dozens of mandatory, incentive-based and voluntary programs to address our domestic emissions. ****** The United States is leading the development of advanced technology options that have the potential to reduce, avoid or sequester greenhouse gas emissions. The President has requested and Congress has provided substantial funding-$37 billion since 2001-for climate-related science, technology, observations, international assistance and incentive programs. ****** The United States is actively pursuing a range of solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security and cut harmful air pollution through collaborative public-private partnerships with practical, targeted results. In addition to our 15 bilateral and regional climate change partnerships launched since 2002, the United States works in partnership in key sectors such as: low carbon power generation, including clean coal and advanced nuclear technologies; transportation, with such innovations as bio-fuels, batteries and hydrogen for vehicles; energy efficiency for both industrial and residential deployment; and land use, which encompasses illegal logging and promotes sustainable forest management....
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