U.S. Global Climate Change Policy

Fact Sheet
Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
November 26, 2007

U.S. Global Climate Change Policy

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 (UNFCCC) and we are committed to developing an environmentally effective and economically sustainable post-2012 framework to address climate change. The United States is working with our partners, including Major Economies, to advance adoption and deployment of innovative technologies and reach consensus on a new framework under the UNFCCC by 2009.

The Major Economies Process: The United States convened 17 of the world's major economies and the United Nations for an inaugural Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change in September 2007. The meeting resulted in a useful exchange of views on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide for energy security, and support economic prosperity. By working together constructively, the United States believes the Major Economies will make a detailed contribution toward reaching agreement on a post-2012 framework under the UNFCCC by 2009. Plans are underway for the second Major Economies Meeting.

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.

Ambitious near term domestic measures: From 2000-2005, the population of the United States grew by 5 percent (14 million people) and GDP grew by 12 percent (about $1.2 trillion) while our GHG 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 including:

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Looking Ahead: The United States is taking action at home and abroad to develop and implement practical solutions for the challenges of climate change and energy security. We support developing a "Bali Roadmap" and, with the Major Economies Process, we are helping to build international consensus under the UNFCCC for a new post-2012 framework on climate change by 2009. Additional information about the U.S. approach to climate change is available at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/climate.