Speeches & Articles

Remarks of Consul General Beth A. Payne
On ‘US Environmental Concerns’
AMCHAM Interactive Session
August 7, 2009

August 7, 2009

Dr. Shurjo Ghosh, Head of AMCHAM Environment Committee
Mr. Atanu Raha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
Dr. Subrat Mukherjee, Director Sunderban Tiger Project

I am delighted to be here today at a program that focuses on environmental conservation.  Many environmental problems transcend borders and threaten the health and prosperity of citizens all over the world.  Every year, there is a net loss of 22 million acres of forest area worldwide.  Every year, toxic chemicals, some capable of traveling thousands of miles from their source and lasting decades in the environment, are released into the earth's atmosphere.

Addressing these problems and achieving sustainable management of natural resources worldwide requires the cooperation and commitment of all countries.  The State Department, through its environmental offices and in coordination with other federal agencies, is furthering this cooperation and these commitments through a variety of diplomatic approaches globally, regionally, and bilaterally.
 
These efforts include negotiating effective science-based global treaties and promoting their enforcement, developing international initiatives with key countries, including India, and creating a foreign policy framework that features innovative public-private partnerships in developed and developing countries worldwide.

Environmental co-operation between the US and India has a long history and has many facets.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) activities in India date back to the early 1980s.  More recently, in 2002, the EPA established a structured program of environmental cooperation with the Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests with the signing of a five year renewable Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU.  This MOU established focus areas for cooperation on the following issues: the management of urban air and water quality, the handling of toxic chemicals and hazardous waste, and environmental governance.

During a March 2007 visit to India, the EPA Administrator and the Indian Minister of Environment and Forests signed a five year extension of this MOU.  Efforts have been made to develop new institutional ties with other important government entities, including the Planning Commission and Ministries of Health and Family Welfare, Urban Development, Power, and Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Coal.  Besides working with government agencies, the EPA has promoted the engagement of private sector partners in a number of activities through collaboration with various industry associations.

Another agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has, over several decades, worked with the Government of India to assist local conservation organizations and professionals to conserve and manage their nation’s biodiversity resources more effectively.  As an example, the USFWS helped fund the development of the Wildlife Institute of India where several USFWS-funded programs were held.  One program helped develop a cadre of trained wildlife managers and field personnel across the tiger range states, by training personnel working in programs relevant to tiger conservation.

To combine efforts beyond borders to fight wildlife trafficking, India, and several other countries, have joined hands with the US as partners in a Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT).  First launched in 2005 by the United States, India became a signatory to the CAWT in 2006.  By joining the Coalition, the US and India, along with a host of other countries, commit to help address the growing threats to wild animals from poaching and illegal trade.

I would now like to focus on a subject that President Obama has described as ‘’one of the defining challenges of our time’’ which is climate change.  Climate change is not just an environmental issue, but also affects our health, and economy, and is directly related to energy and security.  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has aptly said that “It is a threat that is global in scope but also local and national in impact.”

Scientific studies indicate that the Arctic sea ice is disappearing much faster than anticipated, and researchers now predict ice-free summers in the Arctic Ocean as soon as 2013.  The sea level is now expected to rise between just under one meter up to two and a half meters in the 21st century.  And, oceans are rapidly becoming more acidic and polluted.  Every nation on this planet is at risk, and just as no one nation is responsible for climate change, no one nation can address it alone.

We in the United States recognize our responsibility, as the largest historic emitter of greenhouse gases, to play a leading role in the effort to contain global warming.  Consistent with that responsibility, we are implementing a strong, mandatory plan to cut emissions and develop a low-carbon economy.  This includes a broad-based cap and trade program, which President Obama reaffirmed as a top priority of his administration.  The program includes a robust set of clean energy measures such as tough efficiency standards for automobiles; a major push for renewable energy; and a 10-year, 150 billion dollar investment in clean energy research and development.

At the State Department we have just established a new program that will link some of our West Coast cities with Indian and Chinese cities to help transfer clean energy technology.  And we have taken up our own green diplomacy initiative, which means our embassies and consulates, both those already in use and those to be built in the future, will employ green technologies, making our use of energy go further through more efficient use.

On June 26, the US Congress’ House of Representatives passed the first climate change legislation that sets targets to cut carbon emissions by more than 80 percent by 2050.

In early July, the G8 nations came to a historic consensus on reducing carbon emissions.  All agreed that by 2050, developed nations will reduce their emissions by 80 percent and that we will work with all nations around the world to cut global emissions in half.

The United States is committed to reaching a strong international agreement in Copenhagen in December 2009 based on both the ambitious actions that will be embodied in US domestic law and on the premise that the agreement will reflect the important national actions of all major economies to contain their respective emissions.

We recognize that developing countries, including emerging markets like China and India, have entirely legitimate development needs and cannot be asked to forfeit the aspirations of their people to a better life and a higher standard of living.  Secretary Clinton, during her recent visit to India, said that, “The United States does not and will not do anything that would limit India's economic progress… But we also believe that there is a way to eradicate poverty and develop sustainably that will lower significantly the carbon footprint of the energy that is produced and consumed to fuel that growth.”

There is a different path available now to the industrializing countries of the world  - there are alternative forms of energy available and it is possible to traverse a low carbon path to growth instead of one heavily dependent on a fossil fuels.   And I am very happy to see that in India many leaders from both the public and private sectors have recognized that it makes business sense to ’go green’ and are choosing to follow the low carbon path.

I would like to conclude by saying that the United States government is sincerely committed to continue to engage with India and countries around the world to work together to address the challenges posed by climate change to our environment, health, and future prosperity.

Thank You.