U.S. Global Climate Change Policy

Updated Version 7/10/2007

President Bush is firmly committed to taking action on climate change at home and abroad. Climate change is a serious, long-term challenge that requires an effective, sustainable response. The United States is implementing a comprehensive policy that employs ambitious near term domestic measures to address climate change; we are also making unequaled investments in climate change science and technology in the United States and around the world.

Internationally, the United States believes the most effective way to address climate change is through a broader development agenda that encourages development and deployment of clean energy technologies and global collaboration to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security, and cut air pollution while ensuring continued economic growth. Our initiatives include a wide array of action-orientated partnerships, which rely on voluntary and practical measures to reduce greenhouse gas intensity, encourage private sector participation, and introduce cleaner technologies.

Ambitious near term domestic measures: In 2002, the President set an ambitious goal to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the U.S. economy by 18% by 2012. The Administration estimates that this will reduce cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent by more than 1,833 million metric tons (MMTCO₂) by 2012. We have a diverse portfolio of policy measures, including dozens of mandatory, incentive-based, and voluntary programs to meet our intensity goal -- and the results to show for them:

• ENERGY STAR reduced emissions by 125 MMTCO₂ equivalent in 2005;
• Domestic Methane Programs reduced 2005 methane emissions to 11 % below 1990 levels;
• Fuel Economy Increase from Light Trucks will save 73 MMTCO₂ equivalent over life of vehicles subjected to new rules.
• The Proposed “20 in 10 Plan” will slow significantly and potentially stop the growth of CO₂ emissions from cars, light trucks, and SUVS by using alternative and renewable fuels.

From 2000-2005, U.S. population grew by 15 million and GDP grew 12.5 %, but our greenhouse gas emissions increased only 1.6 %, among the best for developed nations.

Unequaled investments in science and technology: 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 for climate-related science, technology, observations, international assistance, and incentive programs – on the order of $35 billion since 2001.

• Climate Change Science Program (CCSP): CCSP, established in 2002 to oversee public investments in climate change science, coordinates and integrates scientific research on climate change sponsored by 13 participating departments and agencies.
• Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP): CCTP was created to accelerate breakthroughs in transformational technologies, such as solar energy, biofuels, hydrogen, advanced batteries, near-zero-emissions coal, nuclear power, and carbon sequestration that will allow us to power a cleaner future. Between 2003 and 2006, we have invested nearly $3 billion annually in climate change technology programs.

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 or is involved in dozens of partnerships designed to alleviate poverty and spur economic growth in the developing world by modernizing energy services.

Innovative international approaches for clean technologies: 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 has initiated partnerships to promote the development and deployment of key climate change related energy technologies, including:

The Methane to Markets Partnership (M2M): With 20 partners and an extensive project network, M2M could recover 50 million metric tons of carbon equivalent annually by 2015.

The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF): CSLF has 22 partners that have approved 17 carbon capture and storage projects as well as a technology roadmap to provide direction for international cooperation on carbon sequestration.

The International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE): IPHE’s members are working to advance research, development, and deployment of hydrogen and fuel-cell technologies, while also developing common codes for hydrogen use.

The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP): This Presidential initiative engages the governments and private sectors in 6 key nations -- Australia, China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States -- that account for about half of the world’s economy, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Partners are enhancing deployment of clean energy technologies to address their energy, clean development, and climate goals. Examples of APP successes include:

• Leveraging a $500,000 - U.S. Government grant into $120 million of investment to build the largest coal mine methane powered facility in the world; which, when completed, will avoid the annual equivalent emissions of 1 million cars.
• Providing technical support to China to develop a voluntary energy efficiency label similar to ENERGY STAR. One new product is expected to reduce 17.7 million tons of CO₂ -- the equivalent of removing 3 million cars from the road.

Looking Ahead: Climate change is a complex, long-term challenge that requires a sustained global commitment. International collaboration that accommodates economic growth and development and encourages technology innovation is key to addressing the interlinked challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also expanding the global economy, improving energy security, and cutting air pollution. The programs mentioned above are just some examples of our comprehensive and collaborative approach. More information about the U.S. approach to climate change, as well as information on these and many other programs, can be found at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/climate.