23 January 2002

U.S.-Italy Joint Statement on Climate Change Research Meeting

A joint statement was released by the United States and Italy at the conclusion of a bilateral "Joint Climate Change Research Meeting" in Rome January 22-23.

The two countries identified over 20 joint climate change research activities for immediate implementation as well as topics for further development in such areas as global and regional climate modeling, atmospheric studies related to climate, carbon cycle research, and low-carbon technologies. They also agreed to each designate coordinators for the development of specific research projects.

Following is the joint statement:

U.S. Department Of State
Office of the Spokesman

January 23, 2002

Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman

U.S.-Italy Bilateral "Joint Climate Change Research Meeting"

Following is the text of a joint statement released today by the United States and Italy.

"The United States and Italy convened a bilateral "Joint Climate Change Research Meeting" in Rome on January 22-23, 2002, following upon the July 19, 2001 pledge of President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to undertake joint research on climate change. This pledge recognized the need to draw on sound science and the power of technology to reduce the uncertainty associated with future global climate and environmental change.

The respective delegations were led by Dr. Harlan Watson of the U.S. Department of State and Dr. Paul Anastas of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy for the American side, and by Dr. Corrado Clini of the Ministry of Environment and Territory and Dr. Luciano Criscuoli of the Ministry of Education and Research for the Italian side.

The two sides identified more than 20 joint climate change research activities for immediate implementation and more topics for further development in the critical areas of global and regional climate modeling, atmospheric studies related to climate, carbon cycle research, low-carbon technologies, and other related areas. The climate science research activities for immediate implementation will improve the capability to understand, monitor and predict climatic variations and their impacts. In addition, the technology research activities for immediate implementation will contribute to the development of advanced low carbon technologies to limit net emissions of greenhouse gases.

The United States and Italy also agreed to each designate coordinators under the auspices of the Agreement Between the Governments of the United States of America and Italy for Scientific and Technological Cooperation to coordinate the development of specific research projects and to monitor the progress of these projects. The coordinators will provide a status report at the Seventh Biennial Review of the Agreement to be held in Washington, DC later this year."

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