08 March 2002

U.S. and Canada Expand Bilateral Cooperation on Climate Change

Will focus on expanding use of renewable energy, technology development

The United States and Canada have agreed to expand bilateral efforts to address global climate change, focusing on such things as technology development, market-based approaches and capacity building in developing countries.

According to a joint press statement released March 7, the initiative will involve cooperation between several Canadian and U.S. agencies that is expected to result in significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, which have been blamed for causing global warming. Some areas of cooperation include the development of clean coal technology, expanded use of renewable sources of energy and the capture and storage of carbon dioxide -- a major greenhouse gas.

On February 14, President Bush committed the United States to cutting greenhouse gas "intensity" -- defined as how much greenhouse gas the country emits per unit of economic activity -- by 18 percent over the next 10 years. Canada is reducing emissions under measures announced under its 2001 budget, and is also considering ratification later this year of the Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement to curb emissions of greenhouse gases. President Bush has rejected the Kyoto Protocol, arguing that its binding cuts in greenhouse gas emissions would harm the U.S. economy.

Following is the text of the joint press statement:

U.S. Department Of State
Office of the Spokesman

March 7, 2002

Statement By Richard Boucher, Spokesman

Climate Coordination Announced between the United States and Canada

Following is the text of a joint press statement released today by the United States and Canada:

Begin Text:

The governments of the United States and Canada today announced an agreement to expand and intensify their existing bilateral efforts to address global climate change. This initiative will involve many U.S. agencies and Canadian departments and agencies which are already actively engaged in this issue. Agreement was reached following two days of meetings held in Washington this week by David Anderson, Canadian Minister of the Environment, with several senior members of the U.S. Administration, including: EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality James Connaughton, Chairman of the President's Council of Economic Advisers Glenn Hubbard, and Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky.

Under the policy announced by President Bush on February 14, the United States is taking action to address climate change to achieve a new and ambitious national goal for reducing projected emissions growth in the next decade. Canada is reducing emissions under measures announced in Action Plan 2000 and Budget 2001, and will be considering ratification of the Kyoto Protocol later this year. There are many measures that are common to these respective approaches and this initiative will enhance the two countries' existing and future efforts, especially in the energy area.

Both countries have agreed to pursue increased bilateral cooperation that will focus on such issues as climate change science and research, technology development, carbon sequestration, emissions measurement and accounting, capacity building in developing countries, carbon sinks, targeted measures to spur the uptake of cleaner technology and market-based approaches.

Examples of opportunities for cooperation that may result in significant greenhouse gas reductions include, but are not limited to, clean coal technology and carbon dioxide capture and storage technology development, expanded use of cogeneration and renewable sources of energy, as well as concrete ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable agriculture and forestry management practices.

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