*EPF208 05/18/2004
Text: U.S., Australia Sign Statement on Environmental Cooperation
(Air quality, biodiversity, climate change of mutual concern) (1020)

The United States and Australia signed a joint statement on environmental cooperation May 18, according to a press release issued by the Department of State the same day.

According to the press release, the two countries share many environmental priorities and challenges including improving air and water quality, protecting natural resources and biodiversity, better understanding climate change, mitigating the effect of chemicals on the environment, and protecting the marine environment.

The joint statement notes that the United States and Australia are "close partners" in the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, and the Ad Hoc Group on Earth Observations. The two countries also seek to strengthen their ties in regional and international fora in which environmental issues are considered, such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, the statement says.

Following is the text of the press release, which includes the text of the joint statement:

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
May 18, 2004

MEDIA NOTE

U.S., Australia Sign Statement on Environmental Cooperation

The Governments of the United States of America and Australia today signed in Washington a Joint Statement on Environmental Cooperation.

The Joint Statement acknowledges the two countries' many shared environmental priorities and challenges, including improving air and water quality, protecting their natural resources and biodiversity, better understanding climate change, mitigating the effect of chemicals on the environment, and protecting the marine environment.

The Statement strengthens the Governments' commitments to address environmental issues through knowledge sharing and cooperation. It also expresses the desire of the United States and Australia to continue cooperative efforts and to strengthen their ties in regional and international forums in which environmental issues are considered, including the United Nations and WTO.

Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, Paula Dobriansky signed the statement on behalf of the United States. Australian Trade Minister Mark Vaile signed for his government. Vaile and Dobriansky signed the Statement, which is associated with the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement, during Vaile's visit to sign that Agreement.

Attached is a copy of the joint statement.

(begin statement)

United States-Australia
Joint Statement on
Environmental Cooperation

1. The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia recognize that they share common concerns and similar responsibilities for protecting and conserving the environment in their respective jurisdictions, and have a common interest in advancing global environmental improvement and protection. The Governments further note that they face similar environmental challenges such as expanding urban populations, concentrated industrial activity, and sustainable use of natural resources.

2. The United States and Australia have a long and productive history of cooperation on environmental issues. The Governments recognize the important environmental work that they have accomplished bilaterally, including through the U.S.-Australia Climate Action Partnership and in areas such as botanic gardens, endangered and migratory species, Antarctica, meteorological and oceanographic research and management, and whale and ozone protection. The Governments look forward to continued cooperation in these areas and to future bilateral environmental activities in other areas, including national parks, wetlands, oceans management, conservation of Antarctic and sub-Antarctic ecosystems, biodiversity conservation, invasive species and natural heritage management.

3. The United States and Australia share common goals in advancing science and technology initiatives to address environmental challenges. These initiatives include improving productive and sustainable natural resource use and global observation, developing cleaner, renewable and more efficient energy, and advancing agricultural technologies, including biotechnology. The United States and Australia are close partners in the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, and the Ad Hoc Group on Earth Observations, and they look forward to the completion of a bilateral agreement on science and technology cooperation.

4. The Governments also recognize the importance of multilateral environmental activities and acknowledge the close cooperation between the two countries in preparing for and participating in international environmental meetings and conferences on topics including protection, conservation or management of national parks and world heritage sites, endangered and migratory species, Antarctica, ocean affairs, marine living resources, chemicals and hazardous wastes, ozone protection, global climate change, forests, coral reefs, biological diversity and biosafety. The Governments further note the close cooperation between the two countries in environment related meetings of the United Nations agencies and the WTO. The United States and Australia intend to continue these cooperative efforts and desire to further strengthen their ties in these and other international forums in which environmental issues are considered.

5. The Governments also acknowledge their successful environmental cooperation in the Asia Pacific region, including as members of the South Pacific Regional Environmental Program, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community. The Governments recognize the importance of these regional efforts and intend to continue to pursue joint efforts to build capacity in the region for improved environmental stewardship and protection. Such future regional work may include developing or supporting further WSSD Type II initiatives in the Asia Pacific region.

6. To further advance the collaboration and cooperation between the United States and Australia, the Governments intend to consult regularly to review ongoing cooperative activities, identify priority areas for potential future cooperative activities, and to the extent appropriate, review other matters related to this statement. In particular, the Governments intend to consider bilateral collaborative efforts to assist third countries build capacity in the areas described in Paragraphs 2, 3, 4 and 5 above.

7. The Governments believe that participation of the public, and cooperation between governments and the community, are important means of enhancing environment stewardship, protection and conservation and sustaining natural resource management. The United States and Australia will continue to promote public participation, including soliciting and taking into account, as appropriate views of the public, including stakeholders, with respect to ongoing and future cooperative activities between the two countries.

For the Government of the
United States of America:
Paula Dobriansky
Under Secretary for Global Affairs
U.S. Department of State

For the Government of
Australia:
The Hon. Mark Vaile, MP
Minister for Trade

Washington, D.C.
18 MAY 2004

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents