# Presentation: 754404

## U.S. Department of State Climate Change Functions 

**Dr. Harlan L. Watson**
**Senior Climate Negotiator and**
**Special Representative**
**U.S. Department of State (DOS)**
**Briefing to Climate Change Science Program Office (CCSPO)**
**Washington, DC**
**July 26, 2002**

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## Outline

**International Aspects of President Bush’s Climate Change (CC) Policy**
**DOS CC Role**** **
**International CC Policy Components**** **
**Funding of International Organizations (IOs) and Diplomatic Initiatives**
**Key Contacts**

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## International Aspects of President Bush’s CC Policy-1

**President Bush’s June 11, 2001 and February 14, 2002 CC policy announcements highlighted the importance of international cooperation to develop an effective and efficient global response to the complex and long-term challenge of climate change.**
**    “****I am today committing the United States of America to work within the United Nations framework and elsewhere to develop with our friends and allies and nations throughout the world an effective and science-based response to the issue of global warming.”**
**—****President Bush, June 11, 2001**
**“****I will intend to work with nations, especially the poor and developing nations, to show the world that there is a better approach, that we can build our future prosperity along a cleaner and better path.”**
**—****President Bush, February 14, 2002**

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## International Aspects of President Bush’s CC Policy-2

**“****The U.S. strategy has three-prongs:  slowing the growth of net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, laying important groundwork for both current and future action [****investments in science, technology, and institutions]****, and working with other nations to develop an efficient and effective global response.” **
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**“****The final element of the President’s approach incorporates international efforts, recognizing the critical importance of developing-country participation in any effective international response to climate change.  This participation includes both near-term efforts to slow the growth in emissions and longer-term efforts to build capacity for future cooperation .”**
**—****CEA Chairman Glenn Hubbard, July 11, 2002**
**Testimony Before the Senate Committee on**
**Commerce, Science, and Transportation**** **

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## International Aspects of President Bush’s CC Policy-3

**Enhanced Support in the Developing World:**
**$279 Million in FY 2003 for International Assistance****—**
**Increase of $62 Million, or 29%**
**$205 million for USAID CC programs****—including ****$50 million for tropical forest conservation, $40 million of which is for “Debt-for-Nature Swaps.”**
**$177 million for the Global Environment Facility (GEF)—$68 million estimated for CC.**
**$25 million for climate observation systems in developing countries, and President Bush has challenged other developed countries to match U.S. commitment.**

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## DOS CC Role

***Coordinates International CC Policy*****—Chairs the National Security Council (NSC) Policy Coordination Committee (PCC) on Global Environment Subordinate Working Group (Sub-PCC) on Climate Change.**
***Provides Core Funding for International Organizations Focused on CC*****—U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and other bodies (*****e.g.*****, WMO, IEA, OECD).**
***Small Staff and Limited Programmatic Role*****—DOS collaborates closely with other agencies to ensure effective implementation of international activities.**

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## DOS CC Role

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**DOS CC Role**
**International CC Policy Components-1**

***Implements International Aspects of President’s CC Policy*****—In close collaboration with other agencies, develops and implements bilateral and regional initiatives. **
***Serves as National Focal Point for UNFCCC and IPCC*****—Coordinates, in close consultation with other agencies, USG inputs to the UNFCCC and IPCC  and development of positions for their meetings.  Coordinates and manages USG delegations to sessions of the UNFCCC COP and Subsidiary Bodies and of the IPCC Plenary and Working Groups.**
***Coordinates CC Issues in Other International Bodies*****—UNGA, ICAO, IMO, OECD, IEA, UNEP, etc.  **

## DOS CC RoleInternational CC Policy Components-2Increased Bilateral Cooperation

_**Developed Countries**_
**Japan**
**European Union (EU)**
**Italy**
**Australia**
**Canada**
_**Developing Countries**_
**Central American Countries (****Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama)**
**China**
**India**

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**Consistent with the President’s CC Policy, Since September 2001 DOS Has Revitalized or Initiated 8 Formal Bilateral Relationships:**

## DOS CC RoleInternational CC Policy Components-3Increased Bilateral Cooperation

**Brazil**
**Mexico**
**Republic of Korea**
**Russian Federation**
**South Africa**
**Ukraine**

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**Similar Efforts Are Also Underway or May Soon Start With 6 Additional Countries:**

## DOS CC RoleInternational CC Policy Components-4Increased Bilateral Cooperation

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## DOS CC RoleInternational CC Policy Components-5National Focal Point for UNFCCC and IPCC

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**Issues of Relevance to CCSPO and CCTPO:**
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***Implications of the IPCC Third Assessment Report (TAR)—*****UNFCCC (SBSTA) discussions of priorities for research.**
***Research and Systematic Observations*****—Review of adequacy of Global Climate Observing (GCOS) system. **
***Technology Transfer*****.**
***Adaptation and Vulnerability (UNFCCC Articles 4.8/4.9)***** —Policy implications of impacts and vulnerability. **

## Funding of IOs and Diplomatic Initiatives-1

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**Reliability and Level of U.S. Contributions Enhances U.S. Stature in UNFCCC and IPCC**** **
***DOS Provides Primary U.S. Contribution to UNFCCC*****—Contributes about 22% of total UNFCCC core budget, and additional UNFCCC funds for participation and supplementary activities to advance U.S. interests.  No contributions to Kyoto Protocol-related special funds.**
***DOS Also Provides Primary U.S. contribution to IPCC*****—Contributes about 33% of total IPCC core budget, and to special IPCC projects to advance U.S. interests (*****e.g*****.*****, *****GCOS). **

## Funding of IOs and Diplomatic Initiatives-2 OES/I Program

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***Funds CC Diplomatic Initiatives Under the DOS Economic Support Fund Oceans, Environment and Science Initiatives (OES/I) Program*****—Three FY 2002 projects totaling $425,000. **
***Clean Energy Technology Cooperation Activities with India ($112,000)—Implemented by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) through DOE*****:   Through discussions with Indian officials and with the private sector, target actions will be identified and implemented based on their potential to accelerate clean energy business investment projects. **

## Funding of IOs and Diplomatic Initiatives-3 OES/I Program

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***Monitoring Greenhouse Gases, Air Pollution, and Dust from Mongolia Flowing into China, the Pacific Basin, and Often into the U.S. ($138,000)—Implemented by NOAA*****:  Through researching and monitoring the dust/pollution that brackets China, NOAA hopes to attain a better understanding of the global carbon cycle and, more specifically, acquire a better understanding of which airborne pollutants originate in China. **
***Measurement and Monitoring of Emissions – Building Blocks of Flexible, Market-Based Approach to Addressing Global Air Quality ($175,000)—Implemented by EPA*****:  This project will build capacity in the use of flexible, market-based approaches to air quality management in India and Mexico, by focusing on measurement and monitoring at the source level. **

## Funding of IOs and Diplomatic Initiatives-4DOS CC Funding—FY 2001-FY2003

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## Key Contacts

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**Dr. Harlan L. Watson, Senior Climate Change Coordinator and Special Representative, DOS Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs**
**	****202-647-3489, 202-647-3970, **_[watsonhl@state.gov](mailto:watsonhl@state.gov)_
**Mr. Daniel A. Reifsnyder, Director, Office of Global Change, DOS Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs**
**	****202-647-3935, 202-647-0191, **_[reifsnyderda@state.gov](mailto:reifsnyderda@state.gov)__ _