On Tuesday, June 25, 2013, President Barack Obama announced a new U.S. Climate Action Plan, which includes a series of significant domestic actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. These actions demonstrate U.S. commitment to taking ambitious actions to address climate change.
U.S. GOVERNMENT TEXTS
June 25, 2013: THE PRESIDENT: Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you, Georgetown! Thank you so much. Everybody, please be seated. And my first announcement today is that you should all take off your jackets. (Laughter.) I’m going to do the same. (Applause.) It’s not that sexy, now. (Laughter.) It is good to be back on campus, and it is a great privilege to speak from the steps of this historic hall that welcomed Presidents going back to George Washington.
June 25, 2013: The President’s historic announcement today will send ripples internationally about the United States’ commitment to meeting the climate change challenge. Leading the world as the “indispensable nation” demands that we must be the indispensable stewards of the planet. Decisive action at home empowers us to make more progress internationally on a shared challenge.
May 7, 2013: The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Korea on the occasion of the visit by ROK President Park Geun-hye to the United States:
May 7, 2013: Acting Secretary of Energy Daniel B. Poneman and Mr. Yoon Sang-jick, Minister of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) of the Republic of Korea, met on May 7, 2013, at the Department of Energy (DOE) headquarters in Washington, D.C., where they exchanged views on cooperation on a wide range of energy priorities.
On February 14, 2013, the Governments of the United States and the Republic of Korea adopted this Work Program pursuant to the United States-Korea Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (ECA) signed on January 23, 2012. This Work Program covers the period 2013 through 2015. The U.S. and Korean Governments (“the Governments”) intend to review progress toward achieving the goals contained in this Work Program in future consultations relating to the status of cooperation under the ECA.
January 23, 2012: Under Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment Robert Hormats and Republic of Korea Ambassador to the United States Han Duk-soo today signed, on behalf of their respective governments, the United States-Korea Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA).
GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS
Climate change has people hot under the collar or waking in a cold sweat. The world’s governments now accept that climate change poses a serious long-term threat to their nations’ economic and social health. But who caused the problem? Who should address it, and how? And who should pay for the measures required both to limit climate change and to help people adapt to its impact? (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital Publication)
As a global phenomenon, climate change is an issue that we usually look to the international community to address. Local communities, however, are increasingly taking the lead in developing innovative, grass-roots approaches to mitigating and combating the causes and effects of global warming. According to a study by the United Nations Development Program, most investments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to adapt to climate change must take place at the local level. In the United States, local governments and private citizens have been working to cut those emissions, without waiting for solutions at the international level. (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital Publication)
This offers perspectives of experts and activists in several key countries on effective policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate global warming and adapt to irreversible changes, and features an introduction by U.S. special envoy Todd Stern. (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital Publication)
PHOTO GALLERIES
Climate change has galvanized young people around the world not only to express their views on the streets, but to take practical action to raise awareness and provide tools to meet the challenge. (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital)
Small communities are often the most severely affected by and least equipped to cope with the impacts of climate change. To build resilience in these communities and the ecosystems on which they rely, the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) have implemented pilot adaptation projects in 10 countries that represent diverse ecosystems, socioeconomic circumstances and climate change impacts. (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital)
Almost 500 U.S. college and university presidents have signed pledges to develop comprehensive plans for their institutions to achieve climate neutrality as soon as possible. In the meantime, they are taking tangible actions to reduce greenhouse gases. (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital)
Water is essential to life. The United Nations estimates that nearly 1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water. And the demand for fresh water doubles every 20 years, according to Rajiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital)
The U.S. State Department’s Information Resource Center in Lima, Peru, organized a continent-wide photo contest under the banner “FOTOTIERRA!” literally “EARTHPHOTO,” to promote World Water Day. (Source: Department of State, IIP Digital)
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