News and Documents

30 April 2010
North American Amendment Proposal to Phase Down Use of HFCs (Hydrofluorocarbons) under the Montreal Protocol
The United States, Canada and Mexico have submitted today a joint North American proposal to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. [More]

1 April 2010
DOT, EPA Set Aggressive National Standards for Fuel Economy and First Ever Greenhouse Gas Emission Levels For Passenger Cars and Light Trucks
Responding to one of the first major directives of the Obama Administration, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today jointly established historic new federal rules that set the first-ever national greenhouse gas emissions standards and will significantly increase the fuel economy of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in the United States.[Text].

22 March 2010
World Water Day 2010
Secretary of State Clinton spoke at a World Water Day event co-hosted by the National Geographic Society and Water Advocates. "In the United States, water represents one of the great diplomatic and development opportunities of our time. It’s not every day you find an issue where effective diplomacy and development will allow you to save millions of lives, feed the hungry, empower women, advance our national security interests, protect the environment, and demonstrate to billions of people that the United States cares, cares about you and your welfare." [Transcript]

22 February 2010
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has released an action plan to guide the Obama Administration’s historic efforts to restore the Great Lakes. The action plan, which the administrator unveiled at a Sunday meeting with governors from the Great Lakes states, lays out the most urgent threats facing the Great Lakes and sets out goals, objectives and key actions over the next five years to help restore the lakes.
“We have an historic opportunity to restore and protect these waters. This action plan outlines our strategy to protect the environmental, human health, and economic interests of the millions of people who rely on the Great Lakes,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We’re committed to creating a new standard of care that will leave the Great Lakes better for the next generation." [Text]

18 December 09
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

United States Participation in the 15th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7-18, 2009
(Dec. 8): The U.S. is committed to forging an international response and achieving a successful outcome at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15) in Copenhagen, Dec. 7-18. Special Envoy Stern leads the U.S. delegation. [Learn more]
Also visit the U.S. Commerce Department Copenhagen Climate Change Conference Web Site


Remarks by the President at the Morning Plenary Session of the United Nations Climate Change Conference
Now, as the world's largest economy and as the world's second largest emitter, America bears our responsibility to address climate change, and we intend to meet that responsibility. That's why we've renewed our leadership within international climate change negotiations. That's why we've worked with other nations to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. That's why we've taken bold action at home -- by making historic investments in renewable energy; by putting our people to work increasing efficiency in our homes and buildings; and by pursuing comprehensive legislation to transform to a clean energy economy. Transcript
Remarks by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton at the United Nations Framework Convention on ClimateChange
So in addition to the robust actions that the Obama Administration has taken at home -- from the historic investment in clean energy included in the Recovery Act to the new efficiency standards for cars, trucks, and appliances -- we have pursued an unprecedented effort to engage partners around the world in the fight against climate change. And we produced real results. Transcript