Washington, DC – Continuing to take the lead in addressing global climate change, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Stephen Johnson, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher discussed Working Group I’s contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report released today by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The report confirms what President Bush has said about the nature of climate change and it reaffirms the need for continued U.S. leadership in addressing global climate issues.  The report findings highlight the need for robust climate research and the development of new technologies to clean our air and deal with global climate change, while maintaining economic competitiveness.

"The Administration welcomes the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report, which was developed through thousands of hours of research by leading U.S. and international scientists and informed by significant U.S. investments in advancing climate science research," U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman said.  "Climate change is a global challenge that requires global solutions.  Through President Bush's leadership, the U.S. government is taking action to curb the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and encouraging the development and deployment of clean energy technologies here in the United States and across the globe."

“I congratulate my colleagues at the IPCC for their years of research, and look forward to using their scientific findings as we continue America’s efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson.  “Through our commitment to sound science and innovation, the Bush Administration has built a solid foundation to address the environmental challenges of the 21st Century.”

“Without the diligent efforts by our scientists in the United States, these advances in knowledge of our planet’s climate would not have been possible,” said retired Navy Vice Adm. Conrad Lautenbacher, Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “The U.S. Climate Change Science Program continues to set a high standard world-wide for the pertinent research it conducts. I would like to thank Dr. Susan Solomon and all of the scientists that contributed to the IPCC report.”

The U.S. leads the world in advancing climate science and addressing our impact on Earth’s climate, with President Bush devoting nearly $29 billion to climate-related science, technology, international assistance, and incentive programs - more than any other country.  Putting research and development to work, this Administration’s policy to deploy cleaner, more efficient technologies is putting the U.S. well on track to meet the President’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas intensity 18 percent by 2012.

And since 2002, the Administration has spent approximately $9 billion on climate change science research through the multi-agency Climate Change Science Program.  These investments, along with input from U.S. scientists and federal resources led to the development of the research results summarized in the IPCC report.

The U.S. delegation to the IPCC included climate science experts from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Department of State.  The delegation’s participation in the meeting followed significant U.S. involvement in the generation of the report, as numerous U.S. climate scientists were involved in its drafting and expert review.  In addition, a NOAA climate expert, Dr. Susan Solomon, served as co-chair of Working Group I.

Fact Sheet on Global Climate Change

Media contact(s):
DOE: Megan Barnett (202) 586-4940
NOAA: Kent Laborde (202) 482-6090
EPA: Jennifer Wood (202) 564-4355