High-Level Meeting on Climate Change Between The United States and The European Union

“Last June at the Göteborg Summit, the leaders of the United States and the European Union expressed their shared recognition that climate change is a pressing issue that requires a global solution.  Today, we reiterate that prompt, effective and sustainable action is needed.

In this meeting, we had a wide-ranging and constructive discussion of our respective policies and approaches. While we differ on our approaches to climate change, we agree on the importance of working toward the achievement of the ultimate objective of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.

We are determined to work together in all relevant fora to address climate change and to participate constructively in those fora.  In addition, we have agreed to continue our dialogue.   We also considered specific areas for potential cooperation, including in the area of science and research and in the measurement, monitoring and verification of greenhouse gas emissions, and market-based incentives. We are determined to enhance our cooperation on climate-related science and research, notably in the context of the Sixth Framework Programme, the existing Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement between the United States and the European Union, and the October 2001 Implementing Arrangement for Cooperative Activities in the area of climate research between the National Science Foundation and the European Commission. To this end, we agreed to hold a technical meeting on research topics later this year, for example on carbon sequestration.

As the United States and the European Union progress toward the World Summit on Sustainable Development and beyond, we pledge to work together in a spirit of cooperation and partnership.”