Joint Statement of Enhanced Bilateral Climate Change Cooperation Between the United States and Mexico

Following is the text of a joint press statement on climate change cooperation released today by the United States and Mexico:

“The governments of Mexico and the United States today announced their intention to expand and intensify their existing bilateral efforts to address climate change. The U.S. also presented its Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum initiative.

“Both countries announced their intention to continue bilateral dialogue to develop joint activities to combat climate change in such areas as: emission inventories, economic and climatic models, energy, adaptation, agriculture/forests, earth observation systems and carbon sequestration technologies. Specific areas of cooperation will be further considered.

“Both delegations agreed to establish a working group to follow up bilateral cooperation on these issues.

“Talks took place in Mexico City on 17 March 2003, between Dr. Harlan Watson, Senior Climate Negotiator and Special Representative, of the U.S. Department of State, and Mrs. Patricia Olamendi, Under Secretary for Global Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, and other senior and technical officials of both governments. Participating in the talks on the U.S. side were the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce/NOAA, Energy, and State, and the Agency for International Development and Environmental Protection Agency. The Mexican participants were representatives from the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Environment and Natural Resources Ministry, the Energy Ministry, as well as from Pemex, the National Commission for Energy Conservation, universities and research institutions.”