| December 11, 2003 Milan, Italy The Italian Minister for the Environment and Territory Altero Matteoli and the U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, together with other senior government officials and representatives of the private sector from both countries addressed the technology-related actions they are taking to tackle climate change in the framework of the U.S.-Italy cooperation agreement. On July 19, 2001, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pledged that the two countries would pursue joint research programs on climate change and low-emission technology development. On January 22, 2002, the Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory, the U.S. Department of State and the White Office of Science and Technology Policy agreed to promote scientific and technological cooperation. The purpose of the agreement is to develop projects in the following four fields:
On September 16, 2003, at a high-level discussion session Minister Matteoli and Under Secretary Dobriansky agreed that the development and deployment of transformational technologies for cleaner and more efficient energy is fundamental to addressing global climate change in a manner that promotes global prosperity. They also agreed that a focus on advancing carbon sequestration, hydrogen and fuel cells is important for all countries and will especially benefit developing countries working to achieve sustainable development. The two sides also decided to enhance cooperation on World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) goals of increasing access to clean energy for those currently lacking modern energy services.
The U.S. and Italy share the common goal of meeting the ultimate objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, namely the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate. The Ninth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-9) is an important opportunity to focus on the role of energy technologies for achieving the ultimate objective of the Convention on Climate Change in a way that promotes economic growth and poverty alleviation, enhances energy security, and improves environment quality and human health. The U.S.-Italy cooperation agreement, as well as the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, and the other bilateral cooperation programs on climate change based on voluntary agreements, could be considered under Article 4.1(c) of the Climate Convention and will add value to the global effort to tackle climate change. [end] |
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