Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC May 4, 2007 United States Joins In Approving Summary Report on Climate Change MitigationThe United States supports the consensus summary report on climate change mitigation that was reviewed and approved by over 100 countries meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, April 30 - May 4, 2007. The report is the third in a series that will be synthesized into the fourth Assessment Report to be released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in November 2007. As was the case for the first two Intergovernmental Panel Working Groups that focused initially on the science and then on the impacts and adaptation associated with climate change, the Summary for Policymakers on mitigation approved on Friday, May 4, by Working Group III is based upon an extensive underlying technical report. "The United States was an active and constructive participant in the international dialogue among experts and governments meeting in Bangkok," said Dr. Harlan Watson, U.S. Department of State Senior Climate Negotiator and Special Representative and head of the interagency U.S. delegation to the Working Group III meeting. "The result of this exchange is a summary document that will help policy makers around the world make more informed decisions in addressing the economic, energy and associated technological implications of global climate change." The United States is leading the world in significant investments in climate change science and technology that provide a thorough understanding of climate research critical to the policy process. The U.S. is engaged both domestically and internationally in a broad range of activities aimed at developing and deploying clean energy technologies, promoting energy efficiency, and sustaining economic growth.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was established under the auspices of the United Nations Environmental Program and the World Meteorological Organization to periodically undertake comprehensive and objective assessments of scientific and technical aspects of climate change. The first Intergovernmental Panel Assessment Report was completed in 1990, the second in 1995, and the third in 2001. The United States is the largest financial supporter of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
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