On April 22nd, as millions of people around the world celebrated Earth Day, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterated the Obama administration's strong and determined commitment to combat climate change, the most serious threat to our planet. President Obama has pledged to work with our partners to pursue negotiations that can lead to binding international climate agreements.

"The Obama administration pledged in February to take the lead in developing a global treaty to regulate mercury. This is a critical issue, particularly to pregnant women and children," said Secretary of State Clinton. "We are moving ahead to increase access to safe drinking water; conserve the world's forests; and slow the depletion of the world's fisheries," said Secretary of State Clinton.

But in all fairness, the United States recognizes that to be a good partner, and an effective leader, we must set a good example. And so, the Obama administration has developed a comprehensive plan to minimize the country's carbon footprint.

The Greening Diplomacy Initiative, introduced by Secretary of State Clinton on Earth Day, is a good example of how parts of the plan will work. The Initiative, affecting the U.S. Department of State both at home and abroad, will focus on implementing environmentally responsible policies and implementing federal mandates. Some of the goals of the Initiative are promoting greener transport fleets and greening Department facilities all over the world.

On April 22nd, 1969, in his speech on the first Earth Day, the movement's founder, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson said: “Our goal is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all human beings and all other creatures. ... Our goal is a decent environment in its deepest and broadest sense.”

Forty years later, the United States has pledged to take this action even further, and, along with our international partners, take up the fight to protect the environment by helping reverse practices climate harmful to the world and all its inhabitants