Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Mission Statement: We advance sustainable development internationally through leadership in oceans, environment, science and health.
The Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES) promotes transformational diplomacy through advancing environmental stewardship, encouraging economic growth, and promoting social development around the globe to foster a safer, more secure and hopeful world.
Nearly 200 employees further these goals through programs and activities concerning infectious diseases, biodiversity, climate change, access to water and energy, ocean and polar affairs, science and technology cooperation, management of toxic chemicals, environmental components of trade agreements, and the exploration of space. In addition, the Bureau represents the United States at major international negotiations. Together, these activities demonstrate the Bureau's commitment to policies that make concrete improvements in people's lives.
The Oceans and Fisheries Directorate has two offices dedicated to international oceans issues. The Office of Marine Conservation has primary responsibility for the international conservation and management of living marine resources, including efforts to manage shared commercial fisheries on a sustainable basis and to reduce impacts of fishing on protected species and vulnerable marine ecosystems. The Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs has primary responsibility for international ocean law and policy, marine pollution, marine mammals, polar affairs, maritime boundaries, and marine science.
The Environment Directorate deals with a broad range of global issues related to protecting the environment and conserving natural resources. The Office of Environmental Policy coordinates U.S. approaches to transboundary air quality issues, safeguarding the stratospheric ozone layer and environmentally sound chemicals management. The office also handles environmental aspects of free trade agreements and environmental issues in multilateral organizations such as the U.N. Environment Program and in international financial institutions. The Office of Ecology and Natural Resource Conservation coordinates U.S. approaches to international wildlife and forest issues, including partnership in the global Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking, the U.S. Initiative Against Illegal Logging, the Congo Basin Forest Partnership and the Liberia Forest Initiative. The office also handles issues related to the conservation of coral reefs, wetlands and drylands, access to genetic resources, and control of invasive species. Taking the lead on climate change issues, including polices and partnerships that span a wide range of initiatives, is the Office of Global Change.
The Health, Space and Science Directorate includes the Office of International Health and Biodefense which works with U.S. Government agencies to facilitate policy-making regarding infectious disease, surveillance and response, environmental health, and health in post-conflict situations. The Office of Space and Advanced Technology handles issues arising from our exploration of space to assure global security regarding this new frontier, and the Office of Science & Technology (S&T) Cooperation promotes the interests of the U.S. science and technology communities in the international policy arena, negotiates framework and other S&T agreements, manages the Department's Embassy Science fellows program, and takes a leading role in representing U.S. science and technology in multilateral international organizations, such as UNESCO and other UN organizations, APEC, OECD, and others.
The Office of Policy Coordination and Initiatives (PCI) promotes policy coherence, supports the development of new initiatives, and leads strategic planning efforts on the full range of OES issues - involving oceans, environment, science & technology, and health. PCI focuses regionally and on emerging cross-cutting issues to ensure that the U.S. deploys "smart diplomacy" effectively by integrating these OES priorities to promote sustainable development and advance U.S. foreign policy objectives at the bilateral, regional and global level. The office provides guidance to and coordinates OES activities extensively with the State Department's bilateral Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) officers and Regional Environment Offices (REOs, known as "Hubs") in U.S. embassies around the world.-U.S. Interest in Potential Ways to Address Hydrofluorocarbons
-Sea Turtle Conservation and Shrimp Imports
-H1N1 Influenza: The State Department alerts U.S. citizens of the health risks of travel to Mexico at this time due to an outbreak of influenza A (H1N1). The U.S. Embassy and all U.S. Consulates in Mexico have suspended all non-essential services to the public until May 6. Consular services for U.S. citizens is limited to emergency assistance and citizenship applications (passports and consular reports of birth abroad). -CDC Flu Page -Secretary Clinton's Remarks on H1N1
-Secretary Clinton gives remarks at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
-Chairman’s Summary from the First Preparatory Meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
-Briefing on the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate
Earth Day 2009
-Remarks by Secretary Clinton at State Department’s “Greening Diplomacy” Event
-DipNote, the State Department's Blog
-Remarks by Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern
-Remarks by Under Secretary Patrick Kennedy
-Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting Press Teleconference -Text -Audio
-Media Note
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-Transatlantic Landscape for Energy Innovation and Cooperation
-Secretary Clinton's remarks at the Joint Session of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting and the Arctic Council, and the 50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty (April 6) | Whitehouse Release
-U.S. and Switzerland Sign First Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement
-Press Briefing of the U.S. Delegation UNFCCC Climate Change Talks, Mar. 29, 2009
-U.S. Intervention of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long Term Cooperative Action, Mar. 29, 2009
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