| | Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Welcome to the Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science (OES) website.
In OES, we work on a broad and challenging range of international environmental issues-everything from combating climate change, air and water pollution, and infectious diseases, to the conservation of forests, oceans and marine life, to space exploration.
On any given day, members of the Bureau may be responding to the threats of pandemic disease and bioterrorism; fighting illegal trade in endangered species, timber and ozone-depleting chemicals; reinforcing strategic alliances though scientific cooperation; establishing partnerships to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and promote energy efficiency; helping countries gain access to clean drinking water; and protecting oceans and the creatures who live in them.
We seek to protect wildlife and its diversity on land and in the oceans. We encourage the spread of new technologies that promise to benefit the environment and promote economic growth at home and abroad. Our goal is to use America's diplomatic power to help foreign citizens improve their lives and transform their futures - to protect the Earth's natural resources for everyone today so that generations to come will enjoy them tomorrow.
I hope that this web site is interesting and helpful to you in gaining a better understanding of the work OES is doing on behalf of every American citizen.
Claudia A. McMurray
Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
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Arctic Region
January 12, 2009
On January 12, 2009 President Bush issued a directive establishing the policy of the United States with respect to the Arctic region and directs related implementation actions. This directive takes into account several developments, including, altered national policies on homeland security and defense; the effects of climate change and increasing human activity in the Arctic region; the establishment and ongoing work of the Arctic Council; and a growing awareness that the Arctic region is both fragile and rich in resources. White House Release
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Ocean Conservation Strategy
January 6, 2009
President Bush used his Antiquities Act authority to designate three new areas in the Pacific as Marine National Monuments. The President's action caps off an eight-year comprehensive ocean conservation strategy. The areas that the President is designating in total will comprise the largest areas of ocean or ocean seabed set aside as marine protected areas in the world, coming in at 195,000 square miles. President Bush's Remarks | Briefing | Establishment of the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument | Establishment of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument | Establishment of the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument | Fact Sheet: Marine National Monuments
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Pathways to Prosperity Plenary Session I
December 10, 2008
Secretary Rice met with Ministers of 12 countries in the Western Hemisphere to advance the Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas initiative, to increase economic opportunity and social justice in the Western Hemisphere through trade and investment. A Ministerial Declaration resolved to enhance the efficiency of bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperative environmental work to strengthen environmental institutions, polices and laws; to ensure conservation and management of biodiversity, forests, protected areas, and ecosystems; to support transparency and public participation as well as community and voluntary incentive-based activities for environmental protection; and to improve private sector environmental performance. Secretary Rice's Full Text | Pathways to Prosperity site
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US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED)
December 4-5, 2008
The State Department led discussions at the fifth meeting of the US-China Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) in Beijing, China December 4-5. The Ten Year Framework for Cooperation in Energy and Environment generated five action plans, including an environmental conservation plan addressing wetlands protection and nature reserves in both countries. A major initiative agreed to new cooperative forest conservation projects to combat the illegal logging trade and to promote sustainable forest management. Similarly, several new "Eco Partnerships" will focus on energy security and environmental protection.
12/05/2008-- Joint U.S.-China Fact Sheet
12/04/2008-- U.S. Fact Sheet on Energy and Environment Accomplishments
12/04/2008-- Joint U.S. - China Fact Sheet on Ten Year Energy and Environment Cooperation
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United States and Saudi Arabia Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Science and Technology Cooperation
Saudi Arabia
December 2, 2008
Assistant Secretary McMurray and Vice President of the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Prince Torki bin Saud signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on science and technology cooperation between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on December 2, 2008 in Riyadh. Media Note | Remarks
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Vietnam
November 20, 2008
Assistant Secretary Claudia A. McMurray visited Vietnam from November 18-22 to promote US interests and cooperation with Vietnam on environmental and scientific issues. Two specific goals were to highlight the importance of cooperation on climate change research and mitigation, and to encourage efforts to preserve wildlife as well as combat illegal wildlife trafficking. more
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New Public Service Announcements to Stop Illegal Trade in Wildlife
New York City
September 3, 2008
The two new public service announcements on wildlife trafficking are with conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall. Dr. Goodall, a world renowned primatologist and Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute, agreed to film the PSAs to further spread the message that demand reduction of illegally trafficked goods will stop the killing of endangered species. more
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Science Diplomacy and the U.S. Department of State
Richmond, Virginia
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Harnish (Nov. 10): "The Department of State engages governments, business, universities, non-governmental and international organizations, and individuals from every region in the world to promote scientific cooperation and education. To accomplish this, State applies a suite of diplomatic tools." Full Text
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White House Summit on International Development
October 21, 2008
President Bush: “The United States works with partner nations to deal with the lack of clean water. Last year we dedicated nearly a billion dollars to improve sanitation and water supplies in developing nations. We're also wise enough to enlist the private sector to help, as well." Full Text
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| | Highlights |
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Jefferson Science Fellows Distinguished Lecture Series on Current Issues in Science and Technology on Dec. 19, 2008. more
Memorandum of Understanding between the State Department’s Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations and the Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program Signing Ceremony; Remarks by Assistant Secretary Claudia McMurray. (Dec. 8) Remarks
Signing Ceremony With Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Support of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (Dec. 3)
Statement by Under Secretary Dobriansky
Annual Climate Change Conference
The fourteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-14) will take place December 1-12, 2008, in Poznan, Poland. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Dr. Paula Dobriansky will lead the U.S. delegation. More
State Department Working With ATF Canine Branch to Combat Wildlife Trafficking: More
Joint Statement by the United States and Brazil Announcing the Expansion of Cooperation on Biofuels to Advance Energy Security and Promote Sustainable Development (Nov. 20)
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
Statement by Deputy Assistant Secretary Daniel A. Reifsnyder, Doha, Qatar (Nov. 19)
Panel Discussion: From Poznan to Copenhagen via Washington
Under Secretary Dobriansky attends the Conference on Rising to the Challenge of Climate Change Globally and in the U.S. (Nov. 10) Full Text
Global Positioning System (GPS)
The U.S. and Japan convened a plenary meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on November 10, 2008 to review and discuss matters of importance regarding cooperation in the civil use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and GPS augmentations (Nov. 10) Joint Statement
Under Secretary Jeffery Presents 2008 Secretary of State's Awards for Corporate Excellence (Nov.6) Remarks
The U.S. will host the 32nd Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) in Baltimore, Maryland, April 6-17, 2009. The ATCM is the major annual diplomatic event related to Antarctica, and will include the participation of nearly 400 diplomats, Antarctic program managers and logistics experts, and polar scientists from 47 countries, including 28 Consultative Parties. Visit ATCM2009.gov.
The United States and the Law of the Sea Convention
Remarks by John B. Bellinger, III, Legal Adviser (Nov. 3) |
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