OES Overseas

Around the world, countries are facing new and growing environmental challenges, many of which require regional cooperation to solve. Bringing nations together in a region to work on a common environmental problem -- a common threat -- can advance U.S. interests in ways that go far beyond the scope of the environmental issue itself. The Department's commitment to a regional strategy complements our bilateral and multilateral diplomatic environmental efforts.

Environment, Science and Technology and Health (ESTH) Officers Around the World
There are approximately fifty Foreign Service officers located in embassies around the world who focus exclusively on Environment, Science and Technology and Health (ESTH) issues within our bilateral diplomatic relationships. They engage our allies on the full range of OES issues, such as, oceans and fisheries; conservation; protection of marine mammals and wildlife; water; cooperation on satellites and global positioning systems; bilateral science cooperation; health policy; environmental capacity building under our Free Trade Agreements, and climate change and renewable energy, among others. In addition, ESTH Officers represent U.S. positions in multilateral fora at the U.S. Missions to the United Nations in New York City and Geneva, and at the U.S. Mission to the European Union. ESTH Officers work closely with other USG agencies and support their efforts by raising key issues at the diplomatic level. They cooperate with non-governmental organizations to raise awareness of ESTH issues, promote good environmental governance and public participation, and advocate the use of ESTH core issues to strengthen diplomatic relations.

Regional Environmental Hubs

To address transboundary environmental issues, and to support officers working on OES issues, the Department established 12 regional environmental Hubs, located in embassies around the world. The Hub concept is based on the idea that transboundary environmental problems can best be addressed through regional cooperation. The regional environmental officer's role complements the traditional bilateral Environment, Science, Technology and Health officers stationed in U.S. embassies in many countries of the world. Rather than dealing with a single country, Hub officers engage with several countries of a region on a particular issue, with the aim of promoting regional environmental cooperation, sharing of environmental data, and adoption of environmentally sound policies that will benefit all countries in that area.

Like the bilateral officers, the Hubs work closely with other USG agencies and support their efforts by raising key issues at the diplomatic level. They cooperate extensively with non-governmental organizations, and regional organizations on environmental activities within their region. 
Date: 03/03/2009 Description: U.S. Science Fellow Michael Solecki training NOSDRA Environmental Officers in Abuja. State Dept Photo

The U.S. Trains 64 Nigerian Environmental Officers on Oil Spill Detection and Recovery Techniques and Methods

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Specialist and 2009 Science Fellow Michael Solecki is in Nigeria for 12 weeks providing technical assistance and training for several Nigerian organizations. Under the program, twenty one mid-level environmental officers from the National Oil Spill Detention and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and the Pipeline Product Marketing Company (PPMC) have received three-weeks of training on oil spill detection and clean-up and restoration of affected areas. Click here for more information.
Date: 03/05/2009

Mission Environmental Awareness Activities Target Youth in IndonEsia

U.S. Embassy Jakarta hosted an event for local schoolchildren to promote educational activities to increase environmental awareness and stewardship. Schoolchildren participated in the creation of panel depicting Indonesian wildlife and farming scenes. Post later compiled those images into a calendar (shown) that has been shared at additional environment-themed outreach events and with Indonesian environmental NGOs and schools. Click here for more information on U.S. support for Forest Conservation in Asia.


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