Remarks of Consul General Beth A. Payne on Climate Change at Sikkim University (October 7, 2010)

October 7, 2010

Prof. Mahendra P. Lama, Vice Chancellor of Sikkim University
Faculty of Sikkim University
And, most importantly, students of Sikkim University

Thank you for welcoming me to your beautiful university this morning.  This is my first visit to Sikkim, and I am amazed by the pristine natural beauty, and the warmth and hospitality of everyone I have met.

Today, I would like to talk to you about one of the most defining challenges of our times – climate change.  Nestled in the Himalayas, your state covers a relatively small geographical area but is so rich in bio-diversity.  It is very important to conserve this environment and the valuable species of flora and fauna in it. 

More than half of your people are dependent on agriculture as their livelihood, which makes it imperative that we protect the natural environment and resources from the adverse impacts of rising temperatures, changing rain and snow fall patterns, and receding glaciers. 

I am very happy to know that the Sikkim government has taken the initiative to develop a State Level Action Plan to address the challenges of climate change.  Good planning and efficient implementation of climate adaptation and mitigation actions will ensure livelihoods security, and sustainable development of this fragile eco region.

In my country, the United States, at no time in its history has the government been more dedicated and engaged—both at home and abroad, at the federal, state, and local levels—to addressing the climate change challenge and identifying opportunities to work together, as a global community, toward a more secure climate future.

Since he assumed office, President Obama has moved quickly to establish new federal policies and measures designed to transform the United States into a leader for global efforts to address the global climate challenge.

In the past….

In the past year, the United States has demonstrated a renewed commitment to addressing climate change at home.  We have all heard about the United States Economic Recovery Act, but not enough attention has been given to the fact that fully one-sixth of those funds are going towards renewable energy and other green goals.  The United States is investing over $90 billion in clean energy through the economic recovery act – including the largest ever renewable energy investment in United States history.

President Obama is working with the American Congress to advance comprehensive climate and energy legislation that would promote clean energy investments and lower United States greenhouse gas emissions by more than 80 percent below current levels by 2050.  You may have seen that the draft bill submitted to Congress has encountered some setbacks, but the administration has made clear that its dedication to achieving its climate change goals has not wavered.  I anticipate we will see renewed focus on this issue in the coming year. 

Many state governments are already reducing green house gas emissions from voluntary measures, such as tax credits, to legislative mandates, such as state green house gas caps.  As of November 2009, 23 of the 50 states had adopted their own green house gas reduction targets.  In 2006, California became the first state to adopt legislation specifying mandatory green house gas reductions.  For example, California’s Global Warming Solution Act has capped the state’s green house gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2020.

But action by the United States alone is not enough.  Climate change is a global challenge that demands a global solution.  Coordination and leadership from India and the United States were critical to concluding the Copenhagen Accord at the UN climate conference in December 2009.  

The resulting Copenhagen Accord outlines key elements that are essential to a long term solution to the climate change challenge:

--adopts the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2 degrees Celsius;

--identifies actions by all major economies to mitigate climate change;

--calls for transparency to see that those actions are taken;

--and establishes financing and technology support to help the poorest and most vulnerable developing nations.

The United States is committed to the full implementation of the Copenhagen Accord.  As part of this commitment, we are working together with our partners to provide “fast start” climate finance approaching $30 billion during the period 2010-2012 to help meet the adaptation and mitigation needs of developing countries.  As we work to increase climate finance in the short term, we will continue to work with the international community to make operational the longer term financing provisions of the Accord.  These include the goals of establishing the Copenhagen Green Climate Fund and to mobilize jointly $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries.

Copenhagen is….

Copenhagen is a critical step, but it is not the end of the process.

It is important for the global community to continue to make progress and find common ground on essential issues like mitigation, transparency, financing, adaptation and technology in the lead up to the United Nations Climate Conference at Cancun in December 2010 and beyond. 

The United States continues to support a legally binding regime– provided that the regime is symmetrical and imposes legally binding obligations on all major players in a balanced way.  Climate change is a global problem that demands a global solution and cannot be solved without commitments from all major emitters.  If the parties are not prepared for that kind of legally binding agreement yet, we can still make meaningful progress in Cancun.

Ultimately, an international climate agreement must not be just about limiting carbon emissions but must complement and promote sustainable economic development by moving the world toward a low-carbon economy.  The United States has elevated climate change and clean energy issues to the top of our bilateral agenda with key partners like India.  For example, Energy and Climate Change is one of the five key pillars of the United States–India Strategic Dialogue.  While emerging market economies like India do need to work towards addressing climate change, we recognize India’s important development needs.  By combining the expertise and creativity of our two great nations, we can and will find ways to achieve sustainable development with low carbon impact. 

During Prime Minister Singh’s visit to the United States last November, he and President Obama launched a Green Partnership.  Our two leaders agreed upon a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation on Energy Security, Energy Efficiency, Clean Energy, and Climate Change.  President Obama and Prime Minister Singh also launched an Indo-United States Clean Energy Research and Deployment Initiative that will harness United States and Indian public and private funding to foster innovation and deployment of new, clean energy technologies.

The Initiatives’ work is complemented by two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) on Solar Energy and Wind Energy.  Through the MOU on Solar Energy, the United States National Renewable Energy Lab will partner with India’s Solar Energy Centre to develop a comprehensive nation-wide map of solar energy potential.  More than two dozen United States and Indian cities will partner to promote solar energy deployment.  The MOU on Wind Energy between National Renewable Energy Lab and India’s Centre for Wind Energy Technology focuses on supporting efforts to develop a low-wind speed turbine technology program.

We are also working together in bilateral and multilateral fora to promote the efficient and environmentally responsible use of coal, especially in clean coal technology, the capture and utilization of coal bed and coal mine methane, waste coal management, and underground coal gasification.  With India, we are increasing cooperation on unconventional natural gas, including on natural gas hydrates and shale gas. 

Our two countries…. 

Our two countries are exploring ways to cooperate to reduce emissions from land use, including deforestation, forest degradation, enhanced sequestration, and sustainable management of forests.  Working with India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests, the United States Environmental Protection Agency will provide technical support for Indian efforts to establish a National Environmental Protection Authority focused on creating a more effective system of environmental governance, regulation and enforcement.

The United States is committed to work with countries around the world, including our key partner India, to ensure that we leave a cleaner, greener world for our children and future generations.

Now, I will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you.