• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
 THE WHITE HOUSEOffice of the Press Secretary _____________________________________________________  _________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASENovember 25, 2009
 
President to Attend Copenhagen Climate Talks
 Administration Announces U.S. Emission Target for Copenhagen
  The White House announced today that PresidentObama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 toparticipate in the United Nations Climate ChangeConference, where he is eager to work with theinternational community to drive progress toward acomprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord. The President has worked steadily on behalf of a positiveoutcome in Copenhagen throughout the year. Based onthe President’s work on climate change over the past 10months – in the Major Economies Forum, the G20,bilateral discussions and multilateral consultations – andbased on progress made in recent, constructivediscussions with China and India’s Leaders, the Presidentbelieves it is possible to reach a meaningful agreementin Copenhagen. The President’s decision to go is a signof his continuing commitment and leadership to find aglobal solution to the global threat of climate change,and to lay the foundation for a new, sustainable andprosperous clean energy future. The White House also announced that, in the context of an overall deal in Copenhagen that includes robustmitigation contributions from China and the otheremerging economies, the President is prepared to put onthe table a U.S. emissions reduction target in the range
 
of 17% below 2005 levels in 2020 and ultimately in linewith final U.S. energy and climate legislation.
 
In light of the President’s goal to reduce emissions 83% by 2050,the expected pathway set forth in this pendinglegislation would entail a 30% reduction below 2005levels in 2025 and a 42% reduction below 2005 in 2030. This provisional target is in line with current legislation inboth chambers of Congress and demonstrates asignificant contribution to a problem that the U.S. hasneglected for too long. With less than two weeks to gountil the beginning of the Copenhagen conference, it isessential that the countries of the world, led by themajor economies, do what it takes to produce a strong,operational agreement that will both launch us on aconcerted effort to combat climate change and serve asa stepping stone to a legally binding treaty. ThePresident is working closely with Congress to passenergy and climate legislation as soon as possible. Underscoring President Obama’s commitment toAmerican leadership on clean energy and combatingclimate change, the White House also announced todaythat a host of Cabinet secretaries and other top officialsfrom across the Administration will travel to Copenhagenfor the conference. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar,Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Commerce SecretaryGary Locke, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, andEnvironmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson are all scheduled to attend, along with Councilon Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, andAssistant to the President for Energy and ClimateChange Carol Browner. For the first time, the U.S. delegation will have a U.S.Center at the conference, providing a unique andinteractive forum to share our story with the world. Inaddition to working with other countries to advance
 
American interests, U.S. delegates will keynote a seriesof events highlighting actions by the ObamaAdministration to provide domestic and global leadershipin the transition to a clean energy economy. Topics willrange from energy efficiency investments and globalcommitments to renewables policy and clean energy jobs. The following keynote events and speakers arecurrently scheduled: ·
 
Wednesday, December 9
th
:
 Taking Action atHome,
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
·
 
Thursday, December 10
th
:
New Energy Future:the role of public lands in clean energy productionand carbon capture,
Secretary of the Interior KenSalazar 
·
 
Friday, December 11
th
:
Clean Energy Jobs in aGlobal Marketplace,
Commerce Secretary Gary Locke
·
 
Monday, December 14
th
:
Leading in EnergyEfficiency and Renewables,
Energy Secretary Steven Chu
·
 
Tuesday, December 15
th
:
Clean EnergyInvestments: creating opportunities for ruraleconomies,
 Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack 
·
 
Thursday, December 17
th
:
Backing UpInternational Agreement with Domestic Action,
CEQ Chair Nancy Sutley and Assistant to thePresident Carol Browner 
  These events will underline the historic progress theObama Administration has made to address climatechange and create a new energy future. In addition topassage of the American Clean Energy and Security Actin the House of Representatives this summer,Administration officials will highlight an impressiveresume of American action and accomplishments overthe last 10 months, including:
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...