Bali Roadmap:  Progress through a Global Effort
 
Bahasa Indonesia

December 4, 2007 -- U.S  Ambassador Cameron R. Hume writes an opinion piece regarding the world’s efforts in addressing climate change:

Starting December 3, the United States joined the other 191 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali, Indonesia. This important meeting is a key step for the global community as it addresses the serious global challenge of climate change. The United States welcomes this opportunity to work constructively with other nations to develop a "Bali Roadmap" to chart the way toward agreement on a new global climate change framework by 2009.

We seek a Bali Roadmap that advances negotiations under the UNFCCC and develops a post-2012 framework that both addresses climate change and strengthens energy security.

The United States believes that a post-2012 framework for climate change must be environmentally effective and economically sustainable. Emissions are global, and the solution needs to global. If only some act, no plan can be environmentally effective. Moreover, a future framework must accommodate a diverse range of national circumstances, as well as broad social and economic goals.

At home and abroad the United States is implementing initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security and cut air pollution. Our domestic policy measures include dozens of mandatory, incentive-based, market-based, and voluntary programs to reduce emissions. We have also devoted $37 billion to develop and deploy innovative technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while allowing for economic growth.

We are showing that this can be done. From 2000-2005, the population of the United States grew by 5 percent (14 million people), and GDP grew by 12 percent (about $1.2 trillion) while our greenhouse gas emissions increased by only 1.6 percent. From 2005-2006, our economy grew 2.9 percent, but our greenhouse gas emissions actually decreased 1.5 percent. Internationally, U.S. climate change policies are part of a broad agenda for sustainable development. We have initiated and participate in many international partnerships: for example, the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate and the Methane to Markets Partnership. These partnerships address climate change in ways that promote economic growth and help nations deliver greater prosperity for their people. Building on these successes, the United States convened seventeen of the world's major economies -- representing some 80 percent of the world's economy, energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions -- and the United Nations for an inaugural Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change in September 2007. By working together constructively, the United States believes the Major Economies process can advance discussions under the UNFCCC.

At the Bali conference, we will listen carefully to the ideas of others and share our own efforts and commitment to reach consensus on a "Bali Roadmap" that can guide the international community forward over the coming two years.

Ambassador Hume has been U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia since July.

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