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U.S. Official Discusses U.S. Climate Change Policy

USINFO webchat transcript February 27

Harlan Watson, a senior negotiator and special representative at the U.S. Department of State on climate change issues, answered questions on climate change in a special two-part USINFO webchat with audiences in East Asia and Europe.

Following is the transcript:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
USINFO Webchat Transcript

Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change: U.S. Policy and Partners in East Asia and Europe

Guest:     Harlan Watson
Date:      February 27, 2007
Time:      9:00 a.m. EST (1400 GMT)

IIP Moderator: Welcome to this special webchat for participants in Asia and Europe. Dr. Harlan Watson will be online to answer your questions today. Please note, the first hour of this webchat will focus on questions from our participants in Asia, in he second hour Dr. Watson will answer questions from Europe.

For participants in Asia: 13:00-14:00 GMT
For participants in Europe: 14:00-15:00 GMT

You are encouraged to send in your questions any time before the live event….

Question [Ben]: Shouldn't the U.S. cut its carbon emissions even if India and China don't? What do you think the cost of Kyoto would be for the U.S.?

Answer [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The U.S. is working to cut carbon emissions as are India and China. Most countries in the world are working to develop and deploy cleaner and more efficient technologies that will reduce emissions.

This is being undertaken for many reasons: energy security, air pollution, as well as climate change are major considerations. And so we are all working towards the same goal for a variety of reasons.

Kyoto would have required cuts to U.S. emissions by about 35-40 percent. This would have had a devastating effect on the U.S. economy. Estimates ranged from about $400 billion annually, resulting in the loss of approximately 4.9 million jobs.

Q [Julio]: Is China even considering Kyoto? How does China stack up to the U.S. in regards to pollution?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: China has ratified the Kyoto protocol and is following its dictates, however, under the terms of Kyoto, China is not required to reduce its emissions.

China is making great progress in deploying new and better technologies, however, like the U.S. and other countries much more needs to be done. 

Q [Sandra]: If money wasn't an object, what would you have the U.S. do differently to end climate change? 

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Money alone will not end climate change.

Climate has changed throughout the Earth's history due to natural causes alone. However, we do realize that modern society is having an impact and we are working to reduce that effectively.

We are working to develop and deploy new and cleaner technologies to address climate change and are spending about $3 billion annually in the U.S. alone.

However, money alone does not guarantee success, so one must be careful not to equate government money spent with guaranteed success. The key is to properly incentivize the private sector who has both the expertise and the bulk of the resources needed.

Q [ribbons]: How does the U.S. plan to co-operate with Asian countries including China to promote the APP plan in reducing carbon dioxide and methane?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The U.S. is working with China both bilaterally and through multilateral technology partnerships to address greenhouse gas emissions.

Our major effort is through the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate where the U.S. is working with China, Australia, India, South Korea, and Japan to develop and deploy cleaner technologies that will improve energy security and reduce harmful air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. These six countries comprise about 1/2 the world's economy, 1/2 the population, and 1/2 the world's energy consumption.

We are working together through the partnership to address eight major sectors: aluminum, buildings and appliances, cleaner fossil energy, cement, coal mining, renewable energy, and distributed generation, power generation and transmission, and steel.

What is unique about this partnership is the involvement of the private sector from each of the six countries who are active participants in these efforts.

The partnership has approved nearly 100 projects in these eight sectors that if successful will have a major impact on improving the efficiency as well as lowering their greenhouse gas emissions through the deployment of cleaner technologies.

Q [IRC Cairo]: Dr. Watson, climate change and sea-level rise present major risks in every region of the world; HOW TO FACILITATE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION?
- Ali

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The U.S. works both bilaterally, regionally, and multilaterally with many countries around the world to address climate change.

We believe that working together to develop and deploy cleaner technologies is the best approach to all countries around the world.

The approach will not only have benefits for climate, but also address other important issues including energy security and air pollution while allowing for economic growth to better the welfare of citizens all around the world.

IIP Moderator: Learn more about how the U.S. is working with international partners by reading the U.S. State Department, Bureau of International Information Programs' eJournal USA "Clean Energy Solutions" available online in several languages.

Q [Yunus ARIKAN]: The U.S. delegation signed the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 but waited until 2001 to declare that it is totally unacceptable. What has happened between 1997 and 2001 so that the U.S. first accepted the Protocol and then stepped out of it?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: In June of 1997 prior to the approval of the Kyoto Protocol in December 1997, the U.S. Senate who must approve all international agreements by a 2/3 majority unanimously approved a resolution stating that the U.S. should not enter into any agreement that would cause severe harm to the U.S. economy or that did not include binding commitment for all countries of the world.

If the U.S. had ratified and followed the Kyoto Protocol, it would have caused severe harm to our economy.

In addition, Kyoto exempts developing countries from any binding commitments to address emissions.

The previous administration did work very hard with a number of developing countries to try to gain their acceptance of binding targets but were unsuccessful.

Also during this period, U.S. emissions continued to grow -- that by 2001 the U.S. was about 20 percent above its Kyoto target with emissions expected to grow by 35-40 percent above its Kyoto targets by 2010.

As noted earlier this would have caused severe harm to the U.S. economy.

Q [Ebru ENOL]: As by knowing the strength and the power of your country over any other nations around the world, any other establishment about this issue can be prepared with the related countries for combined work.

Would you attend that kind of alliance with proper conditions? Or would you perform any other alternative solution for the attendance of the whole world countries?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The U.S. and 187 nations in the world are parties to the UN Framework convention on climate change.

We believe this is the appropriate multilateral form to address the issue. However, as I noted earlier, we are also working together with other countries in a variety of other fora including the G8 and other bilateral and multilateral partnerships, all of which contribute to the goals and objectives of the convention.

Q [ribbons]: In regards to America’s 10/20 plan, is there any experience that China can leverage?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: In his State of the Union speech in January, President Bush set a goal for the U.S. to reduce gas consumption by 20 percent in 10 years through the use of renewable and alternative fuels and by increasing fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks.

This will require 35 billion gallons of renewable and alternative fuels by 2012, which is nearly five times the 2012 target now in law.

We are working domestically and in partnership internationally with a number of countries including China to develop and deploy more efficient technologies to produce renewable fuels.

IIP Moderator: Learn more about President Bush's proposal to cut gas consumption in the following USINFO article, "Vehicle Fuel Economy Plan Could Benefit Environment."

Q [Sandra]: I read Beijing and New Delhi received unwelcome focus in a report of the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Can you elaborate on the contents of the report?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is currently in the process of completing its work on it 4th assessment report.

This effort covers three areas: science, vulnerability of impacts, and mitigation. In Paris in early February, the IPCC approved the science report.

Among its findings were that over the past 100 years there has been a warming of over 0.7 degrees Centigrade and there is "very high confidence that the globally average net effect of human activities since 1750 has been one of warming."

Q [Ebru ENOL]: The obtained information indicates us that U.S. is one of the countries use renewable energy resources. But also we can see that the carbon dioxide emission of U.S. is in high proportions. Is not this a contradiction? Can you explain your view of biofuels and renewable energy resources, are not they alternative energy resources to fossil fuels? 

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The U.S. like most countries in the world is heavily dependent on fossil fuels.

For example about 50% of our electricity is generated by coal fired power plants and our transportation system like those of nearly all countries is heavily dependent on oil.

We are however working to increase the use of renewable energy including solar, wind, biomass and biofuels. We are also working hard to improve the energy efficiency of our economy.

This approach is being followed by nearly all countries in the world, but it will take decades and trillions of dollars of investment to move both the U.S. and the world's energy systems to a less fossil fuel dependent state.

Q [Sandra]: Does Chinese development play a part in climate change?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Given today's technologies, economic growth is closely linked with greenhouse gas emissions.

China, along with many nations around the world, are experiencing robust economic growth that is leading to increased emissions.

However, we believe that economic growth is the solution not the problem. Economic growth will provide the resources needed to invest and deploy newer and cleaner technologies. Economic growth is also vital to reduce poverty and to better the lives of all people.

Q [pepe]: Are climate change and the green house effect synonymous terms?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: No they are not.

Q [villas]: Achim Steiner said in an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper that U.S. and Asia were now moving faster in the fight against climate change than Europe, which he said has grown complacent.

"The Americans and Asians are catching up quickly and are becoming strong business competitors (with green technologies)," Steiner said, in excerpts of the interview.

Do you agree? What Asian countries are greenest right now?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Most countries whether the U.S., Asia, or Europe are making progress in address to climate change.

It's true that within the past few years the U.S. has reduced its rate of emission growth faster than many European countries, but most countries are making the same rate of progress.

Q [Jacek]: I understand that EU countries actually increased CO2 emissions in the last few years, FASTER than the U.S. This shows just how hard it is to "outlaw" global warming. Really addressing the problem will require significantly higher energy prices and greater use of nuclear power. Do you think the world is ready for that?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The U.S. believes that nuclear power will need to be part of the world's energy mix.

Nuclear power is very important in addressing greenhouse gases in the U.S. since it supplies nearly 20% of our energy use. We also believe that nuclear power must be part of the technology mix that continues to be used and deployed for it is the only large scale zero emission electricity generation technology available.

Q [Agnes]: In a defense of George Bush's record, U.S. Ambassador C. Boyden Gray, said the U.S. was doing its share in tackling global warming and leading the world in developing technology to beat climate change.

Can you tell us some of the technologies he was talking of? Is the U.S. close to any really important breakthroughs?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Yes, we are working on a broad portfolio of cleaner technologies including energy efficiency, clean coal, nuclear, and renewables.

A potential breakthrough technology is carbon capture and storage. We know that coal is plentiful throughout the world and will be used to produce electricity for decades to come. Caron capture and storage technology will allow coal to be used with near zero greenhouse gas emissions.

There are also potential breakthroughs in advanced nuclear technologies as well as in biofuels.

Q [villas]: The EU's environment commissioner earlier this month said Germany's lack of progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions was holding back international efforts to combat global warming.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has vowed to make fighting climate change a centrepiece of Germany's twin EU and G8 presidencies. But Germany's recent track record on cutting carbon dioxide emissions is poor. It vowed to cut these by 21 per cent from 1990 to 2012 under the Kyoto Protocol but has slipped away from the target.

What are your views on this?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Germany has one of the best performances of any developed country meeting its obligations under the Kyoto Protocol and we are pleased to be working with Germany bilaterally, through the G8 where Germany currently has the presidency, and through a number of multilaterally through partnerships that address climate change.

Q [dgole]: Mr. Watson do you think that if the democrats win the election, they would change the stance regarding to the reduction of GHG gas emissions and Kyoto Protocol?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Climate Change is a bipartisan concern and both Republicans and Democrats are considering potential legislation to address the issue.

There are many differing views on how to best address the issue, but with few exceptions there is little support for the U.S. joining the Kyoto Protocol.

Q [Yunus ARIKAN]: I am a bit confused about the GHG emission reduction figures of EU and U.S. According to UNFCCC Secretariat between 1990-2004, U.S. emissions rose from 6,1 billion ton CO2-eq to 7,1 billion t CO2-eq (+15,8%). In the same period EU15 emissions stayed almost same around 4,2 billion ton CO2-eq(-0,6%). Can you elaborate your rationale on how U.S. emission reduction were higher than EU reductions?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: It is true that for the period from 1990 to 2004 the EU-15 has a smaller growth in greenhouse gas emission than the U.S.

However from 2001 to 2004, covering the first four years of the Bush presidency, the U.S. emission growth has been less than the EU-15 as a whole and for most of the individual member states of the EU-15.

Q [Agnes]: Ambassador C. Boyden Gray recently said Europe's carbon emissions trading system "simply isn't working."

Is this your position too and why isn't it working?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: The U.S. has had a great success in the past in addressing and using cap in trade systems in addressing specific pollutants such as sulfur dioxide.

Key to that success was the availability of low-cost technology, the availability of low cost, low sulfur coal, and a rigorous monitoring system. These attributes do not apply to emissions of carbon dioxide.

The European trading system is the 1st large-scale cap in trade system designed to address carbon dioxide emissions. As might be expected with any such first of a kind experiment there is a learning curve.

We are closely following the progress being made.

Q [Guest]: Dear sir, earlier you said not to equate government money spent with guaranteed success in fighting global warming. I agree, but what about money DRIVING private sector to change. Example: Climate change market exchange in Chicago. Private firms sell/trade emission "credits". Does your government support this approach?

If firms can find a profit and end result is lower emissions, we all win?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: We believe in providing a number of incentives to spur private sector action and have in place a number of mandatory, voluntary, and positive incentives to accomplish this.

The Chicago climate exchange is one such voluntary approach being done by the private sector to address the greenhouse gas emissions and a number of U.S. states are also in the process of establishing such trading schemes.

We welcome such approaches on a voluntary basis because addressing climate change will require a broad range of actions.

Q [dgole]: You have mentioned "differing views on how to address the issue."

What is your opinion on addressing the issue briefly?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Among the differing views are the relative mix of near-term voluntary, mandatory, and incentive-based actions to address climate change.

There is however a broad bipartisan support on the importance of developing and deploying cleaner technologies that address climate change.

We believe that all of these are important.

Q [Julio]: Why has Bush been more supportive of climate change in the past two months?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Actually climate change has been an important issue for President Bush since he took office in 2001 and he has addressed the subject on numerous occasions.

Under his leadership, the U.S. has in place over 60 federal programs and has spent over $29 billion on climate change programs. In addition, the U.S. has been a leader in establishing a broad range of bilateral and multilateral partnerships, including major multilateral technology partnerships that involve the major emitters of the world.

Q [Yunus ARIKAN]: What is the approach of the federal government towards the growing collaboration of the European partners with the state level actors (e.g. California, Chicago, New York) in the U.S. on Kyoto-minded actions?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: We welcome all constructive actions to address climate change in ways that promote economic growth.

IIP Moderator: USINFO's "Global Issues -- Environment" webpage has links to articles, publications, and documents in many languages that provide background on President Bush's commitment to meeting the challenge of climate change.

Q [Ian]: Can you give us an example of places where the rising oceans threaten people or property?

What are the timeframes for ocean level increases? Two inches a year?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Obviously examples are low lying coastal areas which are prevalent around the world.

The latest IPCC projection on sea-level rise is approximately 3/10 of a meter per century which will require those with coastal areas to take adaptive measures.

Q [online chat2]: When Katrina hit, it signaled the beginning of might hurricanes that would forever plague the U.S.

When hurricanes didn't hit the U.S. in 2006, the environmentalists said it was because of global warming that it was such a week season.

Very frustrating, how can these people have it both ways?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: No single extreme weather event can be attributed to global warming. The scientific community is currently examining whether or not global warming might lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of hurricanes and there is currently no scientific consensus.

Q [Moon]: Leaving aside governments' recent efforts, are average Americans as seized with climate change as the average European appears to be? What recent studies or surveys have been done to indicate how Americans feel and what changes they (Americans) are prepared to make to deal with climate change?

A [Dr. Harlan Watson]: Climate change is an issue for major segments of the American public and this is being reflected in a focus by the U.S. Congress.

There are multiplicity of views on how to best address the issue.

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this webchat today.

To reiterate, the U.S. believes that climate change is an important issue. Our climate policies are part of a broader sustainable development agenda: Countries in the developing world are justifiably focused on economic growth and providing for the health, education, and other needs of their citizens. The U.S. believes that climate policies should recognize and complement these priorities.

IIP Moderator: We would like to thank Dr. Harlan Watson for spending the past two hours online with us. A transcript of today's webchat will be available on our USINFO webchat station within one business day. The webchat is now closed.