Restoring U.S. Leadership Internationally
At the start of the Obama administration our nation's international influence was severely lacking. President Obama's policy of reengagement, led by Secretary Hillary Clinton, has been well received around the world.
- Obama's personal leadership was critical to securing the Copenhagen Accord. In 13 hours of concerted negotiations, he helped bridge key differences between developed and developing countries, including China and India.
- During President Obama's visit to China in November, the countries announced a package of clean energy cooperation initiatives in energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric vehicles, carbon capture and storage, a U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center, and a U.S.-China Energy Cooperation Program intended to engage the private sector.
- Visits to India by Secretary of State Clinton and Secretary of Energy Chu, and a high-level U.S.- India Energy Partnership Summit in Washington, culminated in a Green Partnership between the US and India. It includes agreements to enhance cooperation on energy security, energy efficiency, clean energy and climate change; partnering on solar and wind research; reducing emissions from deforestation; and support from the U.S. EPA to establish India's new National Environmental Protection Authority.
- During the Fifth Summit of the Americas, President Obama launched the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, which aims to deepen hemispheric cooperation on addressing climate change. The DOE since signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with Chile to provide renewable energy technical expertise as well as a Renewable Energy Center in Chile, with future centers expected in Peru and Mexico.
- Quickly moved to curb nuclear weapons and proliferation. Obama outlined a new approach to nuclear security, which for the first time, explicitly lays out concrete steps toward a world without nuclear weapons. Terminating near-term U.S. commercial production of plutonium is a major step forward for nuclear security and fiscal sanity.
- the State Department in concert with the United Nations, agreed to negotiate a legally binding instrument to control global mercury use and emissions, a complete shift from previous years.
Looking Ahead: Expectations for 2010
At the top of the list is the need to continue to push Congress to pass comprehensive, effective clean energy and climate legislation, and sound transportation policy. Passing these bills will literally move America into a new direction on energy security. Internationally, the Obama administration will need to continue to engage with other countries to forge a strong binding global agreement on climate change, including increasing the transparency, verification and enforcement of carbon pollution reduction efforts.
The laundry list of steps the Obama Administration has taken over the past 12 months demonstrate that when it comes to governing America, citizens need to look below the surface to understand the plethora of decisions and actions necessary to protect the health of our citizens and our natural environment.
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http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/obamarecord/
