United States of America
UNITED STATES MISSION TO THE UNITED NATIONS
140 East 45 Street
New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel. 212-4154050
FAX 212.415-4053
USUN PRESS RELEASE # 112 (06)
May 10, 2006
FOR rviMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global
Affairs, at the Panel Discussion of Ministers and Business Leaders, in the High-level
Segment of CSD-14, May 10, 2006
Mr. Secretary, I would like to begin my remarks by commending you, CSD-Chairman
Aleksishvili,.his bureau and the CSD secretariat for what has been an outstanding and very
productive CSD energy review session.
Energy is making headlines around the world. The issues of energy supply, security and
sustainability we have been focused on over the past two weeks are of enormous concern
in my country, as I know they are to the citizens of all nations represented at this
conference. Building on a long tradition of clean energy research-and as one of the world
leaders in renewable energy, we are working harder than ever to develop transformational
energy technologies that will reduce our reliance on oil and have far-reaching benefits here
in the U.S . and around the world.
Four years ago in Johannesburg, participants at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development made a commitment to a more action-oriented agenda that would produce
innovative, non-negotiated outcomes . President Bush responded to this challenge by
launching the Clean Energy Initiative, a multi-faceted approach to addressing access to
energy, energy efficiency and environmental quality. This initiative includes four
performance-based market oriented partnerships . They include the Global Village Energy
Partnership, and one of our greatest successes, the Partnership for Clean Fuels and
Vehicles . In 2002, leaded gasoline was used in all but one country in sub-Saharan Africa .
By the end of 2005, with the assistance of the Partnership for Clean Fuels -and Vehicles and
the World Bank, all 49 sub-Saharan African countries had stopped refining and importing
leaded gasoline .
During the World Bank's Energy Week, President Wolfowitz stressed .the catalytic role
energy plays in all areas of development . Energy boosts crop production, drives industry,
and creates jobs . Energy moves water, brings schools into the 21st century, and lights,
heats, and cools health and other facilities around the world. Along with health and
education, energy is an essential precondition for economic growth .
-2
The United States continues to work through a range of partnerships and initiatives that
contribute to meeting global energy objectives, including the Asia-Pacific Partnership for,
Clean Development and Climate. Working with the private sector, APP governments are
developing results-oriented strategies and metrics for success that will significantly
accelerate the uptake of clean energy technologies,
We will need diversity of energy resources and innovative technology options to
accomplish these goals . This includes conventional, advanced, energy efficient and
renewable energy technologies . The active engagement of business and industry in this
effort will be crucial to our ability to provide access to the energy the world will need to
power a 21 St century global economy .
It is also essential that we continue to work to make clean energy technologies more
affordable . That is why the U .S . government has spent over $11 .7 billion since 2001 to
develop cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable alternative energy sources, many of which are
already being marketed here in the U.S. Over the past twenty years, the cost of windgenerated
energy has dropped from 0 cents per kilowatt-hour to nearly five cents . Over
the same period, the cost of a grid-connected residential solar system has dropped from
nearly 2 dollars per kilowatt-hour to around 25 cents .
In the past four years, the Administration has joined in four international research and
development partnerships, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, the International
Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy, - the Generation IV International Forum nuclear
partnership and, the ITER Fusion Partnership . Through our participation in the Global
Village Energy Partnership, we have been able to connect 15 .7 million people with access
to modem energy services.
In November 2004, we launched the Methane to Markets Partnership, which now includes
15 other co=tries and the European Commission (representing over 60 percent of global
methane emissions) . This partnership is focused on advancing cost-effective, near-te,,w
methane recovery to prevent its emission into the atmosphere .
Reducing the costs of energy technology is just one piece of the puzzle . Effective policy
and regulatory frameworks are essential to encourage the level of private sector investment
that will be needed in the coming decades. We .frrmly believe that the drive and ingenuity
of the business sector will be the prime catalyst for the development of energy efficiency
and sustainable energy technologies that will transform the world .
Through the Advanced Energy Initiative, announced by President Bush this year, the
United States will pursue promising technologies that will transform how we power our
vehicles, businesses, and homes. The U.S. is investing heavily in technologies like solar
and wind power and clean coal to power our homes and businesses and plug-in hybrid cars
to reduce our oil dependence . President Bush has also announced the Global Nuclear
Energy Partnership tbrolLgh which America will work with nations that have civilian
nuclear energy programs to develop and deploy advanced reactors and new methods to
recycle spent nuclear fuel.
Americans believe in partnerships, within our families, our communities, our nation, and
with the rest of the world. We also believe that the most effective and efficient
developments in new energy technology will arise from an industry and business sector
that is free to innovate and produce in a stable environment .
When stable, democratic governments and the private sector work together in partnership,
everyone wins. Energy security, access to energy and a sustainable global environment are
goals that we can achieve for the sake of future generations by working together .
140 East 45 Street
New York, N.Y. 10017
Tel. 212-4154050
FAX 212.415-4053
USUN PRESS RELEASE # 112 (06)
May 10, 2006
FOR rviMEDIATE RELEASE
Statement by Paula J. Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global
Affairs, at the Panel Discussion of Ministers and Business Leaders, in the High-level
Segment of CSD-14, May 10, 2006
Mr. Secretary, I would like to begin my remarks by commending you, CSD-Chairman
Aleksishvili,.his bureau and the CSD secretariat for what has been an outstanding and very
productive CSD energy review session.
Energy is making headlines around the world. The issues of energy supply, security and
sustainability we have been focused on over the past two weeks are of enormous concern
in my country, as I know they are to the citizens of all nations represented at this
conference. Building on a long tradition of clean energy research-and as one of the world
leaders in renewable energy, we are working harder than ever to develop transformational
energy technologies that will reduce our reliance on oil and have far-reaching benefits here
in the U.S . and around the world.
Four years ago in Johannesburg, participants at the World Summit on Sustainable
Development made a commitment to a more action-oriented agenda that would produce
innovative, non-negotiated outcomes . President Bush responded to this challenge by
launching the Clean Energy Initiative, a multi-faceted approach to addressing access to
energy, energy efficiency and environmental quality. This initiative includes four
performance-based market oriented partnerships . They include the Global Village Energy
Partnership, and one of our greatest successes, the Partnership for Clean Fuels and
Vehicles . In 2002, leaded gasoline was used in all but one country in sub-Saharan Africa .
By the end of 2005, with the assistance of the Partnership for Clean Fuels -and Vehicles and
the World Bank, all 49 sub-Saharan African countries had stopped refining and importing
leaded gasoline .
During the World Bank's Energy Week, President Wolfowitz stressed .the catalytic role
energy plays in all areas of development . Energy boosts crop production, drives industry,
and creates jobs . Energy moves water, brings schools into the 21st century, and lights,
heats, and cools health and other facilities around the world. Along with health and
education, energy is an essential precondition for economic growth .
-2
The United States continues to work through a range of partnerships and initiatives that
contribute to meeting global energy objectives, including the Asia-Pacific Partnership for,
Clean Development and Climate. Working with the private sector, APP governments are
developing results-oriented strategies and metrics for success that will significantly
accelerate the uptake of clean energy technologies,
We will need diversity of energy resources and innovative technology options to
accomplish these goals . This includes conventional, advanced, energy efficient and
renewable energy technologies . The active engagement of business and industry in this
effort will be crucial to our ability to provide access to the energy the world will need to
power a 21 St century global economy .
It is also essential that we continue to work to make clean energy technologies more
affordable . That is why the U .S . government has spent over $11 .7 billion since 2001 to
develop cleaner, cheaper, and more reliable alternative energy sources, many of which are
already being marketed here in the U.S. Over the past twenty years, the cost of windgenerated
energy has dropped from 0 cents per kilowatt-hour to nearly five cents . Over
the same period, the cost of a grid-connected residential solar system has dropped from
nearly 2 dollars per kilowatt-hour to around 25 cents .
In the past four years, the Administration has joined in four international research and
development partnerships, the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, the International
Partnership for a Hydrogen Economy, - the Generation IV International Forum nuclear
partnership and, the ITER Fusion Partnership . Through our participation in the Global
Village Energy Partnership, we have been able to connect 15 .7 million people with access
to modem energy services.
In November 2004, we launched the Methane to Markets Partnership, which now includes
15 other co=tries and the European Commission (representing over 60 percent of global
methane emissions) . This partnership is focused on advancing cost-effective, near-te,,w
methane recovery to prevent its emission into the atmosphere .
Reducing the costs of energy technology is just one piece of the puzzle . Effective policy
and regulatory frameworks are essential to encourage the level of private sector investment
that will be needed in the coming decades. We .frrmly believe that the drive and ingenuity
of the business sector will be the prime catalyst for the development of energy efficiency
and sustainable energy technologies that will transform the world .
Through the Advanced Energy Initiative, announced by President Bush this year, the
United States will pursue promising technologies that will transform how we power our
vehicles, businesses, and homes. The U.S. is investing heavily in technologies like solar
and wind power and clean coal to power our homes and businesses and plug-in hybrid cars
to reduce our oil dependence . President Bush has also announced the Global Nuclear
Energy Partnership tbrolLgh which America will work with nations that have civilian
nuclear energy programs to develop and deploy advanced reactors and new methods to
recycle spent nuclear fuel.
Americans believe in partnerships, within our families, our communities, our nation, and
with the rest of the world. We also believe that the most effective and efficient
developments in new energy technology will arise from an industry and business sector
that is free to innovate and produce in a stable environment .
When stable, democratic governments and the private sector work together in partnership,
everyone wins. Energy security, access to energy and a sustainable global environment are
goals that we can achieve for the sake of future generations by working together .
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