Overview of the U.S. President’s Energy Security and Climate Change Initiative

Council on Environmental Quality
Executive Office of the President
Washington, 18 June 2007

Principles

• Economic growth, sustainable development, energy security, and climate change can and must be pursued in an integrated approach
• Advanced clean energy technology is key to achieving objectives
• Effective global effort must include all major emitters and energy users in discussions
• Bottom-up, sector-based approaches are most effective
• One size won’t fit all: national/regional strategies are most realistic

Part One

Develop Post-2012 Framework by End of 2008
• Work with Nations with Most Emissions and Energy Use
• Discuss Long-term Global GHG Emissions Reduction Goal (e.g., 2050)
• Commit to National Mid-term Goals (e.g. 2020, 2030)
- Each country would establish its own GHG emissions targets, goals, and programs according to national circumstances
• Consider Sector-Based Approaches
- Similar to Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
- E.g., power, steel, cement, buildings, transportation
• Develop Parallel National Strategies on Key Technologies
- Energy efficiency, near-zero emission coal, biofuels
• International Review and Reporting Process (“Pledge and Review”)
• Contribute to a Global Agreement Within the UN by 2009

Part Two

UNFCCC Program
Begin Post-2012 Talks
• Using work flowing from Framework Discussions Reinforce Existing Work Programs
• Land Use
- Sustainable forest and agricultural management, stop deforestation and illegal logging
- Cities
• Adaptation
- Build on international development principles and agenda
• Energy Efficiency
- International strategies for worldwide improvement
• Technology Sharing
- Tools to open and accelerate markets for technology

Part Three
Promote Global Transfer and Adoption of Clean, Low-Carbon Energy Technologies
• Develop Transformational Technology
- Increase global R&D funding and cooperation
• Expand Low-Cost Finance Options
- Focus existing development resources and private resources
- Consider new low-cost capital sources to finance investment in transformational technologies (e.g., development banks, OPIC)
• Transfer Technology Globally
- Eliminate tariffs and remove non-tariff barriers to cleaner energy and environmental technologies and services by end of 2007
• Either within DOHA or independently, whichever comes first
- Launch global effort to share government-developed and owned technologies at low or no cost
• Increase Energy Efficiency Through New Partnerships

Timeline
• Further engagement of top emitters and energy users post G-8
- Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, South Korea, others
- Consider focused discussion at September APEC meeting
• US host meeting of leader’s representatives in late 2007
• Advance UNFCCC agenda in Bali
• Evaluate and accelerate progress at G8 in Japan in 2008
• Finalize framework no later than end of 2008