US Mission Geneva

Degradation of the land supporting human life and the food supply is an environmental threat that endangers the lives and livelihoods of more than 1 billion people worldwide. On September 20, world leaders met in a high-level U.N. forum for the first time to address desertification and drought.

The world may finally be on its way toward a legally binding treaty that includes all major greenhouse gas emitters and compensates nations most vulnerable to climate change.

Today I am pleased to announce that we secured the Cancun Agreements, a set of balanced international decisions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) which represent meaningful progress in our global response to climate change.

“The United States today officially announced its desire to associate with the Copenhagen Accord and submitted its emissions reduction target to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The U.S. submission reflects President Obama’s continued commitment to meeting the climate change and clean energy challenge through robust domestic and international action that will strengthen our economy, enhance our national security and protect our environment.

Progress is being made towards a meaningful Copenhagen accord – The President believes that continued US leadership can be most productive through his participation at the end of the Copenhagen conference on Dec. 18th rather than on Dec. 9th. The United States will have representation in Copenhagen throughout the negotiating process by State Department negotiators and Cabinet officials…

The White House announced today that President Obama will travel to Copenhagen on Dec. 9 to participate in the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where he is eager to work with the international community to drive progress toward a comprehensive and operational Copenhagen accord.

Improving development and delivery of climate services offers untold economic, environmental, human health, and national security benefits. For these reasons, the U.S. delegation is very pleased with the outcome of this conference, and its decision to establish a Global Framework for Climate Services.

Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Head of Delegation: I’m very excited with this conference. I believe that today will be remembered as the day that climate services were officially born. Just as we depend on all sorts of weather services, soon — if we are successful in our efforts — we can expect a range of science-based climate predictions and services.

It is an honor for me to be here today on behalf of President Obama at the third World Climate Conference. In just over six months, President Obama has dramatically shifted US policy on climate change. He has emphasized that good government depends on good science, and that the scientific evidence of climate change is compelling. He is committed to reducing green house gas pollution, creating clean energy jobs and adapting to climate change already underway. As one of the scientists on the President’s team, and as head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce, it is a special privilege for me to participate in this landmark conference.