U.S. Climate Action Report - 2002

by U.S. Department of State

Climate change is a long-term problem, decades in the making, that cannot be solved overnight. A real solution must be durable, science-based, and economically sustainable. In particular, we seek an environmentally sound approach that will not harm the U.S. economy, which remains a critically important engine of global prosperity. We believe that economic development is key to protecting the global environment. In the real world, no one will forego meeting basic family needs to protect the global com­ mons. Environmental protection is neither achievable nor sustainable without opportunities for continued development and greater prosperity. Our objective is to ensure a long-term solution that is environmentally effective, economically efficient and sustainable, and appropriate in terms of addressing the urgent problems of today while enhancing our ability to deal with future problems. Protecting the global environment is too important a responsibility for anything less. In this U.S. Climate Action Report, we provide our third formal national communication under the Framework Convention, as envisioned under Articles 4 and 12 of the Convention. We describe our national circumstances, identify existing and planned policies and measures, indicate future trends in greenhouse gas emissions, outline expected impacts and adaptation measures, and provide information on financial resources, technology transfer, research, and systematic observations.

270 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2015

About the author

The United States Department of State (DOS), often referred to as the State Department , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministry of other countries. The Department was created in 1789 and was the first executive department established.

The Department is headquartered in the Harry S Truman Building located at 2201 C Street, NW, a few blocks away from the White House in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C. The Department operates the diplomatic missions of the United States abroad and is responsible for implementing the foreign policy of the United States and U.S. diplomacy efforts. The Department is also the depositary for more than 200 multilateral treaties.

The Department is led by the Secretary of State, who is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate and is a member of the Cabinet. The current Secretary of State is John Kerry. The Secretary of State is the first Cabinet official in the order of precedence and in the presidential line of succession.