REMARKS: SEC.'S CLINTON AND GEITHNER AT STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE U.S. PRESS CONFERENCE

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Remarks at the Strategic and Economic Dialogue U.S. Press Conference
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner
JW Marriott
Beijing, China
May 4, 2012
MS. NULAND: Thank you all for joining us this evening. As you know, the two Secretaries made statements a little bit earlier with their Chinese counterparts. So we’ll have four questions this evening – two from each side. And our first question goes to AP, Matt Lee, please.

QUESTION: Thank you. Okay. Madam Secretary, it won’t surprise you, I think, to get the questions that you’re about to get from me, which all have to do with the elephant in the room that’s been dogging us --

SECRETARY CLINTON: The elephant that has been dogging us. That’s good – a good start, Matt. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: Dogging us for the last week. So here it goes: What are the current status of the negotiations with the Chinese over the fate of Mr. Chen? How did the Chinese officials that you spoke to, the senior leadership, respond to your appeals on his behalf? Are you confident that they will allow him to leave the country to go to the States with his family so that he can study? And how do you respond to critics at home and elsewhere who say that the Administration has really bungled this? Thank you.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well first, let me start by saying that from the beginning, all of our efforts with Mr. Chen have been guided by his choices and our values. And I’m pleased that today our ambassador has spoken with him again, our Embassy staff and our doctor had a chance to meet with him, and he confirms that he and his family now want to go to the United States so he can pursue his studies.

In that regard, we are also encouraged by the official statement issued today by the Chinese Government confirming that he can apply to travel abroad for this purpose. Over the course of the day, progress has been made to help him have the future that he wants, and we will be staying in touch with him as this process moves forward.
But let me also add, this is not just about well-known activists. It’s about the human rights and aspirations of more than a billion people here in China and billions more around the world. And it’s about the future of this great nation and all nations. We will continue engaging with the Chinese Government at the highest levels in putting these concerns at the heart of our diplomacy.
So I think we have been very clear and very committed to honoring both his choices and our values.

MS. NULAND: Next question goes to Lu Quoi (inaudible) from Xinhua, please.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) This is a question from Xinhua News Agency. What do you think that China and the U.S. will do to build a new relationship between big countries, as China proposed? Some scholars hold that the U.S. want to contend China as it shifts its strategic focus eastward in the high profile. What do you think of such a statement?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Sir, do you want me to start?
Well, I think that, as President Obama and I have said many times, and as we repeated again over the last two days, the United States welcomes a strong, prosperous, and successful China. We want to see China not only deliver economic prosperity for its large population, but also play a key role in world affairs. And our countries and our peoples gain far more from cooperation then from competition, so we are committed to pursuing a positive, cooperative, comprehensive relationship.

And I want to underscore the importance of events like this 4th Annual Strategic and Economic Dialogue. We use it to maximize mutual understanding and areas of cooperation while also speaking frankly to one another about those areas about which we have disagreements. Now, given all that we are doing together bilaterally, regionally, and globally, we need this kind of open, regular mechanism for strengthening our partnership and managing those areas where there are tensions and differences.

I said something earlier today that I would repeat for you, because together the United States and China are trying to do something that is historically unprecedented, to write a new answer to the age-old question of what happens when an established power and a rising power meet. And for the United States, we see this as an opportunity, not a threat. We look at the future with great optimism. And we believe that neither of us can afford to keep looking at the world through old lenses, whether it’s the legacy of imperialism, the Cold War, or balance-of-power politics. Zero sum thinking will lead to negative sum results.

And so instead, what we are trying to do is to build a resilient relationship that allows both of our nations to thrive without unhealthy competition, rivalry, or conflict while meeting our national, regional, and global responsibilities.

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Perhaps I could just add two examples of the commitment that the Secretary laid out on the economic and financial side. As many of you know, we’ve been very supportive of trying to make sure that China not only has a seat at the table in the most important for a globally for discussing international, economic and financial issues, but we’ve been very supportive of expanding China’s role, its relative influence, in those major institutions. And it underscores our recognition that our interests are completely consistent with a rising, growing, stronger kind of China economically and financially.

MS. NULAND: Next question, Ian Katz from Bloomberg, please.

QUESTION: Thank you. For Secretary Geithner, do you think the yuan needs to strengthen as much as you thought it did two years ago, or a year ago? And at what point – and do you know at one point it is strengthened enough?

And also – and if I could, I wanted also to follow up a question to Madam Secretary. Do you believe that the Chinese are – the Chinese government is serious about wanting to find a resolution to the Chen situation?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: On the exchange rate, let me just describe the full scope of what’s happened on that front over the last three years or so. China’s yuan has allowed the exchange rate to appreciate against the dollar by about 13 percent in real terms over the last 20, 22 months or so, more than 40 percent in real terms over the last five years or so. That’s very consequential.

They acted just recently to widen the ban to allow the exchange rate to move in response to market forces. They’ve significantly reduced the amount of intervention in the exchange markets. Their external surplus, their trading current account imbalances have come down very substantially. And they have continued to move progressively to relax the controls on capital movements and encourage greater convertibility, greater international use of the yuan. So if – you want to look at the full scope of those changes to see the extent and the consequence of the Chinese commitment to reform in that context.

Now, it is our view – and it’s the view of the IMF, looking at the broad measures we have available – that the exchange rate is likely to and needs to continue to appreciate further against the dollar and the major currencies. And that’s based on the basic judgment about the fundamentals that drive exchange rates, including what’s likely to be a long period of relatively rapid productivity growth in China.

SECRETARY CLINTON: As I said, we are encouraged by the progress we’ve seen today, but there is more to work to do, so we will stay engaged as this moves forward.

MS. NULAND: And our last question this evening is from Han Wei at HuaSheng.

QUESTION: (Via interpreter) This is a question from HuaSheng Media. As we all know, many new challenges arise between China and the United States while some historical and structural issues still exist and sometimes emerge at the end. What do you think the two sides can do to avoid derailing the world’s most important bilateral relationship?

SECRETARY GEITHNER: Well, as we both said over the last couple of days, you have to start by trying to make sure that we understand as much as we can the broad interests and the intentions of our two nations. And we’ve made a substantial investment in doing that. You have to be open and direct where we disagree. We have to be as clear as possible as we can where our interests are in conflict. And we try to bring that basic spirit and approach to these discussions from the beginning, and I think that’s the only way to do it.

SECRETARY CLINTON: I have to add that this has been a very productive fourth session of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue. It is a testament to how far we’ve come in building a strong and resilient relationship and being able to have very candid, open discussions about issues where there is disagreement without it endangering the entire range of significant matters that we are working on together.
Having participated in all four of the Strategic and Economic Dialogues, I have seen how far we’ve come over the last four meetings and all of the meetings in between. There is no shortcut to spending time listening, exchanging views, looking for ways to build strategic trust and understanding. And it is a long-term proposition. The United States and China have the most consequential relationship of the 21st century. So it is not only the current leadership of our two countries, but leadership for many years to come who have to remain engaged and to use this platform to pursue the kind of mutual respect and mutual benefits that are important to the bilateral relationship but also very important for the global relationships as well.

So having had the privilege along with Secretary Geithner of leading the American side for four dialogues now, I believe that we are building a foundation for future cooperation that will benefit both our nations and the world.
MS. NULAND: Thank you very much, all of you, for joining us.

SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON SPEAKS ABOUT U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Secretary Clinton Hosts a Dinner for the Prime Minister of Japan Yoshihiko Noda
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Washington, DC
April 30, 2012
SECRETARY CLINTON: I want to thank the National Geographic Museum for hosting us this evening as we welcome Prime Minister Noda for his first official visit to Washington. I also want to acknowledge the legendary violinist Midori, who will be playing for us tonight, and our guest chef Bryan Voltaggio. Thank you both very much.

We are here tonight to celebrate the friendship between the United States and Japan. This is a bond between us that promotes security, stability, and prosperity not only in the Asia Pacific but around the world. Our countries are standing side by side to meet the most important challenges of our time.

Japan remains an essential world leader, even in the face of the unspeakable tragedies that it suffered. Americans are inspired by the bravery and resilience of the Japanese people.
In addition to the partnership between our two governments, what is most important about our relationship are the ties between our two peoples. Many of you here tonight have played an important role in strengthening the bonds that our countries share. But we want to be sure that it is not just a relationship of the present and the past, but also one of the future.

That’s why we are working to create opportunities for the young people in both of our countries. Our shared goal is to promote a tomodachi or friendship generation of young people who will be our future leaders. That’s why we have created a private-public partnership, the TOMODACHI Initiative, to bring young people from both countries together. We are looking forward to receiving hundreds of young Japanese students and sending hundreds of young American students, through student exchanges, sports programs, and entrepreneurial programs.

There is no better symbol of our enduring friendship than the cherry blossoms that have been announcing the arrival of springtime in Washington for 100 years. One hundred years ago, the United States received 3,000 cherry trees as a gift of friendship from the Japanese people. Tonight, I am pleased to announce a gift of 3,000 dogwood trees for the people of Japan from the American people. (Applause.) Prime Minister, this gift is commemorated by the plaque behind us, and we hope that these dogwood trees in Japan will, like the cherry trees here, serve as a symbol of the strong relationship and friendship between our countries.

And so, Prime Minister, I would like to offer a toast to the Japanese and American people, to our enduring friendship and partnership, and to a future we build together of peace and prosperity for ourselves and the world. (Applause.)

MARSHALL ISLANDS NATIONAL DAY MAY 1, 2012

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
The Marshall Islands National Day
Press Statement Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Washington, DC
April 27, 2012

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands on the 33rd anniversary of your nation’s independence this May 1.

The United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands enjoy a warm partnership based on mutual respect and mutual interest. Together, we are working to strengthen economic development, improve regional security, combat climate change, and allow more people the opportunity to realize their human rights and fundamental freedoms. We are grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of your citizens serving in the United States Armed Forces, as we work together promoting peace around the world. Congratulations and best wishes for continued peace and prosperity in the year to come.

NEW PRESIDENT OF THE WORLD BANK IS DR. JIM YONG KIM

FROM:  U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT
Dr. Jim Yong Kim Elected World Bank President
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
April 16, 2012
I am delighted that the World Bank Board of Directors has selected Dr. Jim Yong Kim to serve as president through a transparent and competitive process. Dr. Kim is an excellent selection to lead the World Bank forward, build consensus with donor and borrowing countries, and encourage the increasingly important leadership role of developing countries. He has demonstrated a deep commitment to solving some of the most pressing challenges we face. For over 25 years, he has worked to fight disease and hunger by pioneering innovative solutions and investing in people and communities. We look forward to working with Dr. Kim as he shapes an even stronger World Bank. Together, we will help develop economies, build partnerships, and alleviate poverty.

KOREAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT TAKES EFFECT

The following excerpt is from a U.S. State Department e-mail:
 U.S.- Korea Free Trade Agreement Takes Effect
Press Statement Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Washington, DC
March 15, 2012
Today, the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) enters into force, marking an historic milestone that will lead to even more trade and investment between our two countries. KORUS will provide new market access opportunities in Korea’s dynamic trillion dollar economy for U.S. exporters, creating jobs here at home while increasing opportunities for Korean companies in the United States. This agreement is another example of this Administration's commitment to deepening our economic engagement throughout the world.

Not only will the agreement provide a significant economic boost to both of our economies, it will strengthen the U.S. partnership with a key ally in a strategically important region. This is a powerful signal of America's commitment to the Asia Pacific and to securing and sustaining our role as a regional leader and Pacific power. I want to thank President Lee for his leadership on this issue and look forward to both countries fully realizing the promise of this landmark agreement.

TECHWOMEN IN AFRICA

The following excerpt is from a State Department e-mail: U.S. Department of State Announces Expansion of TechWomen to Africa Media Note Office of the Spokesperson Washington, DC March 13, 2012 The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announced today that TechWomen – an international exchange that uses technology as a means to empower women and girls worldwide – will expand to sub-Saharan Africa beginning in 2013. TechWomen will bring women working in the technology sector from Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to the United States for a four to six week mentoring program with their American counterparts in the United States. The U.S. Department of State is currently accepting proposals to administer TechWomen in 2013. Please visit www.grants.gov for more information. Following the U.S. portion of the exchange, U.S. mentors will travel to Africa to conduct workshops and follow-on training for women in the technology sector and young girls who have expressed an interest in pursuing a tech-based career. Launched by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2011, TechWomen builds on her vision of “smart power” diplomacy. It embraces the full range of diplomatic tools, in this case technology, to bring people together for greater understanding and empower women and girls worldwide. TechWomen initially started in the Middle East and North Africa region last year. In September 2012, the U.S. Department of State will bring 42 women from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, and Yemen to the United States for this peer mentorship. TechWomen is currently accepting applications for American mentors. Click here to learn more about serving as a TechWomen mentor. During the 2011 inaugural program, more than 20 leading U.S. companies participated in the public-private partnership by hosting international TechWomen.

VOA TURNS 70

The following excerpt is from a U.S. State Department e-mail:

“Voice of America 70th Anniversary
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Washington, DC
March 8, 2012
For seventy years, the Voice of America has been a trusted source of news and information for millions around the world. Since its birth, VOA has consistently adapted to our rapidly changing world – growing from a radio broadcast service into a vibrant multimedia network that employs every medium there is, from television to Twitter. Still, it remains as true to its mission today as it was in 1942.

In parts of the world where the voice of freedom is muted or muffled, you have stood at the front lines of the struggle for a free media. At times, you risk your lives, or even sacrifice them. Earlier this year, we lost a Pakistani correspondent who, despite multiple threats on his life, dedicated himself to giving his audience fair and accurate reports from his corner of the world. Today, we pay tribute to Mukarram and other members of the VOA family whom we have lost over the years.

We are proud of you and grateful for your work. Time and time again, you defy foreign governments that seek to stifle your signal, piercing through Iron Curtains and electronic ones, for the sake of illuminating the enduring strength of our democratic values. So as you mark your 70th anniversary, I congratulate all of you who have built this worldwide network into what it is today. Thank you for being the Voice of America.”

REMARKS BY U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON AT THE G-20 MEETING

The following excerpt is from a U.S. State Department e-mail:

Press Availability Following the G20 Ministerial Meetings
Remarks Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State Los Cabos, Mexico
February 20, 2012

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, good afternoon. And let me begin by thanking our hosts. It was an absolute pleasure to be here, and I want to express my appreciation to President Calderon, to Secretary Espinosa, and to the entire Mexican team for putting together what has been a quite informative and important gathering. And now that I’ve seen this beautiful place for myself, I can understand why so many whales come here to visit. It is, however, less clear to me why they ever leave, but that’s up to them I suppose.

This has been, for our team coming from the U.S., a great opportunity to discuss matters of important – importance to the bilateral relationship with Mexico, but also to catch up on the full range of regional and global issues that concern us with our – with my colleagues. And I think it’s fair to say, as I made the point in the first working session yesterday, Mexico is emerging as a leader in bringing nations together to solve problems that none of us can solve on our own. And this meeting of foreign ministers from G-20 and beyond is yet another example of that.

Now more than ever, foreign policy and economic policy are inseparable. Prosperity has to be a core foreign policy goal for all of us, and economic forces virtually impact every aspect of how our nations engage. And what’s more, we are increasingly seeing strong connections between traditional G-20 financial issues and questions about economic development, the environment, and good governance. In an age when more people in more places can participate in the global economy, we have to expand the range of partners working to take on our most pressing shared challenges and to work together to take advantage of these new opportunities.

So this has been a very excellent and all too rare chance to connect informally. It was, for me, a great opportunity to kick-off yesterday’s first session on breaking deadlocks in the multilateral system. I discussed some of the challenges to open, free, fair, transparent – transparency in the system of competition that we need if we’re going to continue to expand prosperity and include everyone in it.

Today’s sessions focused on all kinds of issues of great importance. I’ll just mention a few. The role that green growth can and should play – and again, I commend President Calderon, Secretary Espinosa, and the Mexican Government, because they have been leaders in this. The work that came out of Cancun was absolutely essential to what was then the follow-on work in Durban. The very creative idea that President Calderon put on the table back in ’09 for a green growth fund was given more specificity. So across the board, whether it was talking about how we grow our economies, how we create both energy security and a market for renewable energy, how we include more women across the world as full participants in the economy, we covered a lot of important matters.
And then finally, this morning, Secretary Salazar and I were proud to represent the United States as we signed a groundbreaking agreement with Mexico regarding oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. For too long, uncertainty in this area about the reservoirs of oil and gas has impeded our progress and created grounds for dispute instead of cooperation.

Today, the agreement we signed will remove the uncertainty. It will make exploration and production safer, more efficient, more equitable for companies in both countries. It will advance energy security in our hemisphere and help us handle our energy resources more responsibly. And for the first time, American energy firms will be able to collaborate with PEMEX, their Mexican counterpart. That’s a welcome benefit for both Mexico and the United States in these challenging economic times.

So it’s a great pleasure to be here and to renew friendships with a lot of my Mexican contacts and counterparts. I particularly appreciate working with both the president and the secretary, but what is most important is that both of us are intent upon delivering concrete, positive results for the American and Mexican people.
So with that, I’d be happy to take your questions.
MS. NULAND: We’ll take two today. First one from Indira Lakshmanan of Bloomberg.

QUESTION: Thank you, Madam Secretary. We wanted to ask, if the Arab League or others were determined that they had to arm the Syrian opposition to stop the government violence being inflicted upon the people, would the U.S. accept that?
And in Egypt, American NGO workers have been charged and a trial date has been set. Are you confident the situation can be resolved before a trial and avoid a cutoff of U.S. aid to Egypt?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, Indira, first with respect to Syria, I had the opportunity over the last two days to discuss Syria with a number of my colleagues. And we are all working toward the planned Friends of Syria meeting at the end of this week, which we think will give us a chance to come together and chart a way forward.

I think, like the UN General Assembly resolution that passed overwhelmingly last week, the upcoming meeting will demonstrate that Assad’s regime is increasingly isolated and that the brave Syrian people need our support and solidarity. Their suffering has to be addressed, so we have to focus on humanitarian issues and think of the best ways to deliver the necessary humanitarian aid. We have to work toward an inclusive, democratic process to lead a transition. Every group of Syrians needs to feel that they are represented, that their interests will be respected. We have to prepare for the likelihood that the Syrian regime is going to be under increasing pressure, which will create perhaps more space for all of us to push hard on a transition. And we will intensify our diplomatic outreach to those countries that are still supporting the Assad regime.

This is a challenging process, but mostly for the people of Syria, who every day are living with the results of this brutal crackdown that they are suffering under. So I don’t want to get ahead of the meeting that will be a very large gathering that will demonstrate, once again, the international unity in the face of the Assad regime. We’ll send a clear message to Russia, China, and others, who are still unsure about how to handle the increasing violence, but are, up until now, unfortunately, making the wrong choices. And I think we’ll have more to say as we go through this week and after the meeting.
With respect to Egypt and the NGO situation, I’m not going to speculate on the next steps based on press reports. I want you to understand clearly that we are not only deeply concerned about the situation as it affects not only Americans who are working in NGOs in Egypt, but other nationalities and even Egyptians who have been charged in this case. We’ve had a senior team in Cairo in recent days trying to work through the issues so that they can be resolved as soon as possible. And I think it’s probably better just to continue the hard work of our engagement and hope that we’ll see a resolution soon.
MS. NULAND: Last question, Silva Garduno of Reforma.

QUESTION: Hello.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Hi.

QUESTION: Good afternoon. My questions are related to organized crime. How do you think a forum like this, like G-20, should address transnational organized crime? In this sense, well, last week President Calderon sent a very graphic message about stopping the traffic of arms from the U.S. The sign actually read, “No more weapons in the border.” What is your answer to that message?
And finally, and very briefly, what do you think about organized crime infiltrating the highest levels of government in Mexico? And by this, I mean Mexican former governors of border states with the U.S. currently being investigated. Thank you.


SECRETARY CLINTON: Well, those are very important questions. And I want to begin by underscoring our support for the courage that President Calderon, the Mexican Government, law enforcement officials, and others have shown in their struggle against these criminal cartels. This is an important struggle, and we are doing all we can to support the Mexican Government as they, slowly but surely, gain ground against transnational crime.

We also believe strongly that transnational crime is a global threat. It’s not just a threat in Mexico or – name any other country. These gangs certainly operate across national boundaries. They pose a serious danger to law-abiding people and governments everywhere. So we are determined to assist the Mexican Government in their very courageous struggle against the cartels. And that means helping to stop the flow of illegal drugs and weapons to and from the cartels that fuel the violence here and elsewhere.
We’ve certainly increased our cooperation, and I would argue we’ve improved our assistance to be responsive to what Mexican Government officials tell us is needed. We are in much more close contact and really following the lead of our Mexican counterparts. We have an aggressive pursuit of illegal gunrunners who operate in the United States. Our goal is to end all illegal movement of guns across our border.

And in fact, President Obama has placed and increased emphasis on stemming the outbound flows of weapons and the flow of criminal proceeds from both weapons and, more significantly, the drug trade. Specials Customs – special Customs and Border Protection teams at the U.S. border are screening outbound rail and vehicle traffic for weapons and bulk currency. We are using cutting-edge technology to screen 100 percent of rail traffic headed into Mexico, and we’ve placed Border Enforcement Security teams along the border to investigate the organizations that are involved in cross-border smuggling.

The United States and Mexico share responsibility for our common border. Most of the times, it’s a border that a billion dollars a day in trade passes across, literally millions of contacts between people, and we want to keep it a vibrant, dynamic border while we work continuously to eliminate the threats that pass back and forth into both of our countries.
So I think we’ve made a lot of progress, but we have a long way to go, because these are violent, vicious gangs. It’s heartbreaking what they are willing to do to fellow human beings. There has been a lot of progress because of the Mexican Government’s leadership in bringing down a lot of the leadership of these gangs.

But we have no illusions about the necessity for the United States to be a strong partner with Mexico. And that includes, certainly on our side of the border, seeking out and arresting corrupt officials and supporting Mexican officials to do the same. Because it is just totally unacceptable that any officials would be profiting from this kind of violence and the terrible results that it has had for so many people in Mexico.

But I just want to end by saying that I think – I have a lot of confidence in the Mexican people and I have no reason to doubt that, as we’ve seen in other countries, Mexico will be successful.
MS. NULAND: Thank you very much.”

SECRETARY OF STATE HILARY RODHAM CLINTON ANNOUNCED A NEW GLOBAL ANTI-POLLUTION COALITION

The following excerpt is from the U.S. State Department website:

Fact SheetOffice of the SpokespersonWashington, DC
February 16, 2012

THE PROBLEM
Pollutants that are short-lived in the atmosphere such as methane, black carbon and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) together account for approximately one-third of current global warming, have significant impacts on public health, the environment, and world food productivity.

THE POTENTIAL
Fast action to reduce short-lived climate pollutants can have a direct impact on global warming, with the potential to reduce the warming expected by 2050 by as much as 0.5 Celsius degrees. At the same time, by 2030, such action can prevent millions of premature deaths, while also avoiding the annual loss of more than 30 million tons of crops. Moreover, many of these benefits can be achieved at low cost and with significant energy savings.

THE RESPONSE
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today announced the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce Short-Lived Climate Pollutants, a new global initiative to seize the opportunity of realizing concrete benefits on climate, health, food and energy resulting from reducing short-lived climate pollutants. The coalition will focus efforts on reducing black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), and methane. The founding coalition partners are Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States, together with the UN Environment Programme.

The new coalition is the first effort to treat these pollutants together, as a collective challenge. It will catalyze new actions and highlight and bolster the work of existing efforts such as the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, the Arctic Council, the Montreal Protocol, and the Global Methane Initiative (GMI). The Coalition’s work will augment, not replace, global action to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2).
The coalition will reduce short-lived climate pollutants by driving the development of national action plans and the adoption of policy priorities; building capacity among developing countries; mobilizing public and private funds for action; raising awareness globally; fostering regional and international cooperation, and; improving scientific understanding of the pollutant impacts and mitigation.

The United States is already actively engaged in efforts to reduce these pollutants on the national and international levels. Here at home, the U.S. Environment Protection Agency addresses these pollutants through robust programs that protect public health and the environment. Work on the international level is taking place through the Global Methane Initiative, the Montreal Protocol, the Arctic Council and the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, which was launched by Secretary Clinton in 2010.

ABOUT SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANTS
The pollutants targeted by this initiative remain in the atmosphere for only a few days to a few years after they are emitted. This is very short when compared to CO2, which remains in the atmosphere for approximately a century. This “shorter” atmospheric lifetime means that actions to reduce emissions will quickly lower atmospheric concentrations of these pollutants, yielding a relatively rapid climate response. Of the pollutants that will be targeted by this initiative, methane and black carbon stand out for their significant contribution to climate change, while HFCs are a rapidly increasing climate threat.

Methane
Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that is more than 20 times more potent than CO2, and has an atmospheric lifetime of about 12 years. It is produced through natural processes (i.e. the decomposition of plant and animal waste), but is also emitted from many man-made sources, including coal mines, natural gas and oil systems, and landfills.
In addition to the climate benefits, reducing methane emissions has other important public health and agricultural benefits. Reducing methane emissions can avoid the health effects and premature deaths associated with unhealthy ozone levels.
Methane also is the primary component of natural gas. Thus, capturing and utilizing methane as clean-burning natural gas can promote sustainable development and energy security.

Black Carbon
Black carbon, which is a part of a mixture called soot, is emitted from a wide variety of sources that burn but do not fully combust fossil or plant-based fuels. Common sources include diesel trucks and buses, agricultural burning, and inefficient cookstoves, among others. Of the three pollutant types, black carbon remains in the atmosphere for the shortest amount of time, depositing on the ground only days to weeks after it is emitted.
Reducing black carbon will have an important impact on air quality and public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that currently more than 3 million premature deaths each year can be attributed to the effects of urban outdoor air pollution and indoor air pollution. Fine particles, which include black carbon, contribute significantly to these adverse impacts. Widespread adoption of advanced cookstoves and clean fuels that reduce black carbon emissions, for example, has the potential to prevent millions of premature deaths.

Black carbon in the atmosphere also directly contributes to climate change by absorbing sunlight when it is emitted in the atmosphere. It also contributes once it is deposited on surfaces such as snow and ice, causing them to melt faster because of its black color. As a result, reducing black carbon is particularly important to address climate change in snow- and ice-covered regions such as the Arctic and the Himalayas.

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
HFCs are man-made greenhouse gases used in air conditioning, refrigeration, solvents, foam blowing agents, and aerosols. Many HFCs remain in the atmosphere for less than 15 years. Though they represent a small fraction of the current total greenhouse gases (less than one percent), their warming impact is particularly strong and, if left unchecked, HFCs could account for nearly 20 percent of climate pollution by 2050."