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Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

scenic mountain rangeThe Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), headed by Acting Assistant Secretary Anthony F. Rock, coordinates an extensive portfolio of issues related to science, the environment, and the world's oceans.

Fish swimming in oceanThe Oceans and Fisheries Directorate, headed by David A. Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, has two offices dedicated to international oceans issues. The Office of Marine Conservation focuses on international fisheries matters and related problems and the Office of Oceans Affairs has primary responsibility for international ocean law and policy, marine pollution, marine mammals, polar affairs, maritime boundaries, and marine science.

Mother and baby hippopotamusThe Environment Directorate, led by  Deputy Assistant Secretary Claudia McMurray, deals with a wide breadth of environmental issues including environmental aspects of international trade and safeguarding hazardous materials requiring multilateral agreements within the Office of Environmental Policy. The Office of Ecology & Terrestrial Conservation develops U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and managing the world ecosystem.

Taking the lead on climate change issues is Harlan L. Watson, Senior Climate Negotiator and Special Representative. Dr. Watson works closely with the climate team in the Office of Global Change.

IHSThe Health, Space and Science Directorate includes the Office of International Health Affairs which works with U.S. Government agencies to facilitate policy-making regarding international bioterrorism, infectious disease, surveillance and response, enivronmental health, and health in post-conflict situations. The Office of Space and Advanced Technology handles issues arising from our exploration of space to assure global security regarding this new frontier, and the Office of Science & Technology (S&T) Cooperation promotes the interests of the U.S. science and technology communities in the international policy arena, negotiates framework and other S&T agreements, manages the Department's Embassy Science fellows program, and takes a leading role in representing U.S. science and technology in multilateral international organizations, such as UNESCO and other UN organizations, APEC, OECD, and others.

PCI themeThe Office of Policy Coordination and Initiatives (PCI) employs a long-term, strategic approach to OES goals. It coordinates the Bureau's efforts within the broad conceptual framework of sustainable development, working closely with the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and helping build and promote public-private partnerships. The office manages ongoing initiatives on water and access to energy. PCI also manages bilateral dialogues on OES issues with major partners such as Brazil, India and China, and coordinates environmental cooperation with key countries such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

HUB

The OES Initiatives Grants Program (OESI) under PCI direction supports initiatives by the three functional directorates across all regions. PCI also coordinates Regional Environmental Hubs that take a transboundary view of environment, science and health issues from 12 strategically placed Embassy locations throughout the world.

  
Highlights

Department of State Welcomes Efforts to Implement Stockholm Convention
The U.S. Department of State welcomes recent efforts in Congress to consider legislation that would allow the United States to implement to Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs), the Protocol on Persistent Organic Pollutants to the Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP POPs), and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade (PIC) (12/20). full text

COP-11 Climate Conference in Montreal
Under Secretary Dobriansky (Dec. 7): This conference affords us an opportunity to highlight the array of activities that the United States is involved in to implement our climate change policies. full text

Under Secretary Dobriansky gives remarks at the opening plenary(12/08). The U.S. is focused on making progress under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change at COP 11, which is being held in parallel with the first meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol here in Montreal. (11/29) more | brochure or 8MG PDF version: Partnerships in Action: Energy Needs, Clean Development, and Climate Change (11/28)

-- Remarks: by Under Secretary Dobriansky before the Senate Subcommittee on International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion, Committee on Foreign Relations on U.S.- International Climate Change Approach:  A Clean Technology Solution. (11/14)

Avian Influenza
The U.S. Government is concerned that the ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza in birds have the potential to turn into a human influenza pandemic. [more]

Signing of the U.S.-India Science and Technology Agreement
Secretary Rice (Oct. 17): "This agreement will strengthen the science and technology capabilities of both the United States and India, expand relations between our extensive scientific and technological communities and promote technological and scientific cooperation in areas of mutual benefit." [full text]

Sustainable Development
 -- Remarks by Jonathan A. Margolis, U.S. Special Representative for Sustainable Development; Energy and Sustainable Development; Remarks at the UN Economic Comission of Europe (UNECE) Regional Implementation Forum, Geneva, Switzerland (12/15)

-- Remarks by Jonathan Margolis, Special Representative for Sustainable Development at the "Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference" Beijing, China (11/07)

  
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