Advancing Clean Energy: Methane to Markets Grant Proposals Due December 4, 2006
October 11, 2006  -- US EPA is supporting the Methane to Markets Partnership through making $2.5 million in grant funds available for activities that advance methane recovery and use as a clean energy source. Proposals are due December 4, 2006 and will be accepted from international governments, as well as public or private non-profit organizations. For complete information on preparing and submitting a proposal, see: http://www.epa.gov/oar/grants/06-08.pdf. More

State Department Highlights Emerging Focus on Results with U.S. Business Leaders
October 4, 2006 -- Speaking at the Business Roundtable’s first Social, Economic, and Environmental (S.E.E.) Change Initiative workshop in San Jose, California, Jonathan Margolis, the State Department’s Special Representative for Sustainable Development, described the recent transformation in international sustainable development discussions. "If the message in 2002 was ‘Words are good, actions are better,’" said Margolis, "the message in 2006 is ‘Actions are better, but results are what matter.’" Full Text

International Partners Join EPA’s Program to Reduce Methane Emissions
Sept. 26, 2006 -- Seven oil and gas companies are signing on as charter members of the Natural Gas Star International program, an expansion of the Environmental Protection Agency’s successful domestic program to reduce methane emissions. This partnership supports the international Methane to Markets Partnership. More

U.S. Launches Public-Private Partnership for Clean Water in Africa
September 21, 2006 -- On September 20, Mrs. Laura Bush announced a groundbreaking Public-Private Partnership between the U.S. Government, PlayPumps International, the Case Foundation, and other public and private sector partners. This $60 million alliance will work with 10 sub-Saharan African countries to bring the benefits of clean drinking water to up to 10 million people by 2010. The United States Government, through USAID and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, will provide a combined $10 million to this alliance over three years. [Mrs. Bush's remarks | Fact Sheet] More

Manufacturing Plants Recognized for Energy Efficiency
September 13, 2006 -- Seventeen U.S. manufacturing plants were first-time winners of EPA's Energy Star award in recognition of their energy-efficient operations that prevented some 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Full Story

EPA Hosts Multinational Summit on Energy and Air Issues in Seattle
August 30, 2006 -- EPA and government agencies from Japan and Korea co-hosted the "International Workshop on Climate Actions and Co-Benefit Opportunities" in Seattle, Washington to highlight the "co-benefits" of reducing both greenhouse gases emissions and air pollution at the same time. Representatives from Chile, China, India, and Mexico also attended. Seattle was selected as the workshop's location because of its successful measures to reduce greenhouse gases. Full Story

Second Biennial SEED Award: Call for Proposals
August 22, 2006 -- The Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (Seed) Initiative is now accepting applications for its biennial award, a global competition designed to publicly recognize and support five of the most worthy, nascent partnerships that promote economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship. Winners will receive targeted support services to help their initiative scale up. Applications are due to the Seed Secretariat on October 15, 2006. Winners will be announced in May 2007 in New York. Previous award winners provided 1,000 households with improved water quality at lower prices in Bolivia, created the first community run protected area which supports sustainable fishing practices in Madagascar, and created a source of domestic energy operating of run-offs from one of Nigeria’s largest slaughterhouses. More