Washington, D.C. – The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Energy Development and Climate Change brokered by the Administration this week furthers the goals of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Title XVI of the bill creates a framework for such partnerships as well as the deployment of climate change technologies to developing countries, an objective facilitated by the charter crafted in Sydney, Australia this week.

Congress, in the energy bill, made it clear that the United States must take the lead in the development of climate change technologies and the deployment of those technologies in developing countries . “The Department of State shall act as the lead agency for integrating into United States foreign policy the goal for reducing greenhouse gas intensity in development countries,” the bill says.

Chairman Domenici today applauded the Administration for its success in helping to forge the Asia-Pacific Partnership and draft a charter that sets out ambitious goals for addressing climate change and reducing poverty.  “Industrialized nations like the United States must continue to work aggressively to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions. The energy bill – particularly provisions to facilitate renewable energy, advanced nuclear power and clean coal technologies –  will make a strong contribution to that endeavor. I hope my ongoing work with Senator Bingaman to address climate change plays a role.

“But these efforts must  must matched by a strong partnership with developing countries. Scientists tell us that in a few short years, greenhouse emissions from countries struggling to free their people from poverty will be our biggest source of man-made carbon gases. I am convinced that clean technologies like advanced nuclear power will not only address our global climate concerns but lift people in Third World countries out of poverty faster than any other effort we can make on their behalf.”