[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 157 (Monday, August 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 41370]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-19588]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Department of Commerce: Industry Outreach in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, for Climate Change Negotiations Under the UNFCCC

AGENCY: International Trade Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) will host a half-day 
roundtable for industry participants on August 25, 2009, in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, during which senior U.S. government officials will outline 
the draft negotiation text of a new agreement under the United Nations 
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), provide updates on 
recent developments, and solicit individual input from participants. 
The purpose of the industry roundtable is to allow private sector 
stakeholders, particularly industry and trade associations, to advise 
U.S. officials on the impact a new UNFCCC agreement could have on their 
respective operations and on associated commercial opportunities. The 
DOC anticipates additional outreach events will be held throughout the 
United States.

DATES: August 25, 2009.

ADDRESSES: To participate in the roundtable, please register via the 
Internet at: http://bec.msoe.edu/course_descriptions/WPCLIM.php. For 
questions or problems with Internet registration, please contact Paul 
D. Churchill, Director, Milwaukee U.S. Export Assistance Center, 1025 
North Broadway, R01, Milwaukee, WI 53202; (414) 297-3473; 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Participation

    Any private sector participant may register to attend; space is 
limited. Participants who are unable to attend the event can call into 
a conference line to participate. To get the audio conference call-in 
information, please e-mail [email protected] and put ``BEC Audio Recording'' 
in the subject line.
    The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change--The 
UNFCCC was signed in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and entered into 
force on March 21, 1994. Currently, 192 states have ratified the 
Convention, including the United States. The treaty requires national 
inventories of greenhouse gas emissions from developed countries, and 
encourages national action to stem greenhouse gas emissions and slow 
climate change. Developed nations also pledge to share technology and 
resources with developing nations.
    Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on 
Climate Change--The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in December 1997, 
entered into force on February 16, 2005, and has been ratified by 184 
countries and the European Community. While the United States signed 
the document, the U.S. Senate has never ratified the treaty. The Kyoto 
Protocol sets binding emissions targets for 37 industrialized 
countries, includes mechanisms for measuring and reporting emissions, 
and provides for financing and technology assistance to developing 
countries. The Protocol will expire at the end of 2012.
    Current UNFCCC Negotiations--Negotiations under the UNFCCC are 
underway to formulate a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. The 
discussions have the goal of concluding an agreement in Copenhagen this 
December. Potential impacts on U.S. industrial competitiveness will be 
discussed during the upcoming roundtable, including technology 
transfer, intellectual property, financing, and related commercial 
opportunities.

    Dated: August 10, 2009.
Man Cho,
Energy Team Leader, Office of Energy and Environmental Industries, U.S. 
Department of Commerce.
[FR Doc. E9-19588 Filed 8-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P