    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [June 4, 2000]
    [Pages 1074-1075]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Russia-United States Joint Statement on Cooperation To Combat
    Global Warming
    June 4, 2000

        President of the United States Clinton and President of the Russian
    Federation Putin reaffirm the commitment of
    the United States and the Russian Federation to cooperate in taking
    action to reduce the serious risks of global warming. They take note of
    the significant contributions to environmental protection made by the
    U.S.-Russian Joint Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation
    under the co-chairmanship of Vice President Gore and the Prime Minister of the Russian
    Federation.
        The Presidents declare their conviction that national and global
    economic growth can be achieved while continuing to protect the global
    climate. They note with approval the close cooperation of the two
    countries in multilateral negotiations to elaborate upon elements of the
    Kyoto Protocol to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. The
    Presidents stress the importance of fully developing the Protocol's
    flexibility mechanisms, including international emissions trading and
    joint implementation, which are essential to achieving countries'
    greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitments under the Protocol.
    They believe transparent rules for these mechanisms must be developed.
        The Presidents further note the potential of the Kyoto Protocol
    mechanisms to promote investment in all areas where it is possible to
    limit or reduce GHG emissions. They reaffirm the opposition of the U.S.
    and Russian governments to proposals that limit the Kyoto Protocol
    mechanisms by placing quantitative restrictions on the transfer of
    Parties' assigned amounts. The Presidents reiterate the commitment of
    their governments to work for agreement on these and other issues at the
    Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties taking place in The Hague
    in November of this year.
        Building upon previous joint accomplishments, the U.S. and Russia
    plan to continue their cooperation on the problem of global climate
    change.
        President Clinton declares the intention of the Government of the
    United States of America to continue cooperation with Russia in the
    measurement and reporting of GHG emissions, the development of market-
    based tools for managing those emissions, and the identification of
    specific opportunities in Russia to further reduce or sequester those
    emissions.
        President Putin, noting the significant
    contributions made by the Russian Federation to reduce emissions of
    greenhouse gases, declares the intention of the Russian Federation to
    expand and strengthen the mutually-beneficial U.S.-Russian cooperation
    in the area of the fight against global warming, paying special
    attention to the activities of the Joint Russian-American Climate Policy
    Working Group.

    [[Page 1075]]

        Through these actions, Presidents Clinton and Putin express their
    conviction that effective steps can be taken by political leaders, and
    by leaders in scientific, business, and other circles, to protect the
    planet that we share from the threat of global warming.

     Moscow

     June 4, 2000

    Note:  An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.