    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [February 23, 2005]
    [Pages 300-302]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Joint Statement: U.S.-German Joint Actions on Cleaner and More Efficient
    Energy, Development and Climate Change
    February 23, 2005

        Germany and the United States have a history of working together
    bilaterally and multilaterally to promote strong economic growth, reduce
    harmful air pollution, improve energy security, and mitigate greenhouse
    gas emissions through such mechanisms as the UN Framework Convention on
    Climate Change and its Delhi Declaration, the G-8 Action Plan on Science
    and Technology for Sustainable Development, and the World Summit on
    Sustainable Development Plan of Implementation. The United States and
    Germany welcome the continued work in this area under United Kingdom's
    G-8 Presidency.
        1) Cooperation with Developing Countries
        We are particularly committed to working with developing countries
    to help them meet their own development and poverty reduction
    priorities, which requires increased access to all forms of cleaner,
    more abundant, and more affordable modern energy sources, including
    renewable and efficiency technologies. To this end, we have worked to
    include major developing countries in our multilateral technology
    partnerships, to ensure that cleaner, more efficient technologies are
    appropriate to all major nations and regions of the world. We will
    broaden and reinforce those activities. We anticipate additional
    opportunities as we work together to address global environmental,
    economic and social challenges and opportunities.
        2) Energy Conservation and Efficiency
        Considerable economically viable technologies exist, and should be
    encouraged, for boosting energy efficiency in industrialized and
    developing countries. Progress on energy efficiency provides one of the
    greatest opportunities for cost-effective reduction in pollution and
    greenhouse gases and improvement in energy security. Examples range from
    highly efficient power stations, through energy-saving products, to
    fuel-efficient vehicles. Innovative future technologies such as fuel
    cells and photovoltaics offer great economic prospects. A promising new
    field is the area of nanosciences. They have the potential of offering
    higher energy efficiency, in particular more energy efficient commercial
    and household products, including vehicles, through the use of new
    materials and new illumination technologies. An intensification of our
    bilateral cooperation in the field of energy conservation, efficiency
    and new technologies could accelerate our progress. Grasping these
    opportunities will strengthen our economy and open up profitable markets
    for our companies.
        The United States and Germany also have a joint commitment to the
    multilateral Methane to Markets Partnership that will advance the
    commercial use of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from coalmines,
    natural gas and oil reserves and landfill sites. This initiative
    promises to significantly

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    reduce methane emissions and put them to profitable use as a clean
    energy source.
        3) Modernization of domestic power generation
        Efficient and cleaner production of heat and power from coal and
    natural gas are advanced by German-U.S. cooperation in the Carbon
    Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), FUTUREGEN, and CORETECH. These
    three initiatives will help dramatically advance cleaner heat and power
    production from coal and natural gas via focused research and
    development efforts.
        These activities underscore the important contribution of
    modernization of energy systems to supporting economic growth, improving
    energy security, and reducing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
    Highly efficient technologies offer great opportunities to cost-
    effectively reduce energy consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas
    emissions. Germany and the United States will make joint efforts to
    apply these technologies domestically and worldwide, especially in fast
    growing developing countries.
        4) Innovation for future energy systems
        The United States and Germany lead global efforts to develop future
    energy systems including the use of hydrogen as an energy carrier. Both
    countries are founding members of the International Partnership for the
    Hydrogen Economy established by 15 counties and the European Commission
    in 2003 to conduct advanced research and development in hydrogen and
    fuel cell technologies. Germany and the United States cooperate
    bilaterally and multilaterally in the development of hydrogen powered
    fuel cells use in the transport and stationary sectors. A close
    cooperation in the research and innovation activities of the United
    States and Germany for future energy and transport systems, including
    fuel cells and hydrogen, will be a driving force to make these
    technologies available and price competitive.
        5) International cooperation for renewable energy
        Renewable energies should play an increasing role in the portfolio
    of modern energy systems. Renewables 2004, an international conference
    convened by the German government, provided a platform to advance
    renewable energy (e.g., biomass, wind, geothermal, solar, and
    hydropower) technologies and policies. Both the United States and German
    governments pledged financial and technical resources to advance
    development of renewable energy in the overall global mix of heat and
    power production. Recognizing that a wide range of different renewable
    technologies offer a variety of possibilities for joint projects on both
    bilateral and multilateral levels, the German and U.S. governments will
    work together to fulfill the pledges made at Renewables 2004.

    Summary

        The United States and Germany will broaden and reinforce their
    activities in three areas of common action to improve energy security
    and reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, while supporting
    strong economic growth:

         First, joint activities to further develop and deploy
                cleaner, more efficient technologies to support sustainable
                development.
         Second, cooperation in advancing climate science, and
                developing effective national tools for policy action.
         Third, joint action to raise the efficiency of the energy
                sector and address air pollution and greenhouse gas
                emissions in our own countries and around the world.

        We will continue working together and through partnership with the
    G-8 countries under the Action Plan for Science and Technology for
    Sustainable Development to enhance these efforts.

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

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