    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 23 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
    [Pages 1277-1278]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    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

    [[Page 1278]]

    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.
        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.