[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 43, Number 48 (Monday, December 3, 2007)]
[Page 1539]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on the Energy Information Administration's Report

November 28, 2007

    I was pleased to receive the Energy Information Administration's 
final report today, which includes U.S. greenhouse gas emissions for 
2006. The final report shows that emissions declined 1.5 percent from 
the 2005 level, while our economy grew 2.9 percent. That means 
greenhouse gas intensity--how much we emit per unit of economic 
activity--decreased by 4.2 percent, the largest annual improvement since 
1985. This puts us well ahead of the goal I set in 2002 to reduce 
greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012.
    My administration's climate change policy is science-based, 
encourages research breakthroughs that lead to technology development, 
encourages global participation, and pursues actions that will help 
ensure continued economic growth and prosperity for our citizens and for 
people throughout the world. Since 2001, we have spent almost $37 
billion on climate science, technology development, and incentives and 
international assistance.
    Recently, we convened representatives of the world's major 
economies--the largest users of energy and largest producers of 
greenhouse gas emissions from both developed and developing nations--to 
discuss a new international approach on energy security and climate 
change. Our aim is to agree on a detailed contribution for a new global 
framework in 2008 that would contribute to a global agreement under the 
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change by 2009. The 
United States looks forward to working with partners to reach consensus 
on a ``Bali roadmap'' at the upcoming U.N. meeting on climate change in 
Indonesia in December.
    Energy security and climate change are two of the important 
challenges of our time. The United States takes these challenges 
seriously, and we are effectively confronting climate change through 
regulations, public-private partnerships, incentives, and strong 
investment in new technologies. Our guiding principle is clear: We must 
lead the world to produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions, and we must do 
it in a way that does not undermine economic growth or prevent nations 
from delivering greater prosperity for their people.