International Deployment of Clean Technologies
A Smart Investment for the United States
To learn more about international deployment of clean technologies, download the fact sheet above and read more in the links below:
- Reducing Global Warming Worldwide Through Clean Technology
- Investing in Clean Technology is Investing in Green Jobs
- Clean Technology Brings Significant Global Security Benefits
- Clean Technology at the Copenhagen Climate Summit
- The International Climate Treaty and U.S. Legislation
- U.S. Policy and Global Clean Technology
Climate change is one of the most serious economic and environmental threats facing the world today.
Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels are the biggest source of global warming emissions— about 57 percent of total annual emissions worldwide and 81 percent of total annual U.S. emissions. To help avoid the worst consequences of climate change, we need a rapid global transition to clean energy that dramatically reduces this carbon overload.
As a major economic power, the United States has an important role to play in driving this transition, by both reducing its own carbon emissions and helping developing countries reduce theirs. Investing in clean energy technologies— technologies that increase energy efficiency and generate energy from low-carbon sources— and supporting their global deployment can create major economic opportunities for American businesses. It will also improve global security and public health, and spur sustainable development worldwide.
U.S. Policy and Global Clean Technology
The U.S. House of Representatives passed comprehensive climate and energy legislation, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), in late June of 2009. It included funding for clean technology sharing with developing nations. ACES creates a limit on how much global warming pollution can be emitted. Companies must purchase permits from the government to emit specified amounts of pollution. This creates a financial incentive for companies to pursue clean, efficient technologies, because they can save money by purchasing fewer permits, or make money by selling their permits to other polluters. Under the bill, about 1 percent of the revenue from the sale of these permits is allocated for ramping up clean technology in developing countries.
The U.S. Senate is working to create its version of comprehensive climate and energy legislation. This bill should include increased funding for clean technology sharing. A global transition to clean energy is a cost-effective way to fight global warming and will also bring important economic and public health benefits. Investing in clean technologies at home will allow the United States to become a world leader in these technologies, creating jobs and helping grow our economy.
Before comprehensive climate and energy legislation goes into effect, the United States should allocate money in the foreign aid budget to sharing clean technologies with developing nations. This can help these countries increase the living standards of their people, using clean, sustainable forms of energy .
