Council on Environmental Quality Blog

A Global Focus on Climate Change

Posted by Nancy Sutley on December 14, 2010 at 3:01 PM EDT

Climate change is one of the greatest environmental and public health challenges we face in the modern world. Confronting it will demand global collaboration and prompt difficult decisions. Last week, I joined Secretaries Chu and Vilsack at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP-16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

CEQ Chair Sutley addresses the U.S. Center at COP-16 in Cancun, Mexico, on December 8, 2010 (Courtesy of U.S. Department of State)

President Obama has made it clear that the United States must take bold action to address the growing threat of global warming, to reduce our dependence on finite resources such as oil, and to create clean energy jobs and technologies. This Administration has taken unprecedented steps to address these problems –we have made major investments in clean energy through the Recovery Act and we have moved toward tough new fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks, among a range of other actions.

This Administration recognizes that the Federal Government cannot advocate change with any credibility unless we are willing to take action ourselves. U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change and head of the U.S. delegation Todd Stern focused on securing a balanced package of decisions building on the progress made in Copenhagen last year. I hosted side events to highlight leadership in focusing on the Federal Government’s role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing the U.S. to adapt to the impacts of climate change.

The Federal Government is the single largest energy consumer in the U.S. economy, racking up an energy bill of more than $24 billion in 2008 alone. President Obama signed an Executive Order last year directing Federal Agencies to slash their greenhouse gas emissions and meet sustainability goals to help us grow a clean energy economy and save taxpayer dollars.

The U.S. Government is one of the first national governments or large corporations to tackle this challenge to measure, report, and reduce our greenhouse gas pollution from indirect sources (such as employee commuting). Our commitment to leading by example is about more than net reductions in greenhouse gases. We are also building up a body of knowledge and experience among Federal officials who are involved in setting and implementing national policies aimed at achieving our clean energy goals. And through pilot programs with some of our 600,000 vendors and contractors, we are working to design ways to support businesses that share these sustainability goals.

Sharing our leadership at home in Federal sustainability with an audience of international leaders is an important way to highlight our commitment to dealing with climate change. President Obama’s Executive Order allows us to leverage the Federal Government’s influence to benefit all Americans, support a job-producing clean energy economy, protect our environment, and help prop up the health and prosperity of the United States and the world.

A special note of congratulations and thanks to Ambassador Stern and the U.S. Negotiations team for helping to forge agreements at Cancun that will make measureable progress in reducing global greenhouse gas pollution.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

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Celebrating EPA's 40th Anniversary

Posted by Nancy Sutley on December 6, 2010 at 8:09 PM EDT

Last week marked a major milestone for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as it turned 40 years old on December 2, 2010. On Thursday, I joined EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and other Obama Administration officials in wishing the agency "Happy Birthday" after four decades of work to protect the health of the environment and all Americans. We launched the event by reading President Obama's Proclamation on the 40th Anniversary of the Environmental Protection Agency, which called on the EPA and other Federal Agencies to continue their legacies of responsible stewardship and to advance environmental quality in the face of new challenges, including global climate change.

Chair Sutley, Youngstown, Ohio Mayor Jay Williams, EPA Assistant Administrator Michelle DePass, and Former EPA Regional Administrator Mary Gade participate in the EPA @ 40 conference. (Photo by Eric Vance, US EPA)

On Friday, I joined other environmental leaders at Harvard University for its conference: "EPA @ 40: Protecting the Environment and Our Communities." I had the opportunity to lead a panel on "Global Problems and Local Solutions," which included a dynamic discussion on EPA's history of success in working with state and local governments and communities to safeguard the health of our environment. EPA's 40 years of leadership have fostered cleaner communities, promoted the health of children, and helped build a stronger America. The Obama Administration is committed to continuing this proud legacy, and to leaving a clean and healthy country for future generations.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

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Canoeing on the Anacostia

Posted by Jack Shapiro on November 19, 2010 at 8:01 PM EDT

This week, I had the opportunity to explore a part of the Washington, DC area that is sometimes overlooked. I joined Wilderness Inquiry, a Minneapolis-based organization, and partners from other Federal agencies and local organizations to experience the Anacostia River by canoe. We left the Kenilworth Playing Fields bright and early Thursday morning, on a perfect November day. In addition to the beautiful fall colors and smooth water, we saw great blue heron and beaver as we paddled up the river and crossed the Maryland state line.

Local kids canoe on the Anacostia. (Photo by Keith Hyde, US Army Corps of Engineers)

Wilderness Inquiry is one of many organizations across the country that works to introduce urban youth to the outdoors. During their time in Washington, DC they have been taking local kids canoeing on the Anacostia, as part of their goal of expanding their model to 20 cities. Wilderness Inquiry works with Federal, state, and local partners to create a successful program in their community in Minnesota. These types of partnerships can help build a local constituency to conserve waterways, wildlife, and landscapes at the community level. Here at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, we are working on President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative to promote and support innovative community-level efforts to conserve outdoor spaces and to reconnect Americans to the outdoors. The President has made it clear that one of his priorities is to engage young people, especially those who live in our Nation’s cities, and to find ways to get them outdoors to experience our unique natural heritage.

Jack Shapiro is the Deputy Associate Director for Policy Outreach at the White House Council on Environmental Quality

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Greening the Supply Chain

Posted by Nancy Sutley on November 18, 2010 at 8:53 PM EDT

The Obama Administration has taken another step to reduce the Federal Government's environmental footprint and to advance clean energy opportunities. On Tuesday morning, I joined General Services Administration Administrator Martha Johnson in Chicago, Illinois, at the first-ever GreenGov Supply Chain Summit to announce a voluntary collaboration between the Federal Government and vendors and suppliers to create a greener and more efficient supply chain.

The Federal Government purchases $500 billion in goods and services annually, so you could say the Federal supply chain represents an enormous opportunity to support a clean energy economy. Through our new GreenGov Supply Chain Partnership, Federal suppliers can agree to voluntarily measure, reduce, and report their greenhouse gas emissions to help GSA design an incentive-based approach to developing contracting advantages for companies that share our sustainability goals. We've already partnered with 60 small businesses for a pilot program that will explore the benefits and challenges of measuring greenhouse gas emissions for small business participants.

White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley participates in the GreenGov Supply Chain Summit

More than 150 companies – large and small – joined us at the summit. Companies shared their corporate sustainability priorities and their experiences greening their own supply chains. Two themes emerged in the conversation. First, we have an extraordinary opportunity to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through the Federal Government's commitment to sustainability and the GreenGov Supply Chain Partnership. Second, to fulfill that opportunity, we've got to develop straightforward incentives that make it easy for small and emerging businesses to work with us.

The Federal Government has a responsibility to lead by example to cut energy use, reduce pollution and save taxpayer dollars. Yesterday's announcement is another step in the right direction.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

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Focused on Building a Strong and Sustainable Clean Energy Economy

Posted by Nancy Sutley on November 18, 2010 at 8:23 PM EDT

Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to participate in events focused on building a strong and sustainable clean energy economy for America. First, at the Applied Solutions Annual Conference in Boulder, Colorado, I spoke with local officials from around the country about our shared goal of creating healthy and prosperous American communities by growing the clean energy economy. It was great to engage with local leaders on ways we can work together to protect the environmental and economic health of our country.

Later, I joined Colorado Senator Mark Udall on a tour of the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) in Golden, Colorado. While we were at NREL, we had an interesting roundtable discussion focused on how we can build a smart grid that works well for American businesses and residents by allowing them to make informed energy choices and save money on their electricity bills.

Chair Sutley tours the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO. (Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL Public Affairs Office)

Next, in San Jose, California, I joined women business leaders at the Women's Network for a Sustainable Future to discuss how to integrate sustainability into operations both in government and in the private sector. It was a fruitful discussion and a good opportunity to engage with leading businesswomen on an issue critical to building a clean energy economy.

Chair Sutley speaks at the Women's Network for a Sustainable Future Conference. (Photo by Cynthia Cheak.) November 12, 2010. (by Cynthia R. Cheak)

Finally, I participated in the third Governors' Global Climate Summit, hosted by California Governor Schwarzenegger at the University of California, Davis. This year's Summit examined how leaders from across the government, academic, business and nonprofit sectors can collaborate to build a strong and sustainable economy in the face of global issues such as climate change.

Overall, it was a successful trip and a wonderful opportunity to engage with and hear the ideas of sustainability and clean energy leaders out west.

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

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2010 Shanghai World Expo: Better City, Better Life

Posted by Nancy Sutley on November 17, 2010 at 7:44 PM EDT

I was fortunate enough to represent the United States at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo Closing Ceremonies earlier this month. In the great tradition of World Expos, the Shanghai Expo showcased the diverse international community and advancements in a global effort to support sustainable development. This year’s expo focused on the theme Better City, Better Life. I, along with more than 73 million visitors over the past six months, was impressed with each nation’s distinct pavilion. Our own USA pavilion was no exception, as over 7 million people have packed its 6,000 square meters of carbon-neutral space.

At the Expo 2010 Summit Forum, international leaders gathered to discuss the importance of urban innovation and sustainable urban development. I spoke at the themed forum on Green Development and Ecological City, and highlighted the Obama Administration's work to support clean energy, promote sustainable communities, and prepare the Nation to adapt to climate change.

White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley tours the USA pavilion

During the trip, I was able to visit Shanghai’s Chongming Island, which is home to Dongtan Eco City. Dongtan is working to become an environmentally and economically sustainable city, with the goal of attaining an ecological footprint of less than 60% than that of typical developments.

It was interesting to engage in discussions on sustainability at both the Shanghai Expo and on Chongming Island. I was happy to represent the U.S.'s work on environmental and clean energy issues.

White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and CEQ Chief of Staff Jon Carson at the USA Pavilion

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality

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