High-Level Environment and Development Meeting of the OECD

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) hosted a Joint High-Level Meeting of its Development Assistance Committee (DAC) and Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) at its headquarters in Paris in late May 2009.

EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson co-led the U.S. delegation with Acting Administrator for U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Alonzo Fulgham.

Copyright OECD Photo. Left to right: Mr. Alonzo Fulgham, Acting Administrator, USAID; Mrs. Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Kak-soo Shin, Co-Chair, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Korea; and Professor Paul Collier (University of Oxford)

Administrator Jackson was a keynote presenter on the topic: “Supporting Low-Carbon Development Paths: Win-Win Approaches to Achieve both Mitigation and Development Objectives.” In her remarks, the Administrator explained the intertwined connections between the global financial crisis and climate change — the urgent need for international cooperation to address both, and steps being taken by the Obama Administration to address these challenges.

There is an urgent need for collaboration, using low-carbon growth strategies to address the rapid urbanization and growth in industrial energy consumption. Win-win opportunities can be found in improved urban planning and smart growth; green buildings; improved transportation systems; as well as supporting energy efficiency and recovery opportunities from urban services such as water treatment and solid waste management.

Solutions must include roles for expanding public-private collaboration, improved incentives and supply chains, and research cooperation in achieving a low carbon development path. Jackson also stressed the importance of environmental justice — accounting for the most vulnerable populations, and ensuring that they also benefit from low-carbon growth strategies.

Climate Change (particularly focused on OECD’s expertise in economic analysis) and Green Growth emerged as key issues for future joint work. Senior officials formally adopted a “Policy Guidance on Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Cooperation” and an associated “Policy Statement.”

This meeting also reviewed progress undertaken since the last Joint High-Level meeting (April 2006), at which officials adopted a “Declaration on Integrating Adaptation to Climate Change into Development Cooperation” and a “Framework for Common Action on Shared Goals” . Following that meeting, an ongoing work program was crafted to focus on three key areas:
(1) Integrating Adaptation to Climate change in Development Cooperation;
(2) Sustainable Financing to Ensure Affordable Access to Water Supply and Sanitation; and
(3) Governance Capacity Development for Environment and Natural Resources Management.

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Contacts

For additional information on EPA's work with the OECD, contact:

Ted MacDonald
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International Affairs (2670R)
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: macdonald.ted@epa.gov
(202) 564-6114

High-Level Environment and Development Meeting of the OECD

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