U.S. Booth Sets Tone for Change at Climate Talks

Dec. 16, 2009 -- Within the chaos of the Copenhagen environmental summit, where negotiations among 192 countries nearly broke down Monday, there's at least one oasis of apparent calm and progress.

The U.S. booth in the conference hall — an elaborate, two-room complex with a giant, rotating computer screen shaped like the planet Earth— has been used for scientific lectures, business meetings and the announcement of several "green" initiatives by the Obama administration.

On Monday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu gave a presentation detailing how $4.5 billion in stimulus funds were being used to create a more efficient electrical grid. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is set to announce today a deal with U.S. dairy farmers to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The U.S. presence in Copenhagen is dramatically larger than at environmental conferences under President George W. Bush, when the booth often consisted of a lone U.S. official handing out pamphlets. The Bush administration was reluctant to participate in an international pact that would exempt other nations such as China. It supported funds for technologies to lessen emissions and additional research into global warming predictions.

"I think the symbolism (of the booth) is that we're back — that the U.S. is again taking a leadership role on this issue," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said.

Other events scheduled for this week include a presentation by Environmental Protection Agency officials on new U.S. fuel economy standards for cars; a panel discussion on how global warming could endanger U.S. national security; and a presentation by James Steele, chairman of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes of Montana, on how American Indians are trying to cut emissions.