Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES), headed by Assistant Secretary Claudia McMurray, coordinates an extensive portfolio of issues related to science, the environment, and the world's oceans. More about OES.
					Climate Change and Sustainable Development New York City May 2, 2008 Under Secretary Dobriansky: "Over the past seven years, the international community has grappled with some of the most pressing sustainable development issues of our time: safe drinking water and sanitation, improved health care, food security, biodiversity, energy security, and climate change. Much has been said about sustainable development over these years, but more importantly, much has been done." Full Text
					Sea Turtle Conservation and Shrimp Imports May 2, 2008 On May 1, the Department of State certified 40 nations and one economy as meeting the requirements set by Section 609 of P.L. 101-162 for continued importation of shrimp into the United States. Section 609 prohibits importation of shrimp and products of shrimp harvested in a manner that may adversely affect sea turtle species. Media Note
					United States and Uruguay Sign a Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement Washington, DC April 29, 2008 The new agreement provides a mechanism through which the United States and Uruguay can broaden cooperation in all scientific and technology fields, and move forward in areas of collaboration such as energy, health issues, science and technology education, engineering, sustainable development, agriculture, and natural resources.  It will support government-to-government exchanges and scientific partnerships between private, academic, and non-governmental entities. Media Note
					U.S.-Italy 9th Biennial Review Meeting on Scientific and Technological Cooperation April 24, 2008 The two sides reviewed progress made in a wide range of scientific and technological areas over the last two years. Since the last Joint Commission Meeting held in Rome in 2005, the U.S. and Italy have cooperated in many scientific and technological areas, including health, space technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy, marine research, the environment, astronomy and physics. Media Note
					Earth Day April 22, 2008 Twenty million people across America celebrated the first Earth Day in 1970. It was a time when cities were buried under their own smog and polluted rivers caught fire. Now Earth Day is celebrated annually around the globe. Notice to the Press | Media Note | Assistant Secretary McMurray's Remarks | earthday.gov
					Challenges Combatting Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing Washington, DC April 16, 2008 On April 16, 2008, Deputy Assistant Secretary Dave Bolton testified before the House Subcommittee on Fisheries Wildlife, and Oceans to discuss the challenges and successes in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.  Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing undermines efforts to conserve and manage shared fish stocks and threatens the sustainability of all fisheries. Full Text
U.S.-Libya Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement Washington, DC April 4, 2008 Deputy Secretary Negroponte and Mohammed Taher Siala discussed a broad range of bilateral and regional issues, including counter-terrorism cooperation and political reform. The two sides exchanged Diplomatic Notes, which brings into force the U.S.-Libya Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement, signed January 3, 2008. This agreement is the first official bilateral agreement signed between the two countries since re-establishment of relations in 2004. The new Agreement provides a mechanism through which the United states and Libya can broaden cooperation in all scientific and technology fields. Fact Sheet
					Climate Change, Combating Trade in Illegal Wildlife, and Protecting the World’s Forests Washington, DC April 2, 2008 Assistant Secreary MacMurray: "President Bush has made clear that the United States will do its part to cut greenhouse gas emissions at home. Since 2001, we have devoted over $45 billion to climate change research and have requested $7.4 billion more in 2008 for dozens of voluntary, incentive-based, and mandatory programs."  Remarks
					Global Effort to Defeat Malaria Washington, DC March 12, 2008 Secretary Rice (Mar. 12): "The President asked, at a time of such growing prosperity and such global good fortune, why are millions and millions of our fellow human beings dying from a disease that can be prevented with something as simple as a well-covered place to sleep." Full Text
					Poaching American Security: Impacts of Illegal Wildlife Trade U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources Washington, DC March 5, 2008 Assistant Secretary McMurray (Mar. 5): "[I]n recent years, illegal trafficking has grown and now contributes much more significantly to the loss or threatened loss of our most precious wildlife. In fact, the illegal trade has brought us to a "tipping point" -- in other words, it is pushing many species over the edge to extinction." full text | more