Press Releases 2006

President Bush's Top Energy and Environment Advisor Meets Indian Government and Business Officials

August 22, 2006

NEW DELHI - A delegation of senior U.S. government officials, led by James L. Connaughton, the White House Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, is in India this week for high level talks on energy security and environment.  The delegation's visit is part of the historic agreements and initiatives established by President Bush and Prime Minister Singh last March.

The U.S. delegation is consulting with senior Indian government officials and political leaders and representatives of Indian industry.  These meetings include the efforts of the United States and India to achieve the goals of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP), a six-country partnership to promote economic growth and energy security through energy efficient technologies.  

Speaking today as the chief guest at a discussion on "Private Sector Engagement in APP on Clean Development and Climate and Methane-to-Markets Partnership" organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Mr. Connaughton said, "This results-oriented partnership will allow our nations to develop and accelerate deployment of cleaner and more energy efficient technologies to meet national pollution reduction, energy security and climate change concerns in ways that reduce poverty and promote economic development."

The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate was launched in July 2005 among China, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Japan, the United States and India.  This partnership is focusing on voluntary practical measures to create new investment opportunities, build local capacity, and remove barriers to the introduction of clean, more efficient technologies.  The partnership will help each country meet nationally designed strategies for improving energy security, reducing pollution, and addressing the long-term challenge of climate change.

Mr. Connaughton and his delegation met with Mr. Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Mr. Sushil Kumar Shinde, Minister of Power, Mr. Anand Sharma, Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Ashwani Kumar, Minister of State for Commerce, Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman, and with leading members of the Confederation of Indian Industry.

The U.S. delegation will also visit Chennai and Mumbai before returning to New Delhi August 26 to meet with Indian industry leaders, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry.