“Thirteen of the warmest years on record have occurred since 2000, with this year, again, on track to be the warmest of all. We’re getting used to every next year being the warmest year of all. It seems almost every year that happens now.”
Secretary of State John Kerry and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy are about to meet in the U.S. Department of State’s Treaty Room for a signing ceremony to launch a joint air-quality program at select U.S. diplomatic missions overseas.
The deal between the U.S. Department of State – located in Foggy Bottom, once known for industrial smoke and pollution – and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes pollution as a “serious and growing health threat worldwide.” However, in many areas, real-time air quality data are unavailable.
The State Department and EPA collaboration will provide data from U.S. missions overseas to EPA’s AirNow platform. That will provide U.S. citizens and government personnel overseas with information that is more accurate to mitigate health risks from air pollution and make informed health decisions.
It also will enhance the availability of ambient air quality data and expertise around the world, offering a greater opportunity for the United States to “create partnerships on air quality with other nations.”
In the United States, of course, state and local officials have expertise in developing programs to monitor, improve, and meet air quality standards. A new fellowship program will enable technical experts from the U.S. to visit our participating diplomatic missions to help transfer skills and build capacity for air quality monitoring data analysis and maintenance. This will allow for training and exchanges with the host governments.
“This partnership reflects efficient use of government resources and a whole-of-government approach to diplomacy,” said Kerry and McCarthy. “It not only helps us better protect the health of our personnel overseas, but also contributes to the global scientific community and President Obama’s Open Government Initiative.“
