NEWS GOVERNMENT A new "green" direction for U.S. State Department? In a recent speech heralded by the State Department as a major policy statement, Secretary of State Warren Christopher promised to "put environmental issues where they belong: in the mainstream of American foreign policy." He presented the outline of a program—most of which would take place in 1997 that commits the State Department to developing strategies to cut greenhouse gases and toxic chemicals use to better managing the world's forests and to bringing the longdelayed Biodiversity Convention and the Law of the Sea Treaty to the Senate for a ratification vote Reactions from the foreign affairs and environmental communities were divided; some saw the April 9 speech at Stanford University as a major shift, and others said it did not go far enough and was long overdue, especially considering the leading international environmental role Vice President Al Gore promised for this administration during the 1992 presidential election. State Department officials, however, said the speech and a memo issued in February requiring department bureaus and overseas missions to develop plans to integrate environmental concerns into daily activities demonstrate a fundamental change inside the department. The secretary's remarks will give greater legitimacy to efforts within the department to consider environmental issues according to Rafe Pomerance deputy assistant secretary for environment and development. It will be a long-term process he acknowledged but the speech was "historic" and a "huge step forward " "[The memo and speech] did not come out of the blue," a State Department official added, noting that the environment had been important to the secretary but became an "emerging issue" with more impetus following recent trips by Christopher to Latin America and Chernobyl. The department has been
locked in a Cold War mentality and has failed to recognize new challenges, according to Walter Reid, World Resources Institute vice president for programs. "However, this was a really good speech," he said. "State Department people tell me they interpret this as more than politics or rhetoric. It calls on them to do things, to pay attention to the environment, and it comes at a time when the department is searching for a new role. This is the first time at that level in the State Department that there has been such an explicit recognition of the links between environmen-
"The environment may be emerging as a component of a new paradigm for the department." Walter Reid, World Resources Institute
tal conditions in other countries and national security. The environment may be emerging as a component of a new paradigm for the department." Along with the speech and memo came the additional signal of the environment's elevated status with the recent appointment of Eileen Claussen as assistant secretary for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs. Claussen is an experienced environmental regulator witii a long history of work at EPA on acid rain and international issues. She and Undersecretary for Global Affairs Timothy Wirth are expected to raise the department's level of interest in the environment Part of the Christopher plan requires the State Department to create "environmental opportunity hubs" in key U.S. embassies to help U.S. companies sell
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environmental technologies, advance sustainable development projects, and address regional natural resource issues. The offiU.S. Secretary of State Warren cial added, Christopher however, that it was unclear which embassies would house the hubs, whether the hubs would be regional or national, and the number that would be created. In fact, the aide said, much of the program remains to be developed. Christopher spelled out a list of activities that have been on the back burner for years, which will be addressed next year, he said, concluding with a conference on strategies to improve U.S. compliance with international agreements at year's end. This plan, he said, had the potential to make 1997 "the most important year for the global environment since the Rio Summit." However, Christopher Flavin, senior vice president for research at the Worldwatch Institute, and Steve Mills of the Sierra Club worry that the change is only an attempt to use the environment's popularity to aid Clinton's election year prospects. "In a way this seems a bit embarrassing for the administration," Flavin said. "They came into office saying they were going to draw a strong contrast with the Republicans on issues like climate change, and frankly they don't have a lot to show for it. We got the Clinton Climate Plan, but it is way short of slowing emissions of greenhouse gases." Mills added, "The Sierra Club is very supportive and enthusiastic and will work to see [the increased environmental emphasis] come about. We expect to see something happen, and people in the department tell me this is the real Christopher coming through. But we also remember that a lot of things are promised in election years." JEFF JOHNSON
