Remarks on the 11th Annual Conference of AmCham MENA Regional Councils
REMARKS for CDA, ai Ambassador Daniel Rubinstein
February 26, 2023
Excellencies, members of American Chambers of Commerce from across the region, I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak at the conference today. You have a dynamic agenda of topics for discussion and I am excited by the leadership of US companies in the Middle East and around the world in tackling climate change and promoting the transition to a green economy. President Biden and his administration have confirmed the United States as the world leader on climate issues, and we have all pushed to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, an even more ambitious goal than the 2 degrees Celsius required by the 2015 Paris Agreement . This is because the scientific community has repeatedly stated that at 1.5 degrees we are beginning to reach tipping points that will fundamentally change the quality of life on our planet for generations to come. Whether as leaders in politics or industry, I think we all agree that we have a collective responsibility to be good stewards of this planet; after all we only have one. Thank you for attending this important conference and for the efforts you and your companies are making to support the transition to a more sustainable global economy.
The United States is doing its part to address the climate crisis at home and abroad. The $369 billion inflation-reducing bill signed into law by President Biden last August is the largest step taken by a single piece of legislation to combat the climate crisis. It enables the United States to meet President Biden’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and halfway there by 2030, as reflected in our ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the reflects the Paris Agreement.
The United States is also acting to lead a clean energy future that leverages market forces, technological innovation and private sector investment to address the climate crisis. Investing in clean energy generation, diversifying energy supply chains and accelerating innovation will help increase energy security and prevent energy crises like the one caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
