2007 Seed Award Winners Announced
May 30, 2007 -- The Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development announced the five winners of the 2007 biennial Seed Award. An international jury selected these five partnerships because of their potential to spur economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship at the local level. Paula Dobriansky, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs, noted that "Partnerships, such as Seed, are a vital aspect of transformational diplomacy's goal to assist local communities help themselves improve the quality of life and build a foundation for the future." For additional information please refer to the full press release or Fact Sheet. Full Story 

Madagascar's First Community-run Marine Protected Area
May 31, 2007 -- Madagascar's First Community-run Marine Protected Area partnership--a 2005 winner of the inaugural Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (SEED) Award--is now a winner of the Equator Prize. This prestigious prize, which includes $30,000, is given by the United Nations Development Program in recognition and celebration of outstanding community efforts in equatorial regions that reduce poverty through biodiversity conservation. More

U.S. Delegation to UN Commission on Sustainable Development
April 26, 2007 -- For information about the U.S.Delegation to the 15th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (April 30 - May 11, 2007), visit  http://www.state.gov/g/oes/sus/csd/. This site includes U.S. Delegates, schedule of events, remarks etc., and will be updated regularly. More

Extension of Asia-Pacific Partnership Call for Grant Proposals - New Deadline May 2, 2007 at 5:00pm EST
April 25, 2007 -- The U.S. Department of State has extended the application deadline for up to $26 million for projects in India that support the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP). Grants will range from $200,000 to $2 million (USD). Applicants must now submit their concept papers by May 2, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. EST, using www.grants.gov. More

Asia-Pacific Partnership - Call for Grant Proposals Due April 27, 2007
April 6, 2007 -- The U.S. Department of State announced the availability of up to $26 million for projects in India that support the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP). Grants will range from $200,000 to $2 million (USD). Applicants must submit their concept papers by April 27, 2007 (5:00 p.m. EST) using www.grants.gov (search for APP). The State Department will send a request for proposal to applicants with selected concept papers by May 29, 2007. Final proposals are due by June 29, 2007 (5:00pm EST). More

UN Commission on Sustainable Development
February 26, 2007 -- A multi-agency U.S. delegation will be at UN Headquarters in New York February 26-March 2 to attend the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting for the 15^th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.  CSD: Featured Solutions document | Delegates' Remarks More

National Automobile Dealers Association Accept the Energy Star Challenge
January 23, 2007 -- The National Automobile Dealers Association has accepted the Energy Star Challenge. This Challenge calls on building owners across the country to improve the efficiency of their buildings by 10% or more. EPA estimates if auto dealers cut their energy use by 10 percent they would save nearly $193 million and prevent more than 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. The National Automobile Dealers Association represents approximately 20,000 new car and truck dealers holding nearly 43,000 separate franchises, domestic and international. Full Story 

Second Biennial SEED Award:  Finalists Announced at World Economic Forum
January 25, 2007 -- UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner announced the ten finalists of the biennial Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (SEED) Awards at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Award winners will be announced during the high level segment of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York in May. Jonathan Margolis, the Chairman of the Seed Board of Directors, and U.S. Special Representative for Sustainable Development, noted that "The SEED finalists were chosen for their partnership's potential to spur economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship at the local level." Additional information about these ten sustainable development partnerships is available at: http://www.seedinit.org/.

Sierra Leone Diamonds Alliance Fuels Peace
January 11, 2007 -- The Kono Peace Diamond Alliance in Sierra Leone is helping the West African nation recover from a bloody civil war that was fueled in part by illegal gem sales. The Kono Alliance has united producers, buyers, advocates, government officials, and others in an effort to bring more of the diamonds to the legal market and secure a bigger share of profits for mining communities. The Alliance also seeks to monitor diamond royalties and fees, halt environmental degradation, and reduce exploitation of miners, especially children. Alliance partners include the government of Sierra Leone, industry heavyweight De Beers, diamond mining communities, local organizations, and international donors. More

White House Malaria Summit Highlights Impact of Malaria Partnerships
December 15, 2006 -- Speaking at the first ever White House Summit on Malaria yesterday, President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush highlighted the concrete results delivered in just the first year of a five-year, $1.2 billion President's Malaria Initiative (PMI).  "Through our early PMI partnerships with the first three focus countries," explained Mrs. Bush, "aid from the American people has reached about 6 million Africans. Next year, 30 million more will receive life-saving medicines, sprays, and nets as the program expands."  PMI was announced by President Bush June 30^th 2005 to reduce malaria deaths by half in 15 focus countries in Africa. Malaria kills more than one million people each year with 80-90 percent being children under five in Africa. One of these partnerships is Netmark, which seeks to reduce malaria cases and deaths in Africa by increasing the availability, affordability and use of insecticide-treated bednets.  White House Fact Sheet | President Bush's remarks | Mrs. Bush's remarks | Netmark Fact Sheet More

Searching for Development Partners in 2007: Call for Proposals
December 8, 2006 -- USAID's Global Development Alliance (GDA) has issued its 2007 call for proposals for partnerships in over 80 countries. Applications are due December 31, 2006. Funding will be through USAID country missions. Program areas include: education, economic growth, business and technology, gender, youth, democracy and governance, trafficking and the environment. GDA strongly encourages both existing and new development partners, including those from the private sector, to apply. More

Youth Make a Difference with Geographic Technologies
December 7, 2006 -- Through its global youth initiatives, the My Community, Our Earth (MyCOE) partnership has supported young people in more than 100 countries to conduct over 300 local sustainable development projects using geographic tools, technologies and concepts. MyCOE inspired one young Kenyan man to map local environmental problems. His recent efforts include working with Nobel prize winner Wangari Maathai's Green Belt Movement to combat land degradation. To learn more please visit http://www.sdp.gov/sdp/initiative/mycoe/. More

White Water to Blue Water Initiative Safeguarding Marine and Freshwater Resources in the Wider Caribbean Region
December 5, 2006 -- Fresh or salty, Wider Caribbean region waters overrun national boundaries, geographic divisions, and environmental distinctions. The unique characteristics of water -- whether stream, lake, aquifer, or ocean -- are central to the formation of the White Water to Blue Water Initiative (WW2BW). WW2BW is a global partnership that is creating local partnership that cut across all the usual economic and environmental categories to link fresh water and ocean ecosystems and protect habitats and endangered species. More

United States Takes Helm of the Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (Seed) Initiative's Board of Directors
December 1, 2006 -- Following the IUCN announcement that the United States Government accepted a one year appointment as the Chair of the Seed Board of Directors, the State Department named its Special Representative for Sustainable Development Jonathan Margolis as Chair of Seed's Board of Directors. Dobriansky noted that, "Our chairmanship provides an important opportunity to focus the international community's attention on the impact partnerships are making to improve the quality of people's lives." More

White Water to Blue Water Initiative Releases Primer on "Mobilizing Resources"
November 28, 2006 -- The White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW) Initiative released its second primer of practical ideas to strengthen public-private partnerships. This simple how-to guide provides practical suggestions for partnerships seeking funding, in-kind support and technical assistance while enhancing relations and cooperation. The guide is designed to be useful to those in existing partnerships as well as for new initiatives.  More

Asia-Pacific Partnership Tackles Tough Energy and Environmental Issues
November 13, 2006 -- The Asia-Pacific Partnership is not the product of lengthy treaty negotiations, but a voluntary, public-private partnership organized to address a specific, results-oriented agenda dealing with the multiple challenges of clean energy, reductions in the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions as measured against economic growth, and sustainable economic development." Full Story

Highlighting U.S. Efforts on Energy, Clean Development, Climate Change
November 6, 2006 -- Today, the U.S. Delegation at the 12th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change released USA Energy Needs, Clean Development and Climate Change: Partnerships in Action" which focuses on our international action-oriented partnerships designed to reduce greenhouse gas intensity, build local capacity, increase access to modern energy services, and facilitate sustainable development. Full Story 

America's Children and the Environment
October 24, 2006 -- U.S. EPA has released an updated version of America's Children and the Environment , a compilation of information about children's exposure to environmental pollutants. The report presents measures of trends in environmental factors related to the health and well-being of children in the United States. This update adds from 2-5 years of additional data for each of the measures in the original 2003 publication. More

Advancing Clean Energy Through the Methane to Markets Partnership
July 6, 2006 -- Germany has become the 18th member of the international Methane to Markets Partnership, a Bush Administration initiative that promotes the recovery and use of methane to provide clean energy. Germany's participation in the partnership will help reduce methane emissions and promote global energy security. More

State Department Highlights Emerging Focus on Results with U.S. Business Leaders
October 4, 2006 -- Speaking at the Business Roundtable's first Social, Economic, and Environmental (S.E.E.) Change Initiative workshop in San Jose, California, Jonathan Margolis, the State Department's Special Representative for Sustainable Development, described the recent transformation in international sustainable development discussions. "If the message in 2002 was 'Words are good, actions are better,'" said Margolis, "the message in 2006 is 'Actions are better, but results are what matter." Full Text

International Partners Join EPA's Program to Reduce Methane Emissions
Sept. 26, 2006 -- Seven oil and gas companies are signing on as charter members of the Natural Gas Star International program, an expansion of the Environmental Protection Agency's successful domestic program to reduce methane emissions. This partnership supports the international Methane to Markets Partnership. More

U.S. Launches Public-Private Partnership for Clean Water in Africa
September 21, 2006 -- On September 20, Mrs. Laura Bush announced a groundbreaking Public-Private Partnership between the U.S. Government, PlayPumps International, the Case Foundation, and other public and private sector partners. This $60 million alliance will work with 10 sub-Saharan African countries to bring the benefits of clean drinking water to up to 10 million people by 2010. The United States Government, through USAID and the U.S. President?s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, will provide a combined $10 million to this alliance over three years. [Mrs. Bush's remarks | Fact Sheet] More

Manufacturing Plants Recognized for Energy Efficiency
September 13, 2006 -- Seventeen U.S. manufacturing plants were first-time winners of EPA's Energy Star award in recognition of their energy-efficient operations that prevented some 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Full Story

EPA Hosts Multinational Summit on Energy and Air Issues in Seattle
August 30, 2006 -- EPA and government agencies from Japan and Korea co-hosted the "International Workshop on Climate Actions and Co-Benefit Opportunities" in Seattle, Washington to highlight the "co-benefits" of reducing both greenhouse gases emissions and air pollution at the same time. Representatives from Chile, China, India, and Mexico also attended. Seattle was selected as the workshop's location because of its successful measures to reduce greenhouse gases. Full Story 

Second Biennial SEED Award: Call for Proposals
August 22, 2006 -- The Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (Seed) Initiative is now accepting applications for its biennial award, a global competition designed to publicly recognize and support five of the most worthy, nascent partnerships that promote economic growth, social development and environmental stewardship. Winners will receive targeted support services to help their initiative scale up. Applications are due to the Seed Secretariat on October 15, 2006. Winners will be announced in May 2007 in New York. Previous award winners provided 1,000 households with improved water quality at lower prices in Bolivia, created the first community run protected area which supports sustainable fishing practices in Madagascar, and created a source of domestic energy operating of run-offs from one of Nigeria's largest slaughterhouses. More 

Domestic Conservation Listening Sessions
August 14, 2006 -- The Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce and Defense, the Environmental Protection Agency and the White House Council on Environmental Quality are hosting a series of domestic listening sessions throughout the country to exchange ideas on incentives, voluntary programs, and regulations that can improve results and promote cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships. For more information, about how you can participate, please visit http://cooperativeconservation.gov/sessions/index.html or for more information about this effort, please go to www.cooperativeconservation.gov.  More

Advancing Clean Energy Through the Methane to Markets Partnership
July 6, 2006 -- Germany has become the 18th member of the international Methane to Markets Partnership, a Bush Administration initiative that promotes the recovery and use of methane to provide clean energy. Germany's participation in the partnership will help reduce methane emissions and promote global energy security. More

Leveraging Foreign Assistance Through GDA
June 26, 2006 -- President Bush, speaking on June 15 in Washington D.C., at the Initiative for Global Development's 2006 National Summit, noted that the U.S. Agency for International Development's Global Development Alliance (GDA) has successfully built 400 worldwide alliances and partnerships to fight global poverty. Through the GDA, the U.S. has leveraged $1.4 billion in foreign assistance to over $4.6 billion by forming partnerships with the private sector. More

USAID and Nutriset Promote African Production of Famine Relief "Plumpy'Nut" Bar
June 23, 2006 -- The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with Nutriset, a French food company, is promoting the production of a high energy, high nutrition, peanut-based, famine relief bar, the "Plumpy'nut". The bar is being manufactured locally in Niger and Malawi and will save hundreds of thousands of people in poor countries from starvation. Plumpy'nut bars, unlike most other therapeutic foods, do not require preparation, are packaged, keep fresh after opening, and can be easily transported and distributed directly to parents and children. This project is part of USAID's public-private alliance initiative, the Global Development Alliance (GDA).  More

Panibagong Paraan 2006 Development Partnership Winners
May 30, 2006 -- Four Department of State-funded, renewable energy projects were among the 59 winners selected on May 29 at the World Bank's Panibagong Paraan 2006 Competition in Manila. Winning projects each receive approximately $20,000 in grant funding from Development Marketplace partners. The State Department contributed $100,000 to this competition. More

United States Renews Its Commitment to the SEED Initiative
May 11, 2006 -- Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky announced May 10 that the United States renewed commitment to the Supporting Entrepreneurs for Environment and Development (SEED) Initiative. A voluntary public-private partnership, Seed facilitates innovative solutions to development challenges through local partnerships. "Through the initiative's international awards program, capacity-building activities, and research and learning program, SEED is making a real difference in our collective efforts to achieve development goals at the local level," stated Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky. The Initiative, announced at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, links large and small entrepreneurs from all parts of the world to build local ability to support the outcomes from the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals.  More