Background: 

As president of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Eileen Claussen has advocated emission reductions of greenhouse gases and encouraged cooperative and innovative approaches by public, private and non-governmental actors to the challenges presented by global warming.  She formed the Business Environmental Leadership Council comprising representatives from 38 leading international companies who are working together to establish and meet emission reduction objectives, and to invest in new, more efficient products, practices and technologies.  This group is actively taking concrete steps to implement the market-based mechanisms that were adopted in principle in Kyoto.

Claussen is the former assistant secretary of state for oceans and international environmental and scientific affairs. She was responsible for developing and implementing policy on behalf of the United States on major international issues, including climate change; ozone depletion; chemicals; natural resource issues, including forests, biodiversity, oceans, fisheries and wildlife conservation; and the sustainable development efforts of the multilateral development banks and the United Nations. She is also a member of the board of directors of the Environmental Law Institute. Prior to joining the Department of State, Claussen served for three years as a special assistant to the president and senior director for Global Environmental Affairs at the National Security Council.

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