For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 2, 2003
Science and Technology Fact Sheet
Fact Sheet: Action on Science and Technology
Presidential Action
Today, President Bush and the other G-8 Leaders agreed on an
Action Plan designed to care for our environment while growing our
economies.
The Plan builds on U.S. initiatives to develop transformational
technologies in three areas: energy, agriculture, and global
observation.
The Challenge: Promoting economic growth while securing a better
quality of life for people around the world calls for the development
and deployment of cleaner and more cost-effective technologies. For
instance, next generation energy technologies will be able to provide
more reliable energy while dramatically reducing the health burdens of
pollution.
G-8 Response: Today, G-8 Partners agreed to Cooperative Action on
Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, and will:
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Develop (1) hydrogen fuel cell technology and infrastructure aimed
at making fuel cell vehicles price competitive within two decades,
(2) cleaner fossil fuel technologies, including cleaner coal, and (3)
new-generation nuclear technologies.
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Promote agricultural technologies and practices, including
biotechnology, to prevent famine, enhance nutrition, improve
productivity, conserve water and natural resources, reduce the
application of chemicals and improve human health and biodiversity.
Carry forward this commitment by participation in the U.S.-hosted
Agricultural Science and Technology Ministerial Conference, June 23-25,
2003.
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Build a better integrated global observation system over 10 years,
to be kicked off at the Earth Observation Summit in Washington,
D.C. on July 31, 2003.
Other U.S. Actions: The U.S. is investing $1.7 billion in the
development of hydrogen fuel cell technology and hydrogen powered
"Freedom Car." The U.S. is also spending $1 billion on the world's
first zero-emission coal power plant.
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