Keeping a cool head at a time of global warming

30th March 2009

Daniel A. Weygandt

Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General Milan

Biography

A. Daniel Weygandt assumed his duties as Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General Milan in September 2007, Mr. Weygandt served as Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. From 2004 to 2006, he served as Director of the Office of Austrian, German, and Swiss Affairs in the Bureau of European Affairs in the State Department. Prior to that, Mr. Weygandt had worked for three years (2001 to 2004) as Deputy Chief of Mission at the United States Embassy in Vienna.
The U.S. Consul General in Milan began his diplomatic career in 1979 and served as Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs and First Secretary of the Economic Section at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow; as Consul General at the U.S. Consulate General in Hamburg; as First Secretary and Civil Air Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Bonn; and as Vice Consul to the U.S. Consulate General in Istanbul. In addition, Mr. Weygandt served as a senior economist in the Office of Central European Affairs at the Department of State in Washington, DC; as Deputy Permanent Representative to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organizations in Rome; and as international affairs officer at the Bureau of United Nations Affairs in Washington. He received a B.A. from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in International Relations from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Weygandt speaks French, Turkish, Italian, German and Russian.

Abstract

In face of the current challenges, the United States is ready to take up the leadership role it traditionally assumed in science and in environment-related issues, in the full knowledge that global consensus in these areas is not an easy thing to achieve. International leadership is necessary for this purpose, and the Obama administration is ready to pursue this. Today, when it comes to scientific and technological knowledge, it is for the political class to define the measures that must be adopted and the investments that must be made and here, the official position of the United States assumes great importance. From the beginning of his mandate, President Obama has concentrated on science and technology, as is proven by the policies formulated in Washington and by the political appointments made.
The Obama administration has appointed a Nobel Laureate to the position of Energy Secretary and a Special Envoy for Climate Change to the State Department. He has also confirmed that he will continue the established tradition of United States governments of investing in cutting edge scientific research and in efforts to improve the performance of Americans in the sciences generally, which are the precondition of success in the global economy. In the new strategy, investments destined for so-called green innovation will lead to the achievement of three key objectives: the creation of jobs, the reduction of energy consumption/diversification of energy sources, and the reduction in greenhouse gasses. Moreover, the President is awaiting the passage of a draft law from Congress that places a limit on carbon pollution and is intended to further stimulate private investment in green technologies and alternative energy.
These investments are an important aspect of the direction our economy is going in; however they should not remain a priority only for the United States. From this point of view, Italy and the United States must and can assist one another. Investment and the mutual collaboration of Italian and American researchers can reduce the cost of every new technology in both countries. The United States have a long tradition of developing environmental technologies, reflected also in north Italy, and this creates a natural synergy which can be used immediately to enhance bilateral cooperation. For our part, we will be active in promoting such cooperation, but success will depend on those Italian entrepreneurs and institutions intent on acting together to share their best practices with their American partners. At this time of crisis we are facing very serious challenges in common, but also incredible opportunities to reform the global economy in concert.
In order to exploit this historical opportunity to the full, both of our countries must continue the tradition of cooperation and close partnership which binds us. Each must reinforce in the other the conviction that it is necessary to resist protectionist responses to the economic crisis and isolationist responses to problems of a political nature. Likewise, just like old friends, we should maintain an open and frank dialogue on the need for continuous economic reform.