With strong leadership from President Clinton and Vice President Gore, our Administration has recognized from the beginning that our ability to advance our global interests is inextricably linked to how we manage the earth’s natural resources.  That is why we are determined to put environmental issues where they belong: in the mainstream of American foreign policy.  I appreciate and value this opportunity to outline our far reaching agenda to integrate fully environmental objectives into our diplomacy and to set forth our priorities for the future.

The environment has a profound impact on our national interests in two ways: first, environmental forces transcend borders and oceans to threaten directly the health, prosperity and jobs of American citizens.  Second, addressing natural resource issues is frequently critical to achieving political and economic stability and to pursuing our strategic goals around the world.