NEW DELHI: "We have to live in a global environment just as we live in a global economy. Issues such as global climate change, regional and long-range transport of air pollutants, protection of our international waters and safe disposal of hazardous waste cannot be addressed by one or even a handful of nations," United States Environmental Protection Agency administrator Stephen Johnson has said.

On his first visit to India, during which he visited Mumbai, Hyderabad and Delhi, Mr. Johnson told The Hindu that strengthening cooperation in the environment sector was as important as strengthening the economies of the world. "Pollution knows no political boundaries and the United States recognises that environmental responsibility does not stop at our borders."

He said environment was every individual's responsibility, be it a child, a non-governmental organisation or a Government leader.

"The U.S. has been the world leader in addressing the global climate change. It has already invested $29 billion in the sector."

Mr. Johnson dismissed the European Union's criticism that the U.S. should end its "negative attitude" towards international negotiation to reduce carbon emissions. "Climate change needs to be addressed in the context of sustainable economic development and we need to invest more in technology."

On the `Energy Star' ranking system adopted in the U.S., he said that by buying graded equipment, $15 billion worth of energy and greenhouse gas emission equivalent to $25 million was saved.

The U.S. Congress was in the process of passing new laws to raise the efficiency of automobiles and shift from oil to renewable alternative sources of energy.

Appreciating India's readiness to cooperate with the U.S. in the field, Mr. Johnson said the two had agreed to work with each other.

On India's progress in checking greenhouse emissions, he said it had done extremely well in areas such as cleaning the Mithi, initiating the concept of green buildings (Hyderabad) and making New Delhi the greenest city of the world, but more had to be done.

Mr. Johnson on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding with India, renewing the commitment to work together on environmental issues.

The MoU focuses on four priorities: air quality, water quality, toxic chemicals and waste and management of environmental agencies.

The Agency, which has worked to reduce mercury from hospitals in the U.S. and around the world, sees the area as an opportunity for collaboration in India.

Through the Methane to Markets Partnership — of which India is a charter member — the two partners are promoting the cost-effective recovery of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.

By fostering relationships between countries and the private sector, the two are capturing methane emissions from landfills, coalmines, and the petroleum and natural gas sector and turning it into sources of energy and wealth.

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