press releases 2008

Media Note: Earth Day Commemoration: Science and Technology Working for the Environment

April 18, 2008

Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky will deliver opening remarks at the State Department’s commemoration of Earth Day 2008. This event will include presentations illustrating four areas where science and technology serve the global environment: geospatial technology, selective fishing devices, remote sensing, and nanotechnology. Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment and Science Claudia McMurray will serve as moderator, and Science and Technology Advisor to the Secretary of State Nina Fedoroff will examine how science and technology are applied to environmental issues through research, cooperation and education.

Geospatial Technologies and Urbanization
The world’s human population will grow from 6.5 to an estimated 9.1 billion between 2005 and 2050. This growth will greatly increase demand for water, sanitation, transportation, housing and health services. Geospatial technologies are critical tools in addressing infrastructure needs and will provide solutions to the challenges of urban growth.

International Efforts to Promote Selective Fishing Gear and Techniques
Innovations in fishing gear offer significant reductions in the catch of non-target species such as sea birds, sharks, marine mammals and sea turtles. One example of such innovation is the “turtle excluder device” or TED which has reduced sea turtle mortality in shrimp trawl fisheries by more than 97 percent.

Earth Observation, Remote Sensing and Infectious Disease
NASA satellites provide unprecedented views and information about Earth’s oceans, atmosphere, and land areas, revolutionizing the study of the Earth and its climate. Information collected by satellites is used to predict the outbreak of diseases linked to climate.

Nanotechnology and the Environment
Nanotechnology plays a key role in protecting the environment and safeguarding human health. Already an engine for change in the global economic arena, nanotechnology can increase the availability of clean water using new methods of desalinization, purification, remediation, and pollution detection. Through nanotechnology, clean and reduced energy consumption may be possible using inexpensive solar and fuel cells, better lighting and insulation, and “super-batteries” for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy storage of wind-generated and solar energy.