Under Secretary Jose W. Fernandez

#Plasticpollution is a global problem that affects our environment, biodiversity, health, food security, and economies. The United States strongly believes it should be part of the solution to this crisis, and we’re committed to securing an ambitious and effective instrument at #INC5 in Busan, South Korea. ??https://lnkd.in/e_VshFAW — Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

Secretary Blinken has said, “Economic Security is National Security.” After events like COVID-19, supply chain logjams, and trade disputes with the Peoples Republic of China, this notion has become a central tenet of our foreign policy. It’s fundamental to our work through economic diplomacy — from clean energy to climate change to food security — and much, much more. Learn more in the coming weeks about what we’re doing across the U.S. Department of State’s “E Family” of bureaus and offices to deliver on the benefits of economic diplomacy for Americans. Follow along as we share from all our accounts on LinkedIn and other social media: ??U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs ??Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs ??U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Energy Resources ??Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships ??Special Envoy for Global Food Security Dr. Cary Fowler ??Special Representative Sarah Morgenthau

One of this year’s #SecStateACE winners – Koster Keunen of Watertown, CT – helped create markets for small-volume beekeepers in West Africa to sell beeswax (https://lnkd.in/gAf8FWrf). That’s entrepreneurship that begets entrepreneurship! I truly enjoyed meeting with our yearly #SecStateACE winners because they think beyond their own well-being. Entrepreneurs empowering entrepreneurs: Who better to train than the experts on the ground? #GEW2024 #GEW #GlobalEntrepreneurshipWeek — U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Special Representative Sarah Morgenthau

#GEW2024 POWER program in Laos Results in Major Design Label Collaboration with Lao Artisan Weavers In 2023, U.S. Embassy Vientiane implemented a Providing Opportunities for Women’s Economic Rise (POWER) program, a U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs initiative, that recently resulted in an exclusive design collaboration between the professional women’s wear brand M.M. LaFleur and Ock Pop Tock, a Luang Prabang-based small-to-medium enterprise that employs rural women producing artisan, handwoven textiles. ?During the 2023 POWER initiative, M.M. LaFleur Chief Creative Officer, Miyako Nakamura, held workshops with over two dozen female artisans and local designers in Vientiane and in rural villages in northern Laos that led to the current commercial collaboration. ?The two companies are exploring further collaborations, as well as projects with other artisan groups in Laos.? ?? Boosting exports for Laos’s handwoven textiles provides much-needed income for hundreds of village weavers many of whom belong to minority groups and remote communities.? Supporting Laos’s handwoven textiles, a source of national pride, demonstrates U.S. support for Laos’s cultural identity and helps build Lao connections to global markets.? ? ?? ?? Check out their story here:?? https://lnkd.in/gPkXy_Wp?

U.S. Department of State: At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29 Azerbaijan), the United States has worked with international partners to accelerate global climate action. The U.S. is doing our part at home to build on historic agreements at previous UN Climate Change Conferences, including working to reduce emissions of methane and other climate super pollutants. We’re also investing in clean energy and green jobs. With USAID, we’re implementing the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience to help 500 million people worldwide adapt to and manage the impacts of climate change by 2030. We are delivering $3 billion per year toward this commitment. The U.S. has delivered on President Biden’s pledge to scale up support to $11 billion per year for developing countries’ efforts to protect vital ecosystems, transition to clean energy, and bolster their climate resilience. — Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs

In Busan, South Korea, and we’ve just concluded an #EPPIC_Plastics convening of experts on avoiding #PlasticPollution in the Food and Beverage industry, discussing the value of public-private partnerships in sharing common challenges and innovative product design solutions! This #EPPIC convening complemented the ongoing UN Plastics Treaty negotiations at #INC5 in Busan, for an international, legally binding instrument to #EndPlasticPollution. It was hosted by The Aspen Institute, with partners IUCN, The Ocean Foundation, Searious Business, and supported by the U.S. Department of State. EPPIC (the End Plastic Pollution International Collaborative) exists to make a difference, engaging various multilateral stakeholders to discuss shared challenges in combating the plastic pollution crisis. It has already sparked robust conversations for solutions that shift product design to address plastic pollution. To continue the momentum, learn more about EPPIC at our website and join us! https://lnkd.in/e9nUehY7 UICN México, América Central y el Caribe; UICN Afrique Occidentale et Centrale

Sustainable small-scale fisheries around the world support economic growth, ensure food security, provide livelihoods, and are critical to the conservation of our ocean. #WordFisheriesDay

The stream [ https://lnkd.in/eaMKQGna ] for the U.S. Center in #Baku at #COP29 goes live on November 19, 16:45 local time. Important conversations on investing in healthy soils, and more! https://lnkd.in/eDhGuKD6

Our friends and partners in Greenland understand all too well how important it is to find sustainable solutions for our common future. And sustainable solutions require like-minded partnership and connectivity. ???? ?? ???? That’s why I’m here…

The rare metals in your phone rely on global supply chains. Disruptions caused by shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic revealed how important it is that we advance resilient supply chains. Addressing this issue is part of our Economic Diplomacy, led by my team, the bureaus and offices of the U.S. Department of State’s “E” Under Secretariat. Economic Diplomacy plays a critical role in accomplishing our top foreign policy priorities, including: ?? State is an essential gateway for American businesses operating overseas. Through our Direct Line program, hundreds of U.S. companies have connected to our ambassadors and experts on the ground in more than 190 countries to gain critical market insights. ?? Foreign investment also drives growth in the U.S. and addresses global challenges. Korean solar cell manufacturers invested more than $2.5B to build factories in Georgia that are projected to result in 2,000 green jobs. ?? For global supply chains in critical minerals essential to the energy transition, we want to avoid dependence on a single source. The U.S. launched a Minerals Security Partnership (or #MSP) with 14 countries, the EU, and the private sector to build reliable supply chains. ?? Addressing the climate crisis not only helps the planet, but also improves the economic security of Americans and people around the world. As part of U.S. efforts, we negotiated the first United Nations Global Stocktake and secured emissions targets in aviation and shipping sectors. We are ensuring Americans’ economic security through our work with allies and partners on these and other critical issues. ———————————————————————— ?? Learn more about the E Family bureaus and offices at: https://lnkd.in/ewwK6q_c. . . . U.S. Department of State – Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs Special Representative Sarah Morgenthau U.S. Department of State - Bureau of Energy Resources Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships Special Envoy for Global Food Security Dr. Cary Fowler Nina Hachigian Geoffrey Pyatt J.R. Littlejohn Amy Holman