保護白令海、建構智慧電網 美俄攜手合作

President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev today declared their intention to deepen cooperation between their two countries to protect nature and natural resources in the cross-boundary Bering Strait region.

Meeting at the Hotel Royal Barriere in Deauville, France on the margins of the G8 Summit opening day, the two leaders said they would expand interaction between the national agencies that are responsible for the specially protected natural territories and areas of both countries in the State of Alaska and across the border in Russia's Chukotka Autonomous District.

"Understanding the significance of unique Arctic ecosystems of Alaska and Chukotka in the Bering Strait region; and conscious of the effects of climate change and other pressures on the common natural and cultural heritage of the Bering Strait region," the two leaders confirmed their mutual interest "in deepening cooperation and strengthening ties."

Their statement gave special attention to the "need to protect the rights of native peoples residing in Alaska and Chukotka, and to ensure that residents and native peoples engaged in cultural and traditional activities aimed at providing for their personal needs have continued access to natural resources in accordance with each nation's laws."

Chukotka has large reserves of oil, natural gas, coal, gold, and tungsten, which are slowly being exploited, but much of the rural population survives on subsistence reindeer herding, whale hunting, and fishing.

On the U.S. side of the border, commercial and subsistence fishing is important as is gold mining and tourism.

On a different environmental issue, the Presidents hailed a ground-breaking agreement finalized earlier this month that deepens collaboration on energy efficiency, smart grid technology and clean energy. "The collaboration will help grow our economies while enhancing their sustainability," they said.

USAID's Deputy Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Jonathan Hale explained, "This new U.S. - Russia cooperation will enable utilities to reduce harmful emissions, including greenhouse gases, by enhancing their ability to help consumers use energy more efficiently; integrate and deliver renewable energy; and more efficiently transmit and deliver electricity to consumers."

A smart grid overlays an existing electrical grid with an information and net metering system that includes smart meters. When power is least expensive the user can allow the smart grid to turn on selected home appliances. At peak times, when electricity is most costly, it could turn off selected appliances to reduce demand.

Smart grids are being promoted by many governments as a way of addressing energy independence, global warming and emergency resilience issues.

Since March 2009, CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric has installed more than 267,000 smart meters and, with the aid of a $200 million stimulus grant, expects to complete installation of over two million smart meters, with communications infrastructure and computing systems, in 2012.