March 2022

Memos regarding "Signing Kyoto Protocol" and "Climate Change COP-6 Negotiations Issues," sent to President Bill Clinton, November 2000

Memos reviewed by Anna Lipscomb, HKS MPP

Smoke Pollution

“Signing Kyoto Protocol – Timing” (February 6, 1998) and “Climate Change COP6-Negotiation Issues” (November 10, 2000), obtained by the National Security Archive through a Clinton Library Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, offer a behind-the-scenes look into the Clinton Administration’s deliberations on international climate change policy decisions and actions at the Kyoto Protocol and Conference of the Parties (COP-6). Although these two memos address two different points of global climate discussions – one at the end of a negotiation and the other at the beginning -- they both described opportunities for the Clinton Administration to advance its climate goals during periods of uncertainty in domestic politics.... Read more about Memos regarding "Signing Kyoto Protocol" and "Climate Change COP-6 Negotiations Issues," sent to President Bill Clinton, November 2000