Ambassador of the United States to Belgium opens SIM Day 2

His Excellency, Ambassador of the United States to Belgium, Mr Michael Adler opened the second day of Sustainable Industrial Manufacturing Europe.

He addressed the audience of industry representatives and manufacturers on the importance of sustainability in the Biden Administration:

"Sustainability is a top priority in the Biden-Harris administration and of my tenure here as Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium. In fact, President Biden is building on his whole-of-government effort to tackle the climate crisis in a way that creates well-paying jobs, grows industries, and establishes the United States as a leader in the sustainability movement.

In December, President Biden signed an executive order directing the U.S. government to use its scale and procurement power to achieve five ambitious goals that focus on our net-zero goals, our reduced emissions targets, and our efforts to develop clean energy. The President hopes to achieve these goals by accelerating progress through domestic and international partnerships.

The U.S. government knows that the clean energy transition will be led not just by the government but by U.S. and international businesses who are committed to improving their sustainability efforts. The industrial sector is also central to tackling the climate crisis, as it is currently responsible for nearly a third of domestic greenhouse gas emissions.

By helping manufacturers use clean energy, efficiency upgrades, and other innovative technologies to reduce emissions, the Administration is supporting cleaner industry that can produce the next generation of products and materials for a net-zero economy.

These same manufacturing improvements will also protect public health by reducing the release of air and water pollutants – as well as toxic materials – that disproportionately harm low-income households and communities of color.

Important examples of these improvements include hydrogen initiatives, a Buy-Clean Task Force, use of low-carbon materials in construction projects, carbon-based trade policies, and the Initiative for Interdisciplinary Industrial Decarbonization Research.

The Environmental Protection Agency also has a long-standing program dedicated to sustainable manufacturing known as E3. The three “E’s” stand for Economy, Energy and Environment.

The E3 is a federal technical assistance framework helping communities, manufacturers and manufacturing supply chains adapt and thrive in today's green economy.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – as well as five other federal agencies – have pooled their resources to support small and medium-sized manufacturers with customized assessments. E3 is helping communities across the country reduce pollution emissions and energy use while increasing profits and creating new job opportunities.

The United States is also seeking opportunities to engage foreign partners on the topic of circular economy.

The United States’ approach to circular economy emphasizes (1) reducing life cycle impacts of materials, including climate impacts; (2) reducing the use of toxic materials; (3) decoupling materials use from economic growth; and (4) reducing the creation and disposition of waste in a way that is inclusive of local communities and acknowledges environmental justice concerns. 

Transitioning to a circular economy impacts all industry sectors, specifically electronics/ICT, batteries, packaging, plastics, textiles, construction, and agriculture. 

The U.S. private sector has a key role to play in adopting a circular economy approach to economic growth and has in fact led the way in advancing circular business models, including those that promote shared services rather than customized ownership.

I am pleased to see that a Sustainable Industrial Manufacturing event will be held in Cleveland, Ohio, on September 8-9, 2022. This will be another great opportunity for companies to collaborate on ways to further their sustainability efforts and help the world tackle the challenges posed by climate change.

I fully and enthusiastically support these efforts to make our world cleaner, safer, and more sustainable so that future generations can continue to thrive. Thank you all, and I wish you luck in your vital endeavors."