Embassy News

Earth "Week" Speaker Crisscrosses Hungary with News on California’s Air Pollution Reduction

Ms. Witherspoon speaks at the Business Leaders' Forum. (Embassy photo by Attila Németh - full size photo)

State Department Speaker Catherine Witherspoon helped Embassy Public Affairs Section commemorate Earth Day with a week of presentation on U.S. state initiatives to reduce carbon emissions during her April 20-26, 2008 visit. Witherspoon met with environmental NGOs, business leaders, students, the general public, as well as mayors, city officials, and a Member of Parliament during her stops in Budapest, Debrecen, Veszprém, Tatabánya, and Keszthely.

Ambassador Foley introduced Witherspoon at the Business Leaders’ Forum where she also set the stage for consultations with the Regional Environmental Center. At this center, Witherspoon discussed California’s efforts to involve governments, NGOs, and private companies in formulating environmental regulations. This model offers potential solutions for the environmental problems of Central and Eastern Europe as well. 

In interviews with Hungarian Radio and Magyar Nemzet Witherspoon emphasized that U.S. government authorities have recognized the importance of climate protection, and that California’s regulations on emissions are an excellent model for adoption at the national level.