Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Encyclopedia
The Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs (OES) is a bureau within the United States Department of State
. It coordinates a portfolio of issues related to the world's oceans, environment, science and technology, and health.
The Bureau is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
. As of August 20, 2009, it is headed by Assistant Secretary Kerri-Ann Jones
. Daniel A. Clune is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary.
The Oceans and Fisheries Directorate has two offices dedicated to international oceans issues. The Office of Marine Conservation focuses on international fisheries
matters and related problems and the Office of Oceans Affairs has primary responsibility for international ocean law
and policy, marine pollution
, marine mammals, polar affairs, maritime boundaries
, and marine science. As of 2005, it is headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary David Balton.
The Environment Directorate deals with environmental issues including environmental aspects of international trade and safeguarding hazardous materials requiring multilateral agreements within the Office of Environmental Policy. The Office of Ecology & Natural Resource Conservation develops U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and managing the world ecosystem
s.
The Health, Space and Science Directorate includes the Office of International Health Affairs which works with U.S. Government agencies to facilitate policy-making regarding international bioterrorism
, infectious disease
, surveillance and response, environmental health
, and health in post-conflict situations. The Office of Space and Advanced Technology handles issues arising from our exploration of space
to assure global security regarding this new frontier, and the Office of Science & Technology (S&T) Cooperation promotes the interests of the U.S. science and technology communities in the international policy arena, negotiates framework and other S&T agreements, manages the Department's Embassy Science fellows program, and takes a leading role in representing U.S. science and technology in multilateral international organizations, such as UNESCO and other UN
organizations, APEC
, OECD
and others. The Health, Space and Science Directorate is headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Miotke.
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
. It coordinates a portfolio of issues related to the world's oceans, environment, science and technology, and health.
The Bureau is headed by the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
The Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs is the head of the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs in the United States Department of State...
. As of August 20, 2009, it is headed by Assistant Secretary Kerri-Ann Jones
Kerri-Ann Jones
Kerri-Ann Jones is the current United States Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, having assumed office in August 2009.-Biography:...
. Daniel A. Clune is the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary.
The Oceans and Fisheries Directorate has two offices dedicated to international oceans issues. The Office of Marine Conservation focuses on international fisheries
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
matters and related problems and the Office of Oceans Affairs has primary responsibility for international ocean law
Law of the sea
Law of the sea may refer to:* United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea* Admiralty law* The Custom of the Sea...
and policy, marine pollution
Water pollution
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies . Water pollution occurs when pollutants are discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds....
, marine mammals, polar affairs, maritime boundaries
Maritime boundary
Maritime boundary is a conceptual means of division of the water surface of the planet into maritime areas that are defined through surrounding physical geography or by human geography. As such it usually includes areas of exclusive national rights over the mineral and biological resources,...
, and marine science. As of 2005, it is headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary David Balton.
The Environment Directorate deals with environmental issues including environmental aspects of international trade and safeguarding hazardous materials requiring multilateral agreements within the Office of Environmental Policy. The Office of Ecology & Natural Resource Conservation develops U.S. foreign policy approaches to conserving and managing the world ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
s.
The Health, Space and Science Directorate includes the Office of International Health Affairs which works with U.S. Government agencies to facilitate policy-making regarding international bioterrorism
Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally occurring or a human-modified form. For the use of this method in warfare, see biological warfare.-Definition:According to the...
, infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
, surveillance and response, environmental health
Environmental health
Environmental health is the branch of public health that is concerned with all aspects of the natural and built environment that may affect human health...
, and health in post-conflict situations. The Office of Space and Advanced Technology handles issues arising from our exploration of space
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
to assure global security regarding this new frontier, and the Office of Science & Technology (S&T) Cooperation promotes the interests of the U.S. science and technology communities in the international policy arena, negotiates framework and other S&T agreements, manages the Department's Embassy Science fellows program, and takes a leading role in representing U.S. science and technology in multilateral international organizations, such as UNESCO and other UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
organizations, APEC
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a forum for 21 Pacific Rim countries that seeks to promote free trade and economic cooperation throughout the Asia-Pacific region...
, OECD
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is an international economic organisation of 34 countries founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade...
and others. The Health, Space and Science Directorate is headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Miotke.