The Environment, Science, Technology and Health (ESTH) Section promotes and otherwise oversees cooperation between the United States and Italy in a wide range fields detailed below.
The ESTH Section is the point of contact for technical agencies of the U.S. government, as well as universities, associations, private companies, and non-government organizations working in ESTH fields and/or performing basic and applied research activities in the aforementioned areas. At the same time, the ESTH Section facilitates the work of these entities and their Italian counterparts. A biannual joint declaration on ESTH cooperation outlines the broad range of cooperative activities. Our staff issues country clearances for over 1000 visitors each year who are involved in scientific engagement.
Our ESTH staff work closely with other offices within the Embassy which oversee related issues, principally, the Economic Section, the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the U.S. Commercial Service (USCS), the Office of Defense Cooperation (ODC), and the Office of Public Affairs (PA).
Specific issues handled by the ESTH Section
- International Climate Change Negotiations and Sustainable Development
- Emissions Trading System
- Civilian Space Cooperation (manned and unmanned scientific missions)
- Resource Conservation and Wildlife Protection
- Marine Science, Illegal Fishing
- Science-Related Aspects of Biotechnology
- Renewable Energy Research and Deployment
- Technical Aspects of Nuclear Nonproliferation
- Technology Policy and related developments
- Pandemics including Avian Influenza
- Health-Related Aspects of Bioterrorism
