By Noah Browning
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The United States can tackle threats to the climate through technological advances and fossil fuels will remain a priority for the U.S. government and business, the assistant secretary for Fossil Energy at the U.S. Department said on Tuesday.
The world should look to the United States' ability to reduce its emissions, Steven Winberg said at an oil conference in South Africa, a day after the Trump administration formally moved to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
"We can solve any climate issue with technology development, one thing you see back in U.S. history is we have consistently solved challenges that were put before us," Winberg told Reuters.
The United States, the top historic greenhouse gas emitter and a leading oil and gas producer, is the only party to the accord to seek an exit.
Winberg was visiting Cape Town as part of a major oil conference drawing energy ministers from across Africa as well as U.S. and international energy companies.
Asked about the view of U.S. allies and partners on the U.S. withdrawal, Winberg said: "My message would be, take a look at what we're doing in the United States on reducing our emissions and developing 21st century technology".
Winberg said U.S. carbon dioxide emissions had fallen by 14% between 2005 and 2017 and cited the development of liquid natural gas and its potential to be converted into cleaner hydrogen, capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide and advances in coal-fired boilers.
The Trump administration in August proposed rescinding Obama-era limits on oil and gas industry emissions of methane, one of the main pollutants scientists link to climate change.
On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it planned to ease Obama-era rules on toxic coal ash.
(The story corrects to say in paragraph 4 that U.S. to become only country to formally seek Paris pact exit, not only country outside pact).
(Reporting By Noah Browning; Editing by Catherine Evans and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)