Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told representatives of the world's 17 major economies that the United States is fully engaged in issues relating to climate change and is no longer absent without leave in the matter.

Clinton said climate change was not only an environmental issue but also an economic, health, energy and security issue as she gave her remarks on Monday during the Major Economics Forum on Energy and Climate held at the State Department in Washington. She also urged countries to take responsibility in the matter.

All of us participating today must cooperate in developing meaningful proposals to move the process forward. New policy and new technologies are needed to resolve this crisis, and they won't materialize by themselves, Clinton said.

Clinton outlined some of the progress that the U.S. has made on climate change by citing a decree from the Environmental Protection Agency that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions threaten public health and welfare. She also mentioned President Obama's proposal to establish a cap-and-trade system to reduce emissions.

In addition to the United States, nations participating in the forum are Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United Kingdom. A representative from Denmark is also attending because the country will host the United Nations climate conference in December. The nations convened are responsible for 75 percent of the world's global emissions of heat-trapping gases.

The forum - announced by President Barack Obama in March - promotes the dialogue to advance the exploration of concrete initiatives and joint ventures that increase the supply of clean energy while cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

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