Governor Creates Subnational Government Entity
http://gov.ca.gov/press-release/14032/
Gov. Schwarzenegger Announces New Coalition of Subnational Leaders to Combat Climate ChangeGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger and subnational leaders from Canada, Nigeria, France and Algeria today announced they have agreed to advance the concept of a new regional coalition to fast track the results of the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference and push their respective national governments into more rapid actions and stronger commitments to fight climate change. These founding members will develop the coalition’s principles, formulate a shared vision of global security and prosperity and recruit other subnational members for an official launch of the Club of 20 Regions (R20) next September. The R20 coalition is an extension of the Global Climate Solutions Declarationsigned at Governor Schwarzenegger’s Governors’ Global Climate Summit 2in October. “R20 will help pave the way in the transition to a green economy that will clean the environment, create green jobs and respond to the unavoidable impacts of climate change,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Action is needed at the national and international levels to reduce the effects of global warming, but California has shown that state and regional governments can also institute policies on their own that will see real environmental improvements and grow green jobs. R20 will continue that subnational leadership around the world by recognizing that meeting the challenges of climate change requires an unprecedented level of cooperation and collaboration through all levels of government.” At a reception for subnational governments in Copenhagen, Governor Schwarzenegger was joined by the other founding members of R20 for the announcement: Premier Jean Charest of Quebec, Canada; Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan of Delta State, Nigeria; Environmental Minister Cherif Rahmani of Algeria; and, President Jean Paul Huchon of Region Ile-de-France, France. Algerian Minister Rahmani leads the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Africa group and is a champion and supporter of subnational efforts. Many of the founding leaders have demonstrated the economic and environmental success of shifting to a low carbon economy, while others are committed to adopting climate mitigation and adaptation policies. “Québec is known as a leader among subnational states when it comes to mitigating greenhouse gases and adapting to the impacts of climate change. I am convinced that we can and should play an important role in the fight against climate change. Accordingly, Québec has decided to join international solidarity efforts with respect to the environment by participating in this initiative that will allow for the transfer of expertise and green technologies to developing countries,” said Premier Charest. “I have a particular interest in charging my people to understand the challenges of climate change and to encourage them to key into a new economy that is not built on oil. My position is that oil is not renewable and is subject to boom and burst, and now we have to contend with its environmental hazards. In addition we are now facing the prospect of a gradual elimination of oil as the dominant global commodity. I want my people to be ready for the realities of this century. R20 will help me do that,” said Governor Uduaghan. “Governor Schwarzenegger said at the opening of the Governors’ Summit that we need everyone’s help to roll the rock up to the top of the mountain: Federal and national governments for sure, but more importantly, all federated states, provinces and regions,” said Minister Rhamani. “This is the first global challenge of the modern times that humanity has to face.” “We want our R20 regions to be at the forefront of implementing a successful and ambitious COP 15,” President Huchon. California’s Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Linda Adams said, “Governor Schwarzenegger’s leadership placed California at the forefront of subnational efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, develop clean technologies and ensure more energy comes from renewable sources. And, we are proud to stand alongside like-minded leaders from around the globe to promote a cleaner future, less dependent on polluting and expensive oil.” The founding members have agreed to the attached R20 Concept, which will be further developed over the coming months with the expectation of an official launch including more members in September 2010. Generally, the concept commits members to sharing successful climate solutions, transferring innovative technology to implement targets and combining voices to urge negotiators toward a post-Kyoto climate agreement. The members of R20 will prepare a work plan to: · Develop a shared vision for global security and prosperity · Pursue adaptation strategies to address current and future climate change · Mitigate greenhouse gas emissions · Support public-private partnerships and the use of finance mechanisms to address global warming · Promote technology transfer and capacity building agreements. The UN Development Program estimates that up to 80 percent of the pollution-cutting policies that will meet a new international commitment will happen at the subnational level, making this partnership critically important to meeting post-Kyoto commitments. R20 will partner with the UN Development Program and UN Environment Program, to help fast track actions in order to meet climate change objectives. It will also work with other existing regional networks including the Forum of Global Associations of Regions, The Climate Group’s regional work, the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development and the Assembly of European Regions. R20 will work to set ambitious climate change targets while bringing together states, provinces and regions around the world that share this goal. The coalition will strive to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach by 2012, which coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Rio Conference on the Environment and Development but also with the end of the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. Since taking office, Governor Schwarzenegger has worked to bring world leaders at all government levels together to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create a healthier environment and build green economies. Most recently, the Governor joined Roberto Formigoni, the president of Lombardy Region, Italy, to urge regional and local leaders to take action in the fight against climate change and help create green jobs at the World Regions Forum that was held in Milan, Italy last month. Governor Schwarzenegger also participated in the sixth annual Saban Forum in Jerusalem, Israel, hosted by the Brookings Institution’s Saban Center for Middle East Policy, to call on the international community to commit to combat climate change and promote alternative energy. And, earlier this year, the Governor, joined by UN officials, welcomed more than 70 states, provinces and countries to California for the Governors’ Global Climate Summit 2. The largest gathering of regional leaders focused on climate solutions, the participants of the summit worked to develop cooperative partnerships and promote collaborative actions to build green economies and fight global climate change. At the conclusion of the summit, Governor Schwarzenegger and 30 global leaders signed the Global Climate Solutions Declaration committing all to work together to pursue clean transportation and mobility, support national climate change legislation, include forests in climate policy development, acknowledge the need for adaptation efforts and recognize the role of subnational governments in climate change discussions and actions. In addition, California is a founding partner of the Western Climate Initiative, one of the most comprehensive and aggressive regional initiatives in North America. The initiative was launched in February 2007 by the governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington to develop regional strategies to address climate change. Since then, it has expanded to include the states of Montana and Utah, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The partners set a regional goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. To reach that goal, the partners are working to build compatible systems to ensure that programs can be linked for maximum environmental benefits at the lowest cost |
What a shame.
The global warming hoax boat has already sailed and is sinking into the sunset. |
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:39 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright SaveOurState ©2009 - 2016 All Rights Reserved