Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and United Nations officials today joined with 30 global leaders in Los Angeles, at the closing ceremony of the Governors’ Global Climate Summit 2 to sign a declaration committing 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 the discussions on the next global climate agreement being negotiated in Copenhagen this December.
“Addressing the problems caused by climate change is the greatest environmental challenge of our time and at this summit we heard leaders and experts from around the globe discuss the innovative steps and strategies being championed in the fight against global warming,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “We have deepened our partnerships and renewed our commitment to work collaboratively to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a cleaner planet and stronger economy for the next generation. In signing this declaration we are sending a powerful message to the national leaders negotiating the next global climate agreement that we are ready for action. The time to act is now.”
“The Governors’ Global Climate Summit clearly demonstrated the key role local and state governments can play in addressing climate change. The summit also illustrated that action is needed at all levels - and in partnership with the private sector and civil society - if we are to move forward this defining issue of our time,” said Amy Fraenkel, Director of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Regional Office for North America. “Collaboration is at the heart of the United Nations’ work and UNEP looks forward to working with the many partners that were here in Los Angeles.”
“This summit confirmed that there are solutions to the climate challenge and regions are definitely a part of those solutions,” said Olav Kjorven, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and director of policy at United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). “I’m delighted to see how regions are exploring the ways they can address climate change. This is the can-do spirit we need to seal the deal in Copenhagen. At UNDP, we will step up our work with regions and national governments on planning, financing and implementing the foundations of a low carbon and poverty-free future.”
The declaration reaffirms and builds upon the goals of last year’s Governors’ Global Climate Summit. Leaders who signed the declaration are acknowledging the need for greater efforts to collaborate on climate change solutions and support the recognition of the role of subnational governments in the fight against global warming. They are also renewing their commitments to promote policies that reduce greenhouse gases and implement strategies to grow their green economies. The declaration also helps set the stage for the upcoming negotiations in Copenhagen, demonstrating the significant work already underway at the grassroots level to respond to the global climate challenge.
California’s advocacy for progressive states and provinces led to the drafting of language recognizing the important role of subnational governments. The term “subnational” is now referenced more than 100 times in the official negotiating text for Copenhagen as a result of the partnerships created and strengthened at the summit. Up to 50 to 80 percent of actions needed to reach the UN climate goals will be implemented at the state and local levels.
The following global leaders signed today’s declaration: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California, USA; Governor David Paterson, New York, USA; Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, USA; Governor Jennifer Granholm, Michigan, USA; Governor Jodi Rell, Connecticut, USA; Governor John Baldacci, Maine, USA; Governor John P. de Jough Jr., U.S. Virgin Islands, USA; Governor Mark Parkinson, Kansas, USA; Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois, USA; Governor Theodore (Ted) Kulongski, Oregon, USA; Governor Tim Kaine, Virginia, USA; Governor Bill Richardson, New Mexico, USA; Governor Martin O'Malley, Maryland, USA; Governor John Lynch, New Hampshire, USA; Minister Rick Miles Department of the Environment, New Brunswick, Canada; Premier Gary Doer, Manitoba, Canada; Premier Jean Charest, Québec, Canada; Premier Danny Williams, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada; Premier Dalton McGuinty, Ontario, Canada; Premier Darrell Dexter, Nova Scotia, Canada; Premier Gordon Campbell, British Columbia, Canada; Premier Shawn Graham, New Brunswick, Canada; Governor Antônio Waldez Góes da Silva, Amapá, Brazil; Governor Carlos Eduardo de Souza Braga, Amazonas, Brazil; Governor Arnóbio Marques de Almeida Júnior, Acre, Brazil; Governor Blairo Maggi, Mato Grosso, Brazil; Governor Ana Júla de Vasconcelos Carepa, Pará, Brazil; Honorable Peter Beattie, Premier of Queensland, Australia (1998-2007, Queensland Commissioner for the Americas); Honorable Gavin Jennings, Minister for Environment & Climate Change, State government of Victoria, Australia; Minister of the Environment and Landscape Planning, Cherif Rahmani Republic of Algeria; Minister for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management, Nicholas Berlakovich, Austria; Former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, United Kingdom; President National Institute of Ecology, Dr. Adrián Fernandez, Mexico – United Mexican States; Governor Fernando Eutimio Ortega Barnés, Campeche, Mexico - United Mexican States; Governor Irwandi Yusuf, Aceh, Indonesia; Minister of Environment, Elaine Taylor,Yukon; Christian Guyonvarc'h, Vice President of the Regional Government of Brittany, Brittany Region of France; President of Region Fatick, Senegal, Coumba Ndoffène Diouf; Minister of Environment, Sustainability and Housing Jane Davidson, Welsh, Britain; Governor Barnabas Suebu of Papua, Indonesia; Governor Kim Moon-soo of Gyeonggi Province, South Korea; Mayor Boris Johnson, London, England; Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard, Copenhagen, Denmark; President of Lombardy Regional Administration, Roberto Formigoni, Italy; Governor Salvacion Z. Perez, Antique, Philippines; Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola [SAN], State of Lagos, Nigeria; Toronto, Mayor David Miller, Canada; Governor Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan, State of Delta, Nigeria; Donetsk Regional Council Chairman Anatoly Blizniuk, Ukraine; Governor Fauzi Bowo, Jakarta, Indonesia; UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in China Khalid Malik; Director and Regional Representative, Amy Fraenkel, United Nations Environmental Programme, Regional Office for North America; Assistant Secretary-General for United Nations and Policy Director Olav Kjørven, United Nations Development Programme; and Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Honorary Witness.
Earlier today at the summit, Governor Schwarzenegger also signed a Statement of Intent with the UNDP, stating that California will work with African nations to share successful policies on energy efficiency, low carbon fuels and other clean technology in the fight against climate change.
African leaders at the summit announced a new continent-wide effort, called “A New Green Deal for Africa.” African nations are some of the least responsible for climate change, but they are some of the most vulnerable to its devastating impacts and least able to adapt. The Statement of Intent will support this effort under the current framework of the territorial approach to climate change. This effort is important because Africa has the opportunity to implement low carbon development strategies from the beginning – to grow green from the start.
The Governor also signed an agreement with Governor Luo Zhijun of the Jiangsu Province of the People’s Republic of China to form a partnership that will further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen government support for renewable energy and technological cooperation, increase energy security, promote economic activity and advance environmental sustainability. This state-to-province partnership is China’s first-ever subnational agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, the Governors Climate and Forestry Task Force which was initiated at last year’s summit signed a letter addressed to U.S. President Barack Obama, Republic of Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da calling for international leadership to reduce forestry-related greenhouse gas emissions. In the letter, the governors emphasized the critical importance of including forests and reducing emissions from deforestation and land degradation in international climate policy. The task force includes representatives from U.S., Brazil and Indonesia which represents over 50% of the world's tropical forests.