The unveiling of the partnership, R20 -- Regions of Climate Action, came on the final day of the Governor’s Global Climate Summit 3. The membership includes state, province and regional governments, private individuals and companies, academics, and other non-governmental partners.
They’ve vowed to undertake efforts to fast track the development of clean technologies, climate resilient projects and green investment, while also seeking to influence national and international policies.
“We can’t afford to wait for national and international movement; action is needed now,” said Schwarzenegger, who is leaving office in January and will be replaced by Jerry Brown, who as governor of California in the 1970s, and later as state Attorney General and Mayor of the City of Oakland, compiled his own impressive record on environmental and energy issues.
Schwarzenegger went on to note that given the state of the climate and rate of renewable energy development, “the role of sub national governments is more important than ever”.
“California has shown that state and regional governments can institute policies that will grow the green economy, create jobs and clean our environment,” he said. “With this unprecedented level of cooperation and collaboration, R20 will continue this leadership around the world and will help influence national and international action.”
Over the next 12 months, the R20 will strive to facilitate public-private partnerships, share best practices, accelerate the development of green innovations and begin implementing clean energy demonstration projects.
Within five years, the partnership intends to have at least 20 sub national governments enact comprehensive low-carbon policies and implement projects, using successful models from progressive regional leaders as a guide.
The members said they also will work with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to demonstrate the critical role that sub national governments play in the fight to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
“UNEP is pleased to be part of the R20 Initiative, and is committed to working with all sectors of society, including sub-national governments, to help in the transition to a low carbon, green economy,” said Amy Fraenkel, Director of UNEP’s Regional Office for North America.
Schwarzenegger first began talking about the formation of a sub national coalition at the Copenhagen climate talks last year. At the time, he described it as an extension of the Global Climate Solutions Declaration he signed in October 2009.
Deepening ties to neighbours
This year’s Governor’s Global Climate Summit drew over 1,500 participants from more than 80 states, provinces and countries, and was intended to serve as a forum for building partnerships of influence prior to the next round of international climate talks in Cancun, Mexico in December.
In addition to announcing the formation of R20 -- Regions of Climate Action, Schwarzenegger joined Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski and British Columbia (Canada) Premier Gordon Campbell at the Pacific Coast Collaborative Leaders Forum in announcing actions to protect the Pacific Coast environment and economy including efforts to improve the health of the Pacific Ocean and address sustainability issues such as developing infrastructure to support electric vehicles and laying the foundation for the future of high-speed rail along the Pacific Coast.
Schwarzenegger also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Governor Arnóbio Marques de Almeida Júnior from Acre, Brazil and Governor Juan José Sabines Guerrero from Chiapas, Mexico to combat climate change and protect tropical forests.
The agreement builds off of the progress made through the Governors’ Climate and Forests Taskforce which grew out of the first Governors Summit in 2008 and helps accelerate collaborative work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and land degradation in the worlds’ tropical forests.
For additional information:
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
