Leaders of World's Cities Convene @ COP15 :: Focus on California

While the US Senate is in conflict over the preferred approach to climate change regulation, the states have been acting independently with great success, and additional plans for more initiatives.

California, in particular is taking big steps to address climate change. Senator Barbara Boxer, the Chairman of the US Senate Environment & Public Works Committee had planned to attend and speak @ COP15. Since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs her vote for health care reform in DC this week, she is unlikely to attend COP15 and has said that she will give her prepared speech from a DC location on Friday.


photo: Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Barbara Boxer, Arnold Schwarzenegger after meeting about auto efficiency and emissions

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is @ COP15 as I write this, promoting California's leadership in climate change.

On December 7th California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he and other prominent governors would attend COP15. He said that he would give a keynote address at the City of Copenhagen-sponsored Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors.

Here's an address that Schwarzenegger gave today @ COP15.



(Now if only Schwarzenegger would place the same priority on California's state parks, 80% of which he threatened to close in order to address California's budget shortfall.)

Meanwhile, the Copenhagen Climate Summit for Mayors that Schwarzenegger mentioned in his speech is currently underway; mayors from 80+ of the world's major cities are meeting to discuss approaches to climate change.

Half the world's population is now living in the cities and the number is rapidly growing. Cities around the world are responsible for up to 80% of global CO2 emissions.


photo: Chairman C40, Mayor of Toronto, David Miller Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Ritt Bjerregaard Secretary of Environment, Edward Yau, Hong Kong, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City, Mayor Kimbisa, Dar Es Salaam @ a December 15 Summit event

It will be interesting to see what comes of the Summit!

Meanwhile, leaders have been meeting back in the USA -

In October, 30 governors from around the world gathered in Los Angeles for the Governors' Global Climate Summit 2 in Los Angeles. Olav Kjørven, UN Assistant Secretary General and UN Development Programme policy director called the October summit "a major milestone on the way to a just and equitable deal in Copenhagen.”

At the Summit today Governor Schwarzenegger announced that he wants the UN to hold a climate summit in California.