United Kingdom, California to Collaborate on Climate Change Policy

Recognizing an immediate need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the adverse consequences of climate change, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and British Prime Minister Tony Blair have announced their intention to become partners and act aggressively to address climate change and promote energy diversity.



Gov. Schwarzenegger and Prime Minister Blair signed an agreement during an hour-long roundtable focusing on clean energy and climate issues. The event, held July 31, was attended by more than a dozen CEOs. At the signing, Gov. Schwarzenegger did not shy away from criticizing the lack of action on the federal level.



California will not wait for our federal government to take strong action on global warming, Gov. Schwarzenegger said. Today, we are taking an unprecedented step by signing an agreement between California and the United Kingdom. International partnerships are needed in the fight against global warming and California has a responsibility and a profound role to play to protect not only our environment, but to be a world leader on this issue as well.



Specifically, the agreement commits both California and the UK to:

• Evaluate and implement market-based mechanisms that spur innovation. The UK will share best practices on emissions trading and lessons learned in Europe. California and the UK also will explore the potential for linkages between market-based mechanisms that will better enable the carbon markets to accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy.
• Deepen their understanding of the economics of climate change. Both California and the UK have efforts underway to quantify the economic impacts of climate change, mitigation efforts and adaptation strategies. They will share results from these ongoing and emerging studies. In particular, they will seek to understand how best to model the impact of climate change emissions reduction policies and adaptation measures on regional and national economies.
• Collaborate on technology research. California and the UK will coordinate their energy sector efforts to switch to clean energy technologies, promote green buildings and increase the use of efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Both will share information regarding efforts to reduce emissions from the transportation sector, including Californias emission standards and hydrogen highway and the UKs experience with a renewable fuels standard and clean coal technologies.
• Enhance linkages between their scientific communities. Enhanced coordination will help them understand the impacts of climate change at a regional level, potential mitigation strategies and adaptation measures, as well as acceptable levels at which to stabilize emissions. There are a number of efforts to build on, most notably at the UKs Hadley Centre and the Virtual Climate Center in California.

Because of Californias massive and growing economy, the state is the 12th largest emitter of carbon in the world, despite leading the nation in energy efficiency standards and lead role in protecting its environment. During the roundtable, Gov. Schwarzenegger stressed the importance of protecting his state's economy and the environment at the same time.



People always say you can't be pro-business and pro-environment, but they are dead wrong, said Gov. Schwarzenegger. You can do both and were proving it everyday in California. We are attacking global warming and still creating thousands of new jobs. We are leaders in energy efficiency and leaders in attracting new investment.



The roundtable was hosted by the Climate Group, a nonprofit organization based in London, with an office in San Francisco, that mobilizes corporate and government leaders to build awareness about climate change to promote the acceleration of greenhouse gas emissions reductions.



"Because climate change is a global problem, it requires a global partnership between business, government and NGOs," said Dr. Steve Howard, chief executive officer of the Climate Group. "We have convened the roundtable so that Prime Minister Blair and Gov. Schwarzenegger can discuss practical ideas with business leaders. Focusing on how business and government can work together to bring about the technology revolution needed, the discussion will help accelerate the transition to a low carbon economy."



More information on the roundtable is available at: http://theclimategroup.org