I thought the issue of the Environment was in the Democrats
bailiwick? Rewriting the rules of politics and global climate change leadership,
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger continues his quest to orchestrate some
expert foreign relations this week, hosting an international group (600) of the
heaviest greenhouse gas emitters. Their agenda? Try to create a successor to
the Kyoto Protocol. He appears to be taking his role as subnational treaty
broker very seriously. Although California cannot sign treaties with foreign
nations, Schwarzenegger has made an international reputation for himself.
California, however, cannot sign treaties with foreign nations.
The two-day conference will include officials from China,
India and the European Union, as well as executives from companies such as
Chevron, Wal-Mart and Cemex in both the renewable and traditional energy
sectors and other industries. Australia, Canada, Mexico and Poland will also be
represented at the summit. Leaders from participating countries will sign a
declaration at the end of the conference to work together to reduce emissions
while providing for economic growth.
"This declaration will help advance efforts being
undertaken by our national governments for the next global agreement on climate
change. Through this collaboration, we are sending a powerful message to the
rest of the world, while striving to influence the position our national
governments take in the next global agreement on climate change," said
Schwarzenegger.
Other state leaders in attendance include Florida Gov.
Charlie Crist (R), Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), Kansas Gov. Kathleen
Sebelius (D) and Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D). Representatives from Colorado,
Michigan, Utah and Washington will also be on hand to sign any summit
declarations that need to be ratified.
California has worked on a number of statewide and
international agreements to cut emissions. These include the Global Warming
Solutions Act of 2006, otherwise known as A.B. 32; and the Western Climate
Initiative, a cap-and-trade emissions market in the works among several U.S.
states, Canadian provinces and Mexican states.
Schwarzenegger will soon sign a declaration with Indonesia
and Brazil to develop efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation. The
agreement could make it cheaper for California businesses to achieve emissions
reductions by allowing them to invest in afforestation projects abroad.
I applaud the Governors hard work and determination to help
move the agenda forward. As the 9th largest economy in the world,
California has a unique place in the world conversation on climate change. When
all is said and done, Schwarzenegger may go down as one of the most important
figures in the history of climate change policy.
| 
