Hundreds of dignitaries, industry representatives and scientists are expected to gather today in Southern California for an international summit on global warming hosted by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The two-day conference in Beverly Hills places Schwarzenegger and California under the international limelight as he tries to engage leaders of other states, provinces and nations to work collaboratively to limit greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming.
The governor first received international acclaim two years ago for signing AB32, landmark legislation to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2020. He also has been brokering an alliance with other Western states and Canadian provinces to create the Western Climate Initiative that aims to design a regional market for trading carbon credits.
More recently, the governor last week ordered state agencies to consider the effects of global warming, such as rising sea level, in their infrastructure planning.
On Monday, he signed an executive order setting a goal of requiring 33 percent of the state's energy to come from renewable sources by 2020, and for state agencies to streamline permitting processes for renewable energy projects such as solar arrays.
This week's two-day climate summit will be a chance to share such policy ideas, organizers say.
"First thing is that we want (the conference) to be a showcase of what the states, provinces and countries are doing to limit emissions, and I think that'll surprise the world," said Terry Tamminen, former secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency under Schwarzenegger.
Tamminen said organizers also hope participants will draft a declaration by the end of the summit that not only describes their commitment to fight global warming but sets specific goals for the future partnerships.
"In talking to the international delegates, there's a real appetite to use (the conference) as a kickoff," Tamminen said.
The summit is expected to attract nearly 800 participants from as close as Canada and Mexico to as far away as China, Indonesia and Poland. They are expected to discuss greenhouse gas emissions from various sectors of the economy such as energy, transportation, manufacturing, construction, forestry and agriculture.
Eileen Tutt, a deputy secretary at the California Environmental Protection Agency, said she believes the conference will greatly benefit local, state and provincial governments as they share ideas and learn how to work toward a common goal of reducing emissions.
"By partnering together, sharing best practices and developing green economies, we will all benefit," she said.
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