Schwarzenegger calls for cities climate summit

Marlowe Hood Yahoo News 15 Dec 09;

COPENHAGEN (AFP) – 'Gubernator' Arnold Schwarzenegger called Tuesday for a UN climate summit for cities and regions, offering to host it in his home state of California.

"I would ask the UN to convene a climate summit, like Copenhagen, but for cities, for states, for provinces and for regions," the governor told the 194-nation UN climate talks in Copenhagen.

"And I would be more than happy to host such a summit in California," The Terminator star added, quipping that everyone liked to visit his "adopted home state" before signing off: "I'll be back!"

Schwarzenegger told a packed auditorium at the conference, that ends with a meeting of some 120 world leaders, that nations were not the only actors in the fight against global warming.

"The world's national governments cannot make the progress that is needed on global climate change alone," he said.

"California has shown that a sub-national government can lead the way to national change and I urge all of the world leaders here in Copenhagen to liberate the power beneath the national level to help us create an environment we can proudly pass down to our children, grandchildren and beyond."

California along with a number of US states and cities has launched a plan to curb carbon dioxide blamed for global warming, measures that the US Congress is still considering at a national levels.

The west coast state is frequently hit by wildfires due to its dry climate, winds and recent housing booms that have seen home construction spread rapidly into rural and densely forested areas.

A recent study by the American Geophysical Union said the state would be dramatically hit by rising sea levels, air pollution and extreme climate events in the coming years.

Schwarzenegger said California -- the seventh largest economy in the world -- was already getting 27 percent of its energy from renewable sources, and that the share would go up to 45 percent by 2020.

"We are proceeding with green tech no matter what happens in Washington or Copenhagen," he said, extolling the energy and innovation of entrepreneurs and the private sector.

In Copenhagen, 194 nations are struggling to find common ground for a deal to curb greenhouse gases and provide money to poor countries already suffering its ravages.

Despite two years of negotiations tasked with finalising an accord by the end of 2009, the conference remains blocked on most key issues.

A day earlier, Schwarzenegger and regions of Canada, Nigeria, France and Algeria launched a coalition to fast track the results of the Copenhagen talks.

The ex-movie star and body builder also said growing public pressure for strong action to curb warming will drive politicians to deepen their commitments on climate change.

"History tells us movements began with the people, not with government. And then, when they become powerful enough, government responds," he said, pointing to the struggle for women's rights and the civil rights movement.

Joining Schwarzenegger in pushing for a bigger role for cities was Governor Jose Serra of Sao Paulo state in Brazil, a region about the size of Britain with a population of 41 million.

Sao Paulo accounts for a third of the country's GDP and more than 40 percent of industry, but it's carbon footprint -- three tonnes of CO2 per person per year -- is only a quarter of the national average, Serra said.

"Deforestation is under control because of enforcement of land use policies," he said.

"Sub-national initiatives, whether regional or local, are crucial to the advancement of the environmental cause and to a fast conclusion to a global climate agreement."

UN climate chief Yvo de Boer praised the efforts of cities and regions in the campaign against global warming. "Your experience, advice and above all continued action is essential to further success," he said.