by Brianna Crandall — December 10, 2010—A major international coalition of state and regional governments on climate change met December 7 to report on substantial actions they have taken to cut emissions since Copenhagen, and to announce new commitments to further drive a clean industrial revolution. The states, representing more than 15 percent of the world Gross Domestic Product (GDP), joined leading businesses at The Climate Group’s annual Climate Leaders Summit, on the sidelines of the U.N. climate talks in Cancun.
The alliance of over 60 state and regional governments committed in 2009 in Copenhagen to pursue tangible actions to reduce emissions, and to report back on their progress in Cancun. Now the states have reported concrete achievements on those commitments, and set ambitious new targets in all areas of the growing low carbon economy. These included incentivizing energy efficiency, investing in clean energy, supporting smarter urban development and low carbon transport, and reducing emissions from waste.
Some of the more innovative initiatives presented by the subnational government alliance include:
- So Paulo legislating for a 20 percent cut in emissions by 2020, the first region of any non-Annex 1 country to do so;
- Upper Austria setting a target for 100 percent renewable energy by 2030;
- New York’s Public Service Commission approving 95 energy efficiency programs representing a commitment of $992 million;
- California approving six large-scale solar projects totalling nearly 3000 MW, including the world’s largest solar energy project at 1000 MW;
- South Australia setting targets including recycling 75 percent of household waste, 90 per cent of construction and demolition waste, and 75 percent of commercial and industrial waste by 2015; and
- Scotland being the first region to commit to the Billion Trees Initiative, with a pledge to plant 100 million trees by 2015.
- Upper Austria setting a target for 100 percent renewable energy by 2030;
Motivated by the enormous benefits of climate action, including long-term sustainable growth, enhanced energy security, increased competitiveness and new, green jobs, the alliance issued the Cancun Statement of Federated States and Regional Governments on Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Development. In the statement, alliance members pledge to ramp up efforts to promote energy efficiency, support the transition to a low carbon transport system, and encourage renewable energy generation.
