Posted on 05/05/2007 12:49:01 PM PDT by calcowgirl
VICTORIA will join one of the world's largest economies to tackle global warming.
Victorian Premier Steve Bracks and Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a historic climate change agreement on Friday.
The two state governments agreed to work together to develop emissions trading schemes, clean energy technology and conduct economic assessments of climate change.
The leaders, from different sides of the political divide, signed a memorandum of understanding for the two governments after a meeting in Los Angeles.
Mr Bracks said state governments were now leaders in driving climate change solutions.
"Governor Schwarzenegger has been a leader in the United States in addressing global warming, taking such initiatives as the global warming law, which imposes the country's first mandatory statewide cap on greenhouse gas emissions," Mr Bracks said.
He said the agreement would enable Victoria and California to share expertise, and maybe pave the way for a wider agreement.
After their meeting in Los Angeles, Mr Schwarzenegger dubbed Mr Bracks "a great environmentalist".
"We have to take care of our world," he said.
He also said Victoria and California faced similar climate change threats.
Mr Schwarzenegger and Mr Bracks spoke of the threat of droughts and bushfires. "I think there's a lot of common things that we share," Mr Schwarzenegger said. "You see right now the lack of water, the snow melting much faster."
The agreement between the two states, Mr Bracks said, showed governments could tackle climate change while still fostering economic growth.
"California is one of the world's major economic powerhouses and, like Victoria, understands that it's not a matter of choosing between climate change and economic development," he said.
The Australian director of the Climate Group, Rupert Posner, said it was important that governments worked together on climate change.
Mr Bracks' visit to California was the first leg of a trip that will take in a medical conference in Boston and meetings in New York.
Deputy Opposition Leader Louise Asher said the Premier should be focused on dealing with Victoria's water problems.
"What the Premier needs to be doing is dealing with Victoria's water crisis and not cavorting around with the stars," she said.
05/04/2007 GAAS:343:07 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Keeping California at the forefront of the fight against climate change, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today met with the Honorable Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and establish a partnership to fight climate change.
“I am proud that California has earned a reputation as a global leader on combating climate change,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Engaging in this joint commitment with Premier Bracks and the State of Victoria sends a clear message of international, bipartisan dedication to cut emissions, encourage the development of clean energy, and preserve our precious natural resources.”
The MOU represents an important step in the evolution of the effort to combat global climate change. In creating practical linkages between jurisdictions in both hemispheres, it builds a platform for regional integration to fight climate change globally.
The agreement provides an opportunity for California and Victoria to fight the effects of climate change by taking joint action to cap emissions, foster market competition for low carbon resources, coordinate carbon offsets, reduce greenhouse gases in the transportation sector, encourage the development of clean energy technology, develop clean building standards and help agricultural communities adapt to climate change.
In February, Governor Schwarzenegger signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Governors Janet Napolitano, Bill Richardson, Ted Kulongoski and Chris Gregoire, creating the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, a joint strategy to fight global warming.
Last September, Governor Schwarzenegger was joined by national and international leaders in the fight against global climate change to sign the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, landmark legislation that established a first-in-the-world comprehensive program of regulatory and market mechanisms to achieve real, quantifiable, cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gases.
Attached is the Memorandum of Understanding the Governor signed today with the Honorable Steve Bracks, Premier of Victoria.
Cali was better off with Gray Davis, and that’s not saying much. He wasn’t charismatic enough to do this much damage.
Ping!
Arnie, continuing to “prepare us for our global future,” as he stated last year.
Arnie is a lummox : )
Nor was he married to a Kennedy. ;-)
One party, one people, one leader.
Memorandum of Understanding
between
The State of Victoria
and
The State of California
for collaboration on climate
change action
PREAMBLE:
A. This agreement represents an important step in the evolution of global climate change action. In creating practical linkages between jurisdictions in both hemispheres, this agreement builds a platform for regional integration in response to a global challenge.
B. This agreement exemplifies the leadership role of sub-national jurisdictions in driving global climate change solutions.
C. The State of Victoria, a member of the Council for the Australian Federation, and the State of California, one of the United States of America, recognising the importance of acting on climate change, and the importance of proactive States working together, hereby agree through this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on climate change initiatives where it is in our interest to do so.
D. This collaboration is intended to further the economic, social and environmental goals of both jurisdictions and further position both Parties as regional and global leaders in climate change policy.
E. This MOU:
- reflects the importance that both California and Victoria place on the development of international relationships;
- embodies the intentions of both States to take a regional leadership role on climate change; and
- recognises the value of collaboration in pursuing best-practice policies and technologies for greenhouse gas emissions reduction and adaptation to climate change.
AREAS OF AGREEMENT:
Nature of collaboration
California and Victoria agree to actively promote collaboration where it is in the interests of both to do so; this may include the following areas:
• Cap emissions, foster market competition for efficiency and low carbon resources, and coordinate carbon offsets
California and Victoria are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to establish regional market-based systems to assist this effort; and are well-placed to ensure that linkages are established across international borders with the view to the eventual interoperability of regional schemes.
• Reduce greenhouse gases in the transportation sector
Building on California’s leading measures to reduce emissions from its vehicle fleet, collaboration would provide benefits for both Parties in sharing policies and technologies for motor vehicles, public transport and behaviour change.
Specifically, California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) harnesses market competition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
Recognising that fuel standards in Australia are generally set at the national level, Victoria could investigate the potential for a vehicle greenhouse emissions standard – like California’s LCFS.• Encourage the development of clean energy technology
California and Victoria are committed to the development of clean and renewable energy technologies, including carbon sequestration, and all forms of renewable energy projects. Collaboration will ensure successful initiatives and technologies are shared across jurisdictions and help realise collaborative research opportunities.
• Develop energy efficiency and green building standards
California and Victoria have a range of successful initiatives in place to promote energy efficiency in households and businesses. Collaboration would help ensure the sharing of experiences in market transformation and enhance the development of a low-carbon built environment.
• Helping communities adapt to climate change
With similarities in climate, California and Victoria face increased water scarcity, drought risk, wildfire threat and agricultural vulnerability, as well as pressures to coastal infrastructure and human health. Collaboration in these areas would strengthen adaptation strategies in both States, building community resilience to a changing climate.
• Conduct economic assessments
California and Victoria are undertaking studies to assess the economic impacts of climate change and associated policy responses. The States could pursue collaborations on studies of this kind.
LIMITATIONS OF AGREEMENT
California and Victoria acknowledge that this MOU is not intended to create any legally binding rights or obligations, and will not be enforceable in any court of law in Australia or in the United States of America. California and Victoria commit themselves in good will to implement this MOU to the fullest extent practicable, subject to any changes in policy that they may adopt.
SIGNED on this fourth day of May in the year 2007.
____________________________________
For the Government of California
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California State of California
United States of America
______________________________________
For the Government of Victoria
The Hon. Steve Bracks MP
Premier of Victoria State of Victoria
Australia
Well Arnie, now that you’ve solved that crisis why don’t you work on the immigration issue?
That’s my retort to the environmentalists: once you’ve deported every illegal immigrant and killed the planet’s last Islamic extremists (and I mean that last), I’ll consider global warming.
Is it not illegal for a state to make a treaty with a foreign government? and don’t try to say this isn’t a treaty and that Victoria isn’t a foreign government.
What fool said Arine was a leader!
It's absolutely breath-taking!!! No one is speaking out!!! Why??? YOU PEOPLE SHOULD BE MOCKING SUCH EXTREMISM IN A REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR!!! (as should all of conservative talk radio)
This risky extremism should be subjecting him to ridicule at this stage of his stupid game!!! Why wait till CA's economy has tanked from the pressures of this load, plus the debt load??? Stop the lunatic NOW!!! (make no mistake... it is a "load!")
The number is much smaller than it used to be :-)
Are you reading this Fair Opinion? Do tell, why is this behavior by Arnold a good thing....?
[crickets]
What a beautiful sound.
Just when I think this Austrian A-hole can't do anything worse, he does it again.
Where oh where is that damned recall petition????
Yes, it should. Yet there is neither ridicule nor criticism. The DBM thinks it's just wonderful.
Where is that damned recall petition???
Outstanding post, GBRR. Thank you.
Personally, I prefer MSU's... Make Stuff Up!!! They are just as meaningful and just as BOGUS!!!
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