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Message from R20 Founding Chair
Arnold Schwarzenegger
As we begin 2012 I am very excited to introduce our members and partners to Christophe Nuttall who has joined the R20 as our new Executive Director.  I wish him a successful and rewarding term as our top manager, and, as I welcome him on board, I also want to thank the United Nations Development Programme for facilitating his recruitment.
The year 2012 is an important transition time for the world economy and for the planet. Twenty years after the Earth Summit, the international community will take stock of accomplishments at the Rio + 20 Sustainable Development Summit. As you know, the results are mixed: whereas today's world is more capable than ever of tackling global warming, concrete results are ever harder to get hold of, so we must be smarter and more resourceful than ever.
What we need is to double up the hard work. Results will only come through efforts at all levels, individual and collective, local and global. I am myself ready to take on a leading role, especially in view of the upcoming Rio + 20 Summit.
Therefore, my agenda for 2012 will be dedicated to mobilizing efforts world-wide, in particular at the sub-national level. Our operational arm, the R20 - Regions of Climate Action, will be at your disposal to put forward concrete modalities for collaboration. I know that we will mold our vision into a green reality.
Thank you and best wishes for 2012!
Arnold Schwarzenegger |
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Message from R20 Executive Director
Christophe Nuttall
 I wish to express my gratitude to all R20 members, partners, governing board and executive committee members for putting their trust in me. In particular, I want to thank the R20 Founding and Honorary Chair, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for giving me the responsibility of the new R20 organization.
The R20 mission is extremely challenging. Yet, as our Founding Chair often puts it, things may seem impossible, until you make them possible.
From the on-start, the R20 seeks to achieve concrete results. Working at sub-national level, we support regions, federated states, and provinces in building climate resilient projects. In short, the R20 is the point of convergence of political commitment, state of the art technology and intelligent investments.
In line with good governance practices, the R20 mobilizes all levels of participation: the UN and international organizations, finance institutions, the corporate and business sector, the academia and the NGOs. If we want to make the difference, the competencies and efforts of all are needed.
To contact R20 Executive Director, Christophe Nuttall, please email cnuttall@regions20.org. |
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R20 General Assembly Meeting,
Pre Rio+20 Workshop and Public Conference.
March 7-8, 2012
Geneva, Switzerland
Event Highlights*:
Wednesday, March 7:
- Pre Rio+20 Workshop
- Green Economy Public Conference at the University of Geneva with keynote address by R20 Founding Chair Arnold Schwarzenegger
- R20 Gala
Thursday, March 8:
- R20 General Assembly Meeting
Important Note on Hotel Accomodations
Geneva will also be hosting the 82nd International Motor Show beginning March 8th, therefore we suggest you book your accommodations early. The Geneva Tourism Office has kindly provided this link to make reservations for hotels in Geneva. Rooms are being pre-reserved for R20 General Assembly/Conference attendees until February 6th therefore we also recommend making your reservations prior to that time. In addition rooms for the night of March 6th are in great demand so if necessary, please refer to the hotels located in other locations near Geneva in this list for more room choices (Nyon, Morges and Annemasse for example). Additional details and information coming soon.
*Additional events may be added to the Agenda. |
| R20 China Update
 R20 Founding President Linda Adams (in photo right)and China Country Director Yufu Cheng (in photo left) were invited to the China New Energy Economy and Low Carbon Development Forum to give a speech on low carbon development in California and R20's regional collaboration on low carbon development on December 20, 2011.
They also discussed potential collaboration areas between R20 and China with Mr. Li Wuwei, vice-chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) (in photo second from right with his wife Ms. Zheng Xiuzhu) and Mr. Yu Yunzhou, the deputy director of Guangdong Provincial Development and Reform Commission. Mr. Cheng and Ms. Adams also visited one of the leading LED companies in Guangzhou, the LEDway company. In addition, we are proud to announce that the R20 has opened an office in Bejiing.
For more information on the R20's China Program please contact Yufu Cheng, R20 China Director at ycheng@regions20.org.
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Technology in Action Update: Cool Roofs
 The R20 Cool Roofs project, a collaboration between the R20 and the Global Cool Cities Alliance (an R20 Partner) is set to launch its online tool kit in the middle of January 2012. This tool kit is a comprehensive "how to" intended to help R20 members learn how they can implement the cool roofs technology in their own region. The tool kit is designed to be used by cool surface novices and experienced cool roof program managers alike. We will send out a notice when it is officially available for download at www.coolroofkit.org. The benefits of deploying cool surfaces are realized at many levels. Increasing the reflectance of buildings and paved surfaces can reduce the temperature of buildings, cities, and even the entire planet. For more information on Technologies in Action Projects please contact Sasha Abelson, R20 Project Coordinator at sasha@sgadvisors.org |
 Member Spotlight: California
California adopts GHG cap-and-trade regulation
On October 20, 2011, the California Air Resources Board adopted California's greenhouse gas (GHG ) cap-and-trade regulation. California identified a cap-and-trade program as one of the strategies it will employ to reduce the GHG emissions that cause climate change. This cap-and-trade program will help put California on the path to meet its goal of reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020, and ultimately achieving an 80% reduction from 1990 levels by 2050. Under cap-and-trade, GHG emissions from certain sectors will be capped (or limited). Facilities subject to the regulation (cap) are only allowed to emit GHG emissions up to the cap. Facilities that produce fewer GHG emissions than the cap or more GHG emissions than the cap will be able to sell and buy (trade) permits/allowances to emit GHGs.
The cap and trade program is a key element in California's climate plan. It sets a statewide limit on sources responsible for 85 percent of California's GHG emissions, and establishes a price signal needed to drive long-term investment in cleaner fuels and more efficient use of energy. The program is designed to provide covered entities the flexibility to seek out and implement the lowest-cost options to reduce emissions. Click Here for an overview of AB32's Cap and Trade policy.
For more information on the activities taking place in California and other R20 Member regions please contact Jill Gravender, R20 Program Director at jill@regions20.org
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SAVE-THE-DATE
R20 GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND PRE RIO+20 CONFERENCE
March 7-8, 2012
Geneva, Switzerland
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R20 Releases RFP to Identify Firms to Coordinate its Trade Mission to Rio in June 2012.
The R20 is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to help it plan and coordinate its trade mission to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June, 2012 in coordination with the United Nations' Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20). The successful firm will secure corporate sponsorships for the trade mission as well as coordinate the local logistics for the events planned for the delegation in Rio.
To learn more about this project and to receive the Request for Proposal (RFP), please contact The deadline for submitting proposals is 5:00 PM Pacific Time on January 20, 2012 |
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REGIONS OF CLIMATE ACTION NEWSLETTER