Why it’s important for California to play a role in the Paris climate talks
Kevin de León
You might be wondering why a delegation from California, including myself, Governor Jerry Brown, and several other lawmakers, would travel to Paris for the United Nations climate talks, since we are not an official party to the negotiations. It’s a fair question, but one that belies the significance of both the COP 21 and California’s demonstrated leadership in addressing climate change so far. And in the wake of the unforgivable atrocities committed in Paris, it’s more important than ever that leaders from around the world come together to show solidarity with the people of France and the victims of terror all over the world. We must show the world we will not be intimidated; we will carry on with the work of preserving and protecting our way of life. That means putting our difference aside and collaborating to take decisive action to slow the warming of the planet.
Climate change is a global challenge that will require governments and leading private sector companies from across the world to come together to address it effectively. That means that leaders from every level of government, in every country on earth, will have to be involved and engaged. For years, California has helped to define the cutting edge in climate policy and clean energy technology –we have demonstrated that it is possible to de-link the growth of our economy form the growth of greenhouse gas emissions.
The California example will be critical to the efforts of world leaders moving forward; we’ve shown that the health our economy and the health of our environment are not at odds, as the conventional wisdom maintains. In fact, our economy is thriving while our emissions fall. And when Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, addressed both chambers of the California state legislature in June, she urged us to “export” our leadership to jurisdictions around the world.
As California’s elected leaders, we have a responsibility to showcase our accomplishments for our counterparts from across the world, but also to learn from the challenges and successes of other states, provinces, regions and nations. So while we will not be direct parties to the wheeling and dealing in Paris, we no doubt have an important role to play in brokering this truly vital agreement to protect our planet and the air we breathe.
