On Nov. 18 and 19, governors from across the U.S. and officials from around the world convened in Beverly Hills, Calif., to try to create a framework for UN negotiators to use to prepare a new climate change agreement at their December 2008 meeting in Poland. The event was spearheaded by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, and co-hosted by the governors of Florida, Illinois, Kansas and Wisconsin. Nikkei America participated in the Climate Change Solutions Showcase at the Summit, exhibiting cutting-edge Japanese green technology products from their Green Innovation Connect project.
The first day of the Summit began with an address from Gov. Schwarzenegger welcoming participants and outlining the goals of the event. His speech concluded with a prepared video from President-elect Barack Obama, who congratulated Gov. Schwarzenegger on his leadership on the climate change issue and pledged to follow California’s lead by adopting the state’s progressive environmental practices on a federal level. Later events throughout the day centered on greenhouse gas reporting, sectoral cooperation to combat global warming and panel breakout sections on energy, transportation, building materials, agriculture and forestry.
The Green Innovation Connect booth in the Climate Change Solutions Showcase received steady visitors throughout the Summit. The Palo Therapeutic Robot Seal was a big hit with attendees and helped draw visitors to the booth to hear about the other Japanese green technology being exhibited. The Zephyr Airdolphin small wind turbine also attracted a lot of attention for its striking design and color. Sharp had a strong presence in the booth with both their LC52D64U high-efficiency TV and advanced photovoltaic solar panels on display. The Sharp LCD TV played a film about the Zero Emission House exhibit at the G8 Summit in Toyako, Japan, while a representative from Hanwa American spoke to visitors about Sharp photovoltaic solar panels. Visitors were impressed by the energy efficiency of the Noritz Tankless Water Heater and the ability of the Eco De Vita wallpaper from Shikoku to remove pollutants and odors from the air. Others marveled at the variety of noncombustible products from Asano on display. On the opposite wall from the booth was a partner in Green Innovation Connect, Mitsubishi Electronic, showcasing their enormous yet efficient LaserVue TV and their photovoltaic solar panels.
In the evening on the first day of the Summit, Gov. Schwarzenegger and Govs. Doyle and Blagojevich (of Wisconsin and Illinois, respectively) came to the exhibition hall and were given a tour of the Green Innovation Connect booth. The governors learned about the Japanese technology on display and were given promotional information about both the products and the Green Innovation project itself. Journalist Scott Pelly, of the CBS’ “60 Minutes,” as well as MSNBC news anchor Chris Matthews were among the other notable people, foreign dignitaries, businessmen and academics who visited the booth during the two-day event.
The second day of the event featured a message from former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with a statement from a representative from the United Nations. A final panel discussion was held that included all five U.S. governors and governors from China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, India and Indonesia, during which each discussed the challenges facing their respective regions and their current and planned responses. The Summit came to a close with the delegates signing a statement outlining principles to use moving forward on a new agreement on climate change for the next UN meeting in Poland.
The first day of the Summit began with an address from Gov. Schwarzenegger welcoming participants and outlining the goals of the event. His speech concluded with a prepared video from President-elect Barack Obama, who congratulated Gov. Schwarzenegger on his leadership on the climate change issue and pledged to follow California’s lead by adopting the state’s progressive environmental practices on a federal level. Later events throughout the day centered on greenhouse gas reporting, sectoral cooperation to combat global warming and panel breakout sections on energy, transportation, building materials, agriculture and forestry.
The Green Innovation Connect booth in the Climate Change Solutions Showcase received steady visitors throughout the Summit. The Palo Therapeutic Robot Seal was a big hit with attendees and helped draw visitors to the booth to hear about the other Japanese green technology being exhibited. The Zephyr Airdolphin small wind turbine also attracted a lot of attention for its striking design and color. Sharp had a strong presence in the booth with both their LC52D64U high-efficiency TV and advanced photovoltaic solar panels on display. The Sharp LCD TV played a film about the Zero Emission House exhibit at the G8 Summit in Toyako, Japan, while a representative from Hanwa American spoke to visitors about Sharp photovoltaic solar panels. Visitors were impressed by the energy efficiency of the Noritz Tankless Water Heater and the ability of the Eco De Vita wallpaper from Shikoku to remove pollutants and odors from the air. Others marveled at the variety of noncombustible products from Asano on display. On the opposite wall from the booth was a partner in Green Innovation Connect, Mitsubishi Electronic, showcasing their enormous yet efficient LaserVue TV and their photovoltaic solar panels.
In the evening on the first day of the Summit, Gov. Schwarzenegger and Govs. Doyle and Blagojevich (of Wisconsin and Illinois, respectively) came to the exhibition hall and were given a tour of the Green Innovation Connect booth. The governors learned about the Japanese technology on display and were given promotional information about both the products and the Green Innovation project itself. Journalist Scott Pelly, of the CBS’ “60 Minutes,” as well as MSNBC news anchor Chris Matthews were among the other notable people, foreign dignitaries, businessmen and academics who visited the booth during the two-day event.
The second day of the event featured a message from former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with a statement from a representative from the United Nations. A final panel discussion was held that included all five U.S. governors and governors from China, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, India and Indonesia, during which each discussed the challenges facing their respective regions and their current and planned responses. The Summit came to a close with the delegates signing a statement outlining principles to use moving forward on a new agreement on climate change for the next UN meeting in Poland.
California Gov. Schwarzenegger, right, listens to a Green Innovation Connect participant at the Governors' Global Climate Summit.
Governors’ Global Climate Summit, Nov. 18-19, 2008
“Finding Solutions Through Regional & Global Action”
Beverly Hills, Calif.
“Finding Solutions Through Regional & Global Action”
Beverly Hills, Calif.