On the ground in Copenhagen

<p>On the Ground in Copenhagen</p><p>Sonoma County has sent seven representatives to the UN climate conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, who are posting reports on the Sonoma County Water Agency web site and on Facebook, Twitter and by e-mail.</p><p>They include Supervisor Valerie Brown, who is president of the National Association of Counties and a member of the International Council of Local Governmental Initiatives, and Paul Kelley, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, is also president of the Association of California Water Agencies.</p><p>Also attending is Jake Mackenzie, a Rohnert Park councilman and member of the Sonoma County Water Agency's water advisory committee; Water Agency director of governmental affairs Tim Anderson; UC Santa Barbara professor Robert Wilkinson, an expert in environmental policy, and videographer Tod Brilliant.</p><p>Here are their reports. In some cases, the items use shorthand typical of e-mail.</p><p>E-mail from TIM ANDERSON:</p><p>Today Paul Kelley secured access to the main UN facility at Bella Center and was able to join state dept. He was able to join a U.S. delegation program, transportation and EPA director gave a presentation. Will join a world mayors briefing later today and another state department meeting. </p><p>I joined a tour of an offshore wind energy facility that produces 40MW and has been running steadily since 2000. Met with a commissioner from Maine and had an opportunity to discuss Applied Solutions and other programs.</p><p> Also met today with Assembly Member Nancy Skinner and had a good discussion on SCEIP, our energy independence program. She was well aware of the program and asked good questions and also asked about Ann Hancock and other folks we knew in common. I also met with an official from a Western Australian renewable power cooperative.</p><p>At the moment I am in an IETA (International Emissions Trading Association) seminar on Sectoral approaches.</p><p>Tonight we have been invited to a reception with Gov. Schwarzenegger and altogether 2 governors, 2 provincial ministers and 4 other foreign officials of comparable stature.</p><p>Tomorrow we have been asked to meet with people from the German State of North Rhine-Westpahlia. The intent is to compare notes on our proposed protocol for local government carbon emissions. We look forward to meeting with them.</p><p>E-mail from JAKE MACKENZIE:</p><p>Just spoke at meeting of U.S. cities and counties with U.S. State Department negotiating team member Jeff Moatkies. I was able to let him know the close cooperative work being done between Sonoma County and the 9 cities.</p><p>Supervisor Brown had led off with a plea to have USA insist on language in Copenhagen treaty which recognizes the role of cities and counties in actually reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions. It was a unique opportunity to emphasize what were doing in real time by our programs.</p><p>E-mail from VALERIE BROWN</p><p>On Sunday we met with the State Department - they spent about 2 hours with us and informed the group, ICLEI USA: I sit on their Board of directors. Jeff Miokt stated that President Obama wants a long term cooperation action with a legal and binding agreement, however getting the multitude of countries to ratify something this year is unlikely.</p><p>The challenging issues are: Mitigation - especially difficult when countries like South Africa, Brazil, India, and China would like to set targets, but don't want it written down for very political reasons and don't want any disincentive to continue economic development.</p><p>Another challenge is promoting technological development and who funds that. The G77 would like the developed countries to pay and allow COP to have authority over the funds ... not likely. Another issue is something called MRV - Monitoring, Reporting and Verification ... lots of discussion and discrepancy on how to achieve these goals, especially verification ... who does enforce and how?</p><p> Adaption continues to be an issue - especially for emerging economies ... and what happens to countries who have been providing fuels, coal, oil when reduction of green house gases actually reduces their product sales. Kyoto had a section maintaining they would have some form of reimbursement ... so the Middle East fights their fight, as does South Africa, where China is firmly embedded in production of fuels and standing behind South Africa, although vocally silent.</p><p>This morning I am attending the Climate Summit for Mayors which will be at the City Hall in Copenhagen. In January Lord Mayor Bjerregaard takes over the leadership of Copenhagen and is setting the stage for continuing the process of achieving goals, believing 75 percent of the green house gas emission come from urban areas so they need to unite ... and I will be the only county person there and ready to follow their lead with “local government" being reward with language in a protocol agreement.</p><p>This afternoon we meet with the State Department again to reassess where we are. I have been granted a secondary credential which allows me to move freely in the Bella Center. This is a very different environment from Poznan and no one seemed to have a clue that the large numbers would be attending and how they would deal with it.</p><p> By Thursday 110 dignitaries, who usually don't attend COP are rolling into town ... causing great security problems. Gore spoke yesterday and strolled quite freely through the Bella Center, but suppose that some leaders from some countries need more protection. We have no idea who will be attending, nor if the G77 walkout will cause a ripple effect and deter some from attending.</p><p> It was rumored late last night that the G77 have re-entered the process. It is the most complex, complicated and politically charged environment I have experienced. The global arena which ultimately affects our local community is difficult to understand from a governmental prospective....but necessary if we are to have some peace and assurance that there will be a control of green house gas emissions that do not just float across the seas to Sonoma County.</p><p>E-mails from SUZANNE SMITH</p><p>Went to a briefing by DOT and EPA. Was good to hear a joint message on sustainability. I raised the need for funding that matches the policy - particularly for transit operations. Response was they will be preparing funding levels and options for the transportation bill and will be doing a national “listening" tour to discuss.</p><p>Katie Thomson is department of transportation person and Gina McCarthy from EPA. These were the two speakers. </p><p>Update from State Dept. on negotiations on 3 fronts: Struggling with the shared vision piece is tough for the US to accept as it is shifting minute by minute; adaptation piece is still in play and local government piece is still in play.</p><p>Mitigation - doesn't know where we stand at this point.</p><p>The message continues to be that local government is partner to Feds and needs Federal support in the international negotiations.</p><p>It's been interesting to hear from numerous individuals from varied backgrounds how much they feel California is driving progress on climate change. The EPA (Gina) I mentioned earlier acknowledged it, as have several Europeans (from NGO/business perspectives) I've happened to chat with at various points. California is given much credit on the fuel standard front in particular. It's also been helpful to see firsthand the lack of consideration cities and counties are given as implementers and deliverers of projects and programs.</p><p>While we are hammering on that issue, the national governments (US state department excepted) tend to marginalize the value and role we play.</p>