Following two days of unprecedented collaboration, leaders
from around the world joined Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich in
signing a groundbreaking agreement that will reduce
greenhouse gases worldwide. The agreement was part of the
Governors' Global Climate Summit, co‐hosted by Gov.
Blagojevich and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, held in
Beverly Hills earlier this month.
The Declaration, signed November 19, will establish common
principles as Illinois and other signatories strive to create a
low‐carbon economy, enhance energy security and provide
ongoing support to national governments as they combat
climate change.
“The agreements signed at the Global Climate Summit are
major steps toward fighting the global issue of climate change.
We all agree that climate change is an urgent issue and that we
need to tackle it head on,” said Governor Blagojevich.
“Governor Schwarzenegger and myself, along with leaders
from around the world, have come together to develop ways
to achieve the greenhouse gas reduction we need to fight
against the potentially catastrophic effects climate change
Co‐Host Governor Blagojevich addresses the Summit in California.
could have on our ecosystems, infrastructure, human health and
economy.”
The Declaration is a state‐province partnership to help advance
cooperative international efforts under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change. Approximately 800
attendees participated in the Governor’s Global Climate summit
held in California.
On November 18, Governor Blagojevich joined Governor
Schwarzenegger and leaders from the U.S., Brazil and Indonesia to
sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to reduce
deforestation, which accounts for about 20 percent of the world’s
carbon emissions. Under the agreement, the states of Illinois,
California and Wisconsin pledge to work with the governors of six
states and provinces within Indonesia and Brazil to help slow and
stop tropical deforestation; the cutting and burning of trees to