MEDIA AVAILABILITY AND MEDIA ADVISORY
For September 12-14, 2018
The Global Climate Action Summit is fast approaching. The Summit, which takes place in San Francisco, California on September 12-14 will bring leaders together from around the world to celebrate climate achievements and secure deeper commitments and accelerated action from countries to prevent climate change and realize the historic Paris Agreement.
At the Summit, the Pacific Coast Collaborative (PCC) states of California, Oregon, Washington, and the province of British Columbia, along with the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver are redoubling their commitment to lead in the fight against climate change while expanding their clean energy economies. The devastating impacts of extreme weather, wildfires and ocean acidification on communities along the West Coast of North America make it clear that there’s much at stake – health, homes and livelihoods – driving the need for regional collaboration to:
- reduce carbon emissions
- align building efficiency, renewable energy and organic waste systems,
- integrate the region’s power grid,
- develop an integrated low-carbon regional transportation system,
- reduce food waste 50% by 2030,
- build infrastructure resilience,
- combat the growing threat of ocean acidification, and
- encourage innovation and job growth.
The PCC represents the world’s fifth largest economy, a region of 55 million people with a combined GDP of $3 trillion. The PCC governments have released a Report Card that detailed their progress in developing the most advanced low-carbon future of any transboundary region in the world. Since 2008, regional nominal gross domestic product has grown by 32 percent while total regionwide emissions have declined more than six percent. Public and private-sector cooperation is transforming key economic sectors, putting the region on a path toward reducing emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Statements from North American Pacific Coast Governors and Mayors, Media Availability today through the Global Climate Action Summit on their joint efforts to combat climate change, grow their clean energy economies.
“Over the next week, we will welcome the world to the Pacific Coast and show that even those leading the climate charge can – and will – go even further,” said Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Jr. of California.
For additional comment, please contact: Gov. Jerry Brown’s Press Office, govpressoffice@gov.ca.gov, +1-916-445-4571
“Meeting the challenge of climate change, while growing our economy at the same time, is a moral and economic imperative. Our region has reduced carbon pollution by 6% since 2005, while our economy has grown by 20%. The PCC’s progress toward clean energy and greater efficiency positions our economies and communities for continued success in a climate-changed future,” said Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon.
For additional comment, please contact: Nikki Fisher, Gov. Kate Brown’s Press Office, nikki.fisher@oregon.gov, +1-503-689-2509
“The West Coast represents the world’s fifth largest economy and we are creating a blueprint for other regions,” said Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington state. “We are building a thriving, innovative economy that combats climate change and embraces a zero-emission future. Our efforts aren’t just building a clean energy economy, they’re also creating great places to live. Our communities are growing healthier and more prosperous, and attractive to new businesses and workers.”
For additional comment, please contact: Tara Lee, Gov. Inslee’s Press Office, tara.lee@gov.wa.gov, +1-360-902-4136
For a quote/statement from British Columbia Premier John Horgan, contact Media Relations, BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, +1-250 953-3834
“Vancouver is proud to be cutting our carbon pollution while having the fastest growing, most resilient economy in Canada. We’re attracting world-leading businesses thanks in part to our focus on building a healthier, 100% renewably powered future,” said Vancouver Mayor, Gregor Robertson.
For additional comment, please contact: Shea O’Neil, Office of the Mayor, shea.oneil@vancouver.ca, +1-604-562-7079
“Seattle, aptly known as the ‘Emerald City,’ is home to our nation’s greenest utility, and we have ambitious plans to reduce building emissions and to better connect our clean electricity with our transportation system. We are committed to this local-to-global effort to combat climate change,” said Seattle Mayor, Jenny A. Durkan.
For additional comment, please contact: Sara Wysocki, Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment, sara.wysocki@seattle.gov, +1-206-233-7014
“Progressive and diverse cities like Oakland are increasingly where power and innovative action on climate resilience reside and I am proud to stand with more than 7,100 mayors in saying we are committed to a cleaner, greener future,” said Oakland Mayor, Libby Schaaf.
For additional comment, please contact: Justin Berton, Office of the Mayor, jberton@oaklandnet.com, +1-510-499-6305
“Portland is ranked as one of the most sustainable cities in America, and we are improving our quality of life while reducing carbon pollution even as our population grows. We have decreased emissions by 19 percent (since 1990), while increasing jobs by more than 31 percent and population by 37 percent. Portland is showing the rest of the world that clean energy, sustainable development, and walkable communities mean local action is a smarter choice than federal inaction,” said Portland Mayor, Ted Wheeler.
For additional comment, please contact: Michael Cox, Office of the Mayor, Michael.B.Cox@portlandoregon.gov, +1-503-823-6593
“San Francisco continues to lead in the fight against climate change and the Global Climate Action Summit is a chance for our City and other Pacific Coast communities to take another major step forward,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “San Francisco has successfully reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from 1990 levels, while growing our economy by 111% and increasing our population by 20%. But in order to fully realize the ambitions of the Paris Climate Accord, we must continue to make bold commitments and accelerate actions that reduce emissions and move us towards a clean energy future. That is why, in addition to formally joining the Sierra Club’s nationwide clean energy campaign, San Francisco is committing to reducing landfill disposal by 50% by 2030 and ensuring all of our buildings are net-zero emissions by 2050.”
For additional comment, please contact: Charles Sheehan, San Francisco Department of the Environment, Charles.sheehan@sfgov.org, +1-415-355-3756
“Cities and states stand at the forefront of the fight against climate change across our country and around the world – and Los Angeles is leading the charge toward a future where our streets are free of fossil fuels, our homes are powered by clean energy, and everyone has access to cleaner air and healthier neighborhoods,” said Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti. “From putting electric buses on our roads to cutting emissions to creating good-paying jobs in the clean-tech sector, we are showing how we can grow our economy and save our planet at the same time.”
For additional comment, please contact: Vicki Curry, vicki.curry@lacity.org, +1-213-304-4733
MEDIA ADVISORY
PCC Governors/Mayors Will Co-host Events on Regional Transportation Policy, Food Waste Reduction, and Ocean Acidification
All events will be live-streamed on Twitter via Periscope from the @PCCleads Twitter account, and a link will remain on the PCC Twitter feed for viewing after the broadcast concludes. To follow the Pacific Coast Collaborative at GCAS, use the #PCCleads hashtag.
What: Regional Transportation Policy Forum
When: Wed. Sept. 12, 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Where: 555 Market Street
Announcement: PCC Low-Carbon Transportation Vision and Roadmap
Who:
- Opening keynote (8:00-8:45 a.m.): Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
- U.S. Regional Collaboration Panel (8:45-9:45 a.m.):
- Alice Reynolds, Senior Adviser to California Governor Jerry Brown for Climate, the Environment, and Energy
- Lynn Peterson, President Elect, Metro Council, Portland, Oregon
- Rob Klee, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
- Taryn Finnessey, Senior Climate Change Specialist, State of Colorado
- Moderator: Vicki Arroyo, Executive Director, Georgetown Climate Center
What: More Feast, Less Footprint: New Goals & Progress Towards Wasting Less Food
When: Wed. Sept. 12, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Library
Announcement: PCC West Coast regional commitment: 1) regional goal of reducing wasted food by 50% by 2030; 2) engagement of industry across the supply chain to work together to reduce wasted food; 3) establishment of strategies, including prevention goals, in each jurisdiction to support regional target.
Who:
- Announcement of PCC Commitment (1:25-1:35): Speakers include: Mayor Robertson, Mayor Wheeler, Mayor Schaaf, and Senior Advisor to Governor Kate Brown.
- Government Action Panel (1:35-2:25): West Coast and international mayors discuss the importance of local actions to reduce wasted food and necessity to engage private sector partners.
What: Joining a Global Movement: Advancing OA Action Plans to Protecting Coastal Communities and Livelihoods from a Changing Ocean
When: Thu. Sept. 13, 8:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Where: Aquarium of the Bay (Pier 39)
Please note that this event will be live-streamed from the @OA_Alliance Twitter account.
Announcement of new national, state and city members to the OA Alliance.
Who:
- California Secretary for Natural Resources, John Laird
- United Nations Ocean Envoy, Peter Thomson
- French Minister of Ecological and Social Transition
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chile
- Mayor of Vancouver, British Columbia, Gregor Robertson (invited)
- Senior Ocean Advisor to Governor Inslee
- Senior Advisor to Governor Kate Brown
What: Prepared for the Future We Create: Designing, Building, and Financing Resilient Communities (GCAS High-Level Session)
When: Fri. Sept. 14, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: Moscone Center
Announcement: Pacific Coast Collaborative Declaration on Climate Resilience
Who: Governor of Washington, Jay Inslee, on behalf of PCC West Coast Governors/BC Premier and Mayors
About the Pacific Coast Collaborative
Through the PCC, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and the cities of Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Oakland, and Los Angeles are working together to build the low carbon economy of the future.
- Together, the PCC represents a region of 55 million people with a combined GDP of $3 trillion (the world’s fifth largest economy).
- This collaborative represents the biggest, most advanced attempt to create a low-carbon future of any transboundary region in the world.
- Our progress: since 2008, the region’s GDP grew by 32 percent while total emissions dropped more than 6 percent.
- PCC leaders are working on issues and opportunities that cross borders, such as integrating the region’s power grid, combating ocean acidification, and building an interstate electric vehicle charging network.
Visit www.pacificcoastcollaborative.org for more information. Please follow @PCCLeads on Twitter for the latest updates on the PCC’s activity at the Global Climate Action Summit. Please follow @OA_Alliance on Twitter for the latest updates on the OA Alliance’s activity at the GCAS.
Recent Comments