What's Different

It's my last day. I'm flying home tomorrow Friday, the day our President arrives. I'm in a reflective mode, thinking about what's different about these negotiations compared to other COPs I've attended. Obviously waiting with thousands of people in line and having less access to Bella Centre, but such concerns are trivial. What matters is that all the world's nations are here, and for the first time every major emitter: China, India, US, Australia have come to the table with commitments to reduce their country's global warming pollution.

This is a huge breakthrough. I'll admit I'm frustrated that it has taken 15 COPs, the loss of habitable land from many Pacific Island nations and our atmosphere's concentration of CO2 exceeding 350 parts per million to get here but at least we're not pedaling backwards as was the case when Harlan Watson as US lead negotiator would boldly proclaim the science is phony.

And while lots of cities, states and regional governments started taking action beginning as early as 1990, there has never been such a visible and global presence of Mayors, Governors, and Premiers all from governments that have set targets and timetables for emissions reduction. And California has never been so well poised to be at the competitive edge of the low carbon economy, contributing not only to a healthy environment but also to a much needed economic recovery.