Obama's Pledge Marks a Turning Point in the Global Fight Against Climate Change

Reducing Emissions from Forest Destruction a Key Topic at Climate Summit in California

Los Angeles, California — November 18, 2008 — This week’s Global Climate Summit in California marks a historic turning point as government leaders — from state, national and international levels — joined forces to take the real action needed to fight climate change.

The Nature Conservancy applauds president-elect Barack Obama’s commitment today to restore U.S. leadership on climate change by enacting a federal cap and trade program that will reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, with critically needed near-term emission reductions.

We also applaud the signed agreements between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the four state governments in Brazil and two state governments in Indonesia to launch cooperative programs to protect forests and measurably reduce global carbon dioxide emissions.

Protecting the world’s forests is one of the most powerful — and cost effective — tools we have to fight climate change. Destruction and degradation of forests produces approximately 20 percent of the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions — nearly the amount produced by the entire United States each year and more than world’s entire transportation sector.

Implementing strategies that lower emissions from all sources — industry, transportation and deforestation — is essential to solve the climate crisis.

The state-to-state agreements reached during the Summit also demonstrate how developed and developing countries can — and must — work together to fight climate change.

The Nature Conservancy is stepping forward to help ensure these agreements produce real and measurable reductions in carbon dioxide emissions.

This state-to-state cooperation can also serve as a model for international leaders as they gather in Poland next month to begin developing a new and strong international climate agreement that will succeed the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period that expires in 2012. We are especially encouraged by president-elect Obama’s signal today that the U.S. will engage vigorously in these negotiations to help lead the world toward a new era of global cooperation on climate change.

This week’s summit did more than just spark discussions; it resulted in real commitments that provide developing countries the support they need to protect their forests and lower the world’s carbon emissions. We hope California’s leadership influences federal and international leaders as we move forward together in the global fight against climate change.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.