One of the aspects I’ve been the most excited about regarding this COP has been the focus on subnational action.  My client this week is the Climate Registry, a non-profit that “operates voluntary and compliance GHG reporting programs globally, and assists organizations in measuring, reporting, and verifying the carbon in their operations in order to manage and reduce it.” Together with the Climate Action Reserve and the Georgetown Climate Center, they have sponsored a delegation of subnational North American officials to attend this COP.  As a result, these government officials can showcase what is being done on a local level to combat climate change, as well as “enable learning and exchange opportunities between our delegates and those from other countries and regions.”

The first event that I helped the Climate Registry with was Sunday evening, a reception where I saw Governor Jerry Brown of California, Governor Kate Brown of Oregon, as well as Governor Terry McAuliffee of Virginia, among others, welcome everyone to the COP.

Yesterday, these same governors, along with former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, spoke about how at a local level, states are combating climate change, even with the reduced role of the federal government. One of the most interesting aspects of the conversation was former Governor Schwarzenegger’s focus on the health aspects of environmental change.  He found that framing climate change in terms of pollution, was his most successful strategy when communicating to the public why citizens need to act against climate change.

He explained that when he brought up “polar bears or temperature change” it did not induce people to action.  However, when his team showed advertisements of children with asthma, or they talked about the fact that nine million people a year die from environmental pollution, this strategy engaged citizens.  Governor Jerry Brown followed up, commenting that technology is a way to address these health concerns, and this is one way California responds to climate change, by mandating stricter air quality and vehicle emission standards.

I’m excited to see as the week continues, what the other ideas the Governors and subnational actors have to help motivate other localities in the fight against climate change.