GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER DELIVERS KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE AFRICAN HIGH-LEVEL CONFERENCE ON THE GREEN ECONOMY Schwarzenegger Encourages the Mobilization of Other African Nations to Join Sustainable Efforts Launched Last Year Between R20 and Algeria Oran, Algeria - During a recent keynote address at the African High-Level Conference on the Green Economy, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger encouraged other African nations to join efforts launched by R20 and the Government of Algeria to build a green economy. Conference attendees included the Algerian Prime Minister, Ministers of the Environment from 36 African countries who serve as representatives with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Environment and Climate Change Special Envoy of the French President François Hollande along with 450 other high-level attendees from the private sector, investors, civil society and academics. "It is critical that the work being done in Algeria be shared across the world," Schwarzenegger said. "We must support African countries on the path to green development and growth - encouraging their efforts to build stronger economies, take control of their energy resources, and become more resilient to climate change, create jobs and provide better health to their citizens." The R20 - an organization established to help sub-national governments around the world develop low-carbon and climate resilient economic development projects - and the Government of Algeria signed a cooperation agreement last year to support renewable energy projects, waste management, energy efficient street lighting and other sustainable technologies. The agreement also established the R20 Mediterranean office in Oran, which serves as a model to the region in showcasing the "best practices" to help other countries implement low-carbon projects and create green jobs. The agreement was signed following a meeting last year between Governor Schwarzenegger and the Former Minister of Planning and the Environment, Amara Benyounes, in the Presence of Algerian Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal, UN Senior Representative Mohand Cherifi and R20 President of the Board, Michèle Sabban, Vice President of Region Ile de France (Paris). The goal of the conference is to integrate the proceedings of the World Summit of Regions on Climate Change, to be held in Paris, in October 2014, with the support of the French Presidency, which in turn will contribute to the expected new climate agreement at COP 21 (Paris, 2015). Specifically, conference participants focused on: Presenting the best practices and proposals to address climate change in Africa, and demonstrating new opportunities for development through green growth across the African continent. Creating a "voice of the African stakeholders" on climate change, resulting in an African declaration of goals and actions. Defining an African Action Plan for green growth implementation. The African Action Plan will be based on a bottom-up approach, resulting in the collaboration of local authorities, businesses and investors, and ensuring complementarity with the intergovernmental process. Governor Schwarzenegger launched R20 as a continuation of the climate change work he started as Governor of California, where he championed policies that put California on the path to reduce the state's emissions level by 25 percent by 2020.

• published: 26 Feb 2014
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