Today world leaders joined the Florida delegation in Copenhagen. The Heads of State flocked to Copenhagen today to take over the high level negotiations in the final days of the Climate Change Conference. Many are staying in the hotel with the Florida delegation. While entering the hotel today both Prime Minister Gordon Brown of Britain and Prime Minister Perez of Israel were seen being escorted into the lobby of the Radisson. With such high level officials joining the Florida delegation, security has correspondingly heightened around the hotel facility. President Barack Obama is expected to speak to the Conference on Friday.

Today much of the Florida delegation ventured through the demonstrations into the Bella Center to meet with fellow non-governmental organizations and view the official negotiations. The delegation interacted with the coalition of local governments (ICLEI) of which two members of the Florida delegation are members.

Delegates attended sessions with fellow non-governmental organizations at the Bella Center regarding sustainable nuclear power and the creation of global carbon markets. While leaving the delegates found themselves in the midst of an aggressive demonstration that police were forced to break up. Videos of the clash were aired on global media outlets and likely seen by many at home.

During lunch the Floridians met in a round table discussion with the student representatives from the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth and their Professor, Dr. Anant Sudaran. The students are all planning to use their Masters in Business Administration in renewable energy and sustainability businesses. The group realized the great potential to be found in locating in such an industry in the State. The conversation tied an important nexus between the renewable energy industry and the advanced education needed to provide an adequate workforce for the high wage jobs such an industry will bring.

The Florida delegation met with press from the State of Florida via conference call to provide an update of developments with the delegation in Copenhagen. Following the conference call and questions from the media participants, the Florida delegation joined the reception hosted by the region of Nova Scotia in Canada. A fascinating presentation at the reception concluded with remarks by a company who is initiating ocean tidal energy with advanced technology using turbines in the Bay of Fundy. The tidal technology should immediately produce between 5 and 6 gigawatts of electricity. Our delegates later met with a representative from the company to discuss the possibilities of using similar technology in the Florida Gulf Stream in conjunction with research being done at Florida Atlantic University. The company seemed quite interested in expanding this technology to Florida.

Following the reception, the Florida delegates witnessed Earth Hour from the top floor of the hotel. During Earth Hour the City of Copenhagen went dark to show support to the arriving heads of state for an agreement to curb global greenhouse gas emissions. The delegates then gathered to share impressions and experiences to this point in the week of meetings. The Florida delegation outlined a game plan to implement the policy and economic development potential realized during the week upon return to the Sunshine State.

As the final two days of the high-level segment of the Conference approach, the nations negotiating at the Climate Change Conference will make declarations to the world outlining their positions. Likewise, the Florida delegation will maximize activities with economic development potential to further build Florida’s business infrastructure into the new economic future.

 

Tuesday, December 15, 2009 

The Florida delegation represents viewpoints across ideological spectrums, but unlike the international deadlock on reaching an international consensus on carbon emissions reductions, the Florida delegates are in agreement that building a renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure is imperative for the state to thrive in the emerging economy. In every meeting it is reinforced to the delegates the critical importance of these new long-term business models in driving economic development in Florida. In fact, as one notable speaker told the delegates, Florida has a short window to become a leader in this innovative industry and if it fails to do this Floridians will be buyers--instead of sellers. As Florida has learned in the past, it is critical to lead the field in selling the resource rather than to rely on other regions and nations to sustain the state’s needs.

The U.N. Climate Change Conference is mired in deadlocks and impasses as the United States debates China over reduction targets and developing nations demand more aid from the developed countries. Demonstrators have fortified themselves against a growing security across Copenhagen. It is hard to find a street without police on the corners, something quite rare for this peace loving city and nation. At the Radisson, host hotel to the Florida delegation, security is elevated with police patrolling the lobby and requiring layers of identification when entering the hotel from the street. The Florida delegation shares the hotel with the official delegations from Russia, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya, Mexico and Spain. The importance of Florida as a subregion of the United States is evident when sharing a facility and interacting in meaningful ways with official negotiating delegations to the Convention.

On Tuesday the Florida delegation finally beat the crowds and entered the Bella Center to monitor the international negotiations and attend business orientated side events. While navigating the organized chaos and over 3,500 media outlets from across the globe, the Florida delegates made relevant contacts in the forestry industry and later articulated the realization that they are at the center of the world during this Conference.

In the morning the Florida delegation heard a presentation from the Vice President of the U.S. Commercial Service, Keith Curtis, regarding American progress in the Copenhagen negotiations and the importance of international business to Florida economic development. Many of the difficulties in reaching an agreement arise from fundamental differences in the economic concerns of China and the United States.

The Florida delegation also heard from Dr. Tim Anderson, Director of the Florida Energy Systems Consortium, regarding emerging technologies and the potential for commercialization for new renewable energy projects. With his extensive academic and research background, he explained that the window of opportunity for Florida to lead the world is closing and that this delegation should take the reins in economic and policy development at a statewide level.

During these presentations, the official Nigerian delegation held a high level meeting in the adjacent room. To begin their reception, the Nigerians stood as the national ministers entered and together sang the national anthem of the country.

In the afternoon Florida’s delegation hosted a meeting of the “Sunshine States” where the Minister of Climate Change and Sustainability from Queensland, Australia’s “Sunshine State,” met in a policy discussion with the Florida delegates. The course of the conversation revolved around methods of solving similar issues in each state. Queensland is the fastest growing region in the world and like Florida is defined by a concentration of the population on a beautiful coast. The two states share many qualities and challenges including a need to transition a large carbon-producing and consuming economy to that of renewable energy and more sustainable business. 

During the afternoon Copenhagen was covered by the first substantial snow of the year. By tomorrow the temperature should drop to allow the snow to stay on the ground. This temperature and beautiful white blanket should remain until the Florida delegation returns to their native sunshine.