Held og lykke Conference of Parties!

Good luck to the Conference of Parties in Copenhagen! I have the privilege of traveling there over the weekend as part of a delegation organized by California’s Climate Action Reserve and its program arm, the Center for Climate Action. This delegation of over 100 individuals includes business people, state and local officials and staff (including Governor Schwarzenegger, two other U.S. governors and two Canadian premiers).

What do I expect to see and hear in Copenhagen? I am embarking upon this trip with equal measures of fascination and trepidation. I am fascinated by the notion that 100+ national governments can convene a meeting aimed at solving a global problem of enormous dimensions. I am uncertain how much insight I will be able to glean from being “close to the action”, but I am hopeful that being an official “observer” translates into some sharper insights.

I will also carry the flag for Applied Materials. In fact, here are a few points about Applied Materials’ stake in the conference and our position on the underlying issues:

1. Applied Materials is supportive of the negotiation process and hopeful an agreement can be reached, if not next week then in the near future.
2. International business has a direct stake in the process as there is a clear linkage between climate policy and clean technology development. Clean energy will be one of the biggest creators of jobs and economic development this century, and the key to creating sustainable demand is smart, strong policy.
3. Applied Materials has been an active participant in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Task Force on Low-Carbon Prosperity and supports the recommendations made by the Task Force earlier this year. The companies comprising WEF’s Climate Change Steering Committee, including Applied Materials, have been clear: a successor agreement to Kyoto that establishes stronger national targets and accompanying international mechanisms to facilitate achievement of those targets is needed now.
4. The United States (U.S.)c an be a leader in the low-carbon economy, but only if we choose to lead.
5. Applied’s priorities in the energy/climate area are a:

• Stronger renewable electricity standard (RES) than is in current legislation that includes graduated targets along the way.
• Well-funded “green bank” or similar mechanism to provide no/low-cost financing for renewable energy projects; the “Clean Energy Development Authority” in current federal legislation does this and we support it,
• Mechanism to price CO2, whether through a cap-and-trade system, carbon tax or other policy instrument, and
• Variety of other policy changes, including tax credits, national interconnect and net-metering standards, increased government procurement of renewable energy and so on.

What is causing my trepidation? An acquaintance already in Copenhagen claims the town is a ‘zoo’ at the moment! Long lines to register, long queues to buy a sandwich, standing room only at many of the side events, access to the plenary sessions has been restricted, not to mention human behaviors that could leave attendees shaking their heads. I will be reporting from the event following my arrival and will let you know whether my hopes or fears (or both) are justified. Wish me luck!