Partnerships with Germany and the United Kingdom
Partnership on Global Climate Change Action between the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Florida
Common Interests
The people of the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Florida are tied through bonds of friendship, commerce, culture, and a mutual respect for liberty and the institutions of democracy. Many current Floridians proudly proclaim their German heritage while Florida remains a favorite vacation destination for German citizens. Our cultures and our institutions have been deeply influenced by the love of our peoples for our respective natural environments. Now we find that the natural beauty of our landscapes is threatened by rapidly growing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. We share a common interest in protecting the climate that has nurtured modem human society and culture over the past 10,000 years. We share a common interest in acting together to address global climate change.
Common Purpose
The scientific record compels immediate action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The Federal Republic of Germany has provided remarkable leadership among the world's nations over the past two decades. The State of Florida is proud to join Germany in calling for immediate world-wide action while taking active steps to reduce our own emissions. The purpose of this statement is to outline an aggressive agenda for partnership that supports the climate policies of each partner and provides mutual economic benefits to the Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Florida.
Partnership Agenda
The Federal Republic of Germany and the State of Florida wish to partner the following actions:
- We will partner in discussing and promoting concepts for a post 2012 climate regime that builds upon and broadens the Kyoto Protocol in order to protect the planet's climate systems by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
- We will partner to increase climate-friendly commerce between Germany and Florida to bolster our respective economic positions while mutually benefiting each partner. Areas of particular emphasis could include trade opportunities in renewable and other safe and sustainable energy technologies, products that promote increased energy efficiency throughout the economy, and renewable energy feedstocks.
- We will partner to improve our public policies that reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases. Our policy focus could include market-based incentives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase our respective reliance on renewable energy sources, and increase the energy security of each partner. We will explore possible linkages between carbon markets in Florida and Germany.
- We will partner to improve our science in understanding how climate change is affecting our respective economies, our agriculture, our natural resources, our environmental quality, and our public health. Our science partnership could include exchanges of scholars, expertise, and data that mutually benefit our respective scientific communities.
- We will partner to improve our technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions with a particular emphasis on technologies associated with renewable energy generation and storage, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage, and other advanced energy technologies that may benefit our respective energy sectors.
- We intend to exchange delegations for the purpose of implementing the partnership agenda outlined in this document.
This Joint Declaration of Intent is signed in two copies in the English and
German languages.
July 13, 2007, in Miami, Florida in the United States of America.
For the Republic of German
Matthias Machnig, State Secrtary
German Ministry for the Environment,
Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Charlie Crist, Governor
State of Florida
Partnership on Global Climate Change Action between the United Kingdom and the State of Florida Common Interests
The people of the United Kingdom and the people of the State of Florida are tied through bonds of friendship, commerce, a common cultural heritage, and a mutual respect for liberty and the institutions of democracy. The United Kingdom and the State of Florida are physically tied one to another by the Gulf Stream, a massive oceanic current of critical importance to the current climate and quality of life of each partner. The Gulf Stream, and other major features of the planet's climatic system, may now be at risk due to rapidly growing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Our peoples share a common interest in protecting the climatic balance observed over the planet across the past 10,000 years. Moving to low carbon economies will help protect our planet and our people, and will provide real economic opportunities for the people of the United Kingdom and the State of Florida.
Common Purpose
The scientific record compels immediate action to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The United Kingdom has been a stalwart voice for action among the world's nations over the past two decades. The State of Florida is proud to join the United Kingdom in calling for immediate world-wide action. The purpose of this arrangement is to outline an aggressive agenda for partnership that supports the climate control policies of each partner and works towards the rapid transition to a global low carbon economy.
Partnership Agenda
The United Kingdom and the State of Florida will carry out the following
partnership actions:
- We will partner in discussing and promoting concepts for a post 2012 climate regime that builds upon and broadens the Kyoto Protocol in order to protect the planet's climate systems by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
- We will aim to increase climate-friendly commerce between the United Kingdom and Florida to bolster our respective economic positions while mutually benefiting each partner. Areas of particular emphasis will include trade opportunities in renewable and other advanced energy technologies, products that promote increased energy efficiency throughout the economy, and renewable energy feedstocks.
- We will aim to improve our public policies that reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases. Our policy focus will include market-based incentives that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase our respective reliance on renewable energy sources, and increase the energy security of each partner. We will explore possible linkages between carbon markets in Florida and the United Kingdom.
- We will aim to improve our science in understanding how climate change is affecting our respective economies, our agriculture, our natural resources, our environmental quality, and our public health. Our science partnership will include exchange of knowledge, expertise, and data that mutually benefit our respective scientific communities.
- We will work to improve our technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions with a particular emphasis on technologies associated with renewable energy generation and storage, energy efficiency, carbon capture and storage, and other advanced energy technologies that may benefit our respective energy sectors. We commit to exchanging delegations for the purpose of implementing the partnership agenda outlined in this document.
Signed John Ashton
on behalf of Rt Hon Hilary Berm, Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Governor Charlie Crist
State of Florida