Thousands convene for Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - Delegates from around the world are in San Francisco for a three-day Global Climate Action Summit hosted by Governor Jerry Brown. More than 4,000 people were invited to the event at the Moscone Center in a call to action for those still committed to reaching the goals of the Paris climate agreement by 2020. 

"'We've got people from businesses, from cities, from state and regional government, you've got investors, civil society representation, really everyone arriving in San Francisco to really talk about the climate and what we need to do to take dramatic action," said Helen Clarkson, CEO of The Climate Group, and a member of the Summit's Advisory Board. 

Among the speakers Thursday will be the mayor of Paris talking about how cities can achieve their climate goals. Michael Bloomberg will talk about speeding the pace of climate action. Corporate leaders from Levi's, McDonald's and Walmart are set to discuss their commitments to reduce carbon emissions. Actors Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin will also participate in sessions, along with Dave Matthews. 

At a VIP reception Wednesday night, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed the crowd. 

Brown also was lauded for signing an executive order Monday calling for zero carbon emissions by 2045 and signing SB100 which sets a goal for California to use 100 percent renewable energy sources by 2045. 

Some attendees came to address the impacts of climate change on communities and health. 

Dr. Joy St. John, one of the attendees, came from the World Health Organization, where she is Assistant Director-General for Climate and Determinants of Health. 

"I'm very excited. I feel empowered because there is a movement, here is a feeling, a wellspring among the delegates," said St. John, "I believe that instead of being a talk shop. It will be an action shop."  

Many say they're hopeful the summit will bring new ideas and action.

"California is saying we're here. We're willing to pick up the slack. And not only do we have other people from around the county here, we have countries here. 'We're meeting with delegations from Mexico and the EU tomorrow from our California State Assembly," said Assemblyman Phil Ting, a Democrat from San Francisco. 
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Hundreds of affiliated events are also being held throughout the Bay Area. 

Environmentalist and former Vice Presdient Al Gore spoke at one event about impacts of rising temperatures on California.

"There are 129 million dead trees in California, aka kindling. Lighting strikes get more numerous when the temperature goes up. Droughts take hold more quickly," Gore said, "The same heat that's being trapped in the atmosphere, makes droughts so more worse, causes so many more fires"

At Lyft headquarters in San Francisco, the co-founder John Zimmer pledged action.

"Transportation, which we are part of, is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. We're well aware of that. and our goal is to move the transport system completely off of carbon," said Zimmer. 

Lyft executives say they stand by the Paris agreement and are moving their company to be eco-friendly. 

Sam Arons is Director of Sustainability for Lyft.

"For renewable energy we actually partnered with Clean Power SF, the city's renewable energy program to power this building and our driver hub with renewable energy directly." 

The Opening Plenary welcome is set to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday and the summit continues through Friday.