Following a day in which the G-77 storm out of negotiations and the Bella Center shut down because the UN's security system had crashed, not much improved in the Bella Center.  Lines were multiple hours long, and most non-governmental delegates were not able to get in to the conference center.

I attended a number of off-site programs including the Climate Group's panel on energy efficiency moderated by Steve Westly, who will be speaking at the ACCO event with Climate Spark tomorrow night.  His panel was particularly large, but included senior officers and officials from GE, Phillips, Arup, Johnson Controls and a number of subnational leaders from outside the United States.  The many technologies and opportunities to improve efficiencies highlighted in the panel were particularly encouraging.

Following the panel, a group of 20 protesters entered the facility and began chanting "We want climate, no more business."  Within 2 minutes, a brigade of police officers and soldiers entered the room and surrounded the protesters.  After giving the protesters a chance to leave peacefully (which they declined by ignoring the police), they were hauled off unceremoniously from the site.  I wish I'd had the sense to record it as it was a surreal experience.


While the UN and the Danes were continuing to grossly mishandle the main conference, subnational leaders took center stage.  At a gala hosted by the Climate Action Reserve, the Climate Registry and The Climate Group for governors, premiers and mayors, Climate Group CEO Steve xxxx announced that subnational leaders worldwide had committed to planting 1 billion trees by 2025.  They also committed to pair develop countries with developing countries in a mentoring relationship.  Gov. Gregoire (Washington) announced that the U.S. would lead the world through the efforts of its governors and mayors and Gov. Schwarzenneger (California) was recognized by his peers for his leadership.