ArnoldSchwarzenegger,theR20FoundingChair,receivedtheLegionof
Honourafterhigh-levelenvironmentalmeetingsinParisParis,April28th2017Former CaliforniaGovernor, and R20 Founding Chair,Mr. Arnold Schwarzenegger,attendedmeetingsinParislastFridaywithFrenchPresidentMr.FrançoisHollande,Mr. Laurent Fabius (Presidentof the FrenchConstitutionalCouncil), andMs.AnneHidalgo (MayorofParisandChairofC40Cities).Theyshared theircommonvisionfortacklingclimatechange,anddiscussedwaystoworktogethertoimplementthe2016ParisClimateAgreement.TheR20 President,Ms.Michèle Sabban, organized themeetings,whichwere alsoattendedbytheR20ExecutiveDirector,Dr.ChristopheNuttall.Mr.SchwarzeneggerandMs.HidalgometatParisCityHalltodiscusstherolesub-national governments have to play in tackling climate change. “While the UnitedNationsandheadsofstatespushforclimateactionfromatop-downapproach,sub-nationalsunlockactionfromthebottomup”,statedSchwarzenegger.MayorHidalgohighlightedtheroleofcitiesincombatingairpollutionandimprovingpublichealthwithmeasureslikebicycleslanesandpublictransport.ThemeetingculminatedwithasignedagreementbetweenC40andR20toreinforcebottom-upclimateactionbyregionsandcities.
MayorHidalgoandMr.Schwarzeneggersignedanagreementtocollaborateonsub-nationalclimateactionthroughC40andR20.
Mr.SchwarzeneggeralsohadameetingwithMr.Fabiustodiscussalegally-bindingglobalenvironmentalrights initiativethatFrance isgoingtopropose inthecomingmonths. France has asked former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and ArnoldSchwarzeneggertotakealeadingroleinhelpingbuildageneralmovementtowardssuchaninitiative.Inhonouroftheinitiative’slaunch,Mr.SchwarzeneggerhasbeeninvitedtodeliverakeynotespeechattheSorbonneonJune24th2017.
Mr.SchwarzeneggerfinishedhisParistourwithareceptionatElyséePalace,wherePresidentHollandepresentedMr.Schwarzeneggerwith theLegionofHonourwithCommandeur distinction. President Hollande congratulated and thanked Mr.Schwarzenegger forhispersonal involvement toprotect theenvironmentwhilehewasGovernorof California, andnow throughhis leadership at R20. The LegionofHonouristhehighestFrenchorderofmeritforexcellenceinmilitaryandcivilduties.
ParticipantsdiscussedtheParisAgreementandotherclimateinitiatives.Fromlefttoright:Mr.Nuttall,Mr.Schwarzenegger,Mr.Fabius,andMs.Sabban.
Mr.SchwarzeneggerreceivedtheFrenchLegionofHonouronApril28th2017forhisstronglegacyofenvironmentalachievements.
