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Governor Lingle Hosts World Climate Reception

By Walter Makaula

Experts on energy security and climate change are in town this week and tonight, the Governor hosted a reception for them at Washington Place.

Most of the delegate's meetings will be held behind closed doors.

But the issues they're here to discuss, they definitely want out in the open.

One hundred fifty of them will participate in meetings over the next two days to talk about solutions to the world's energy security and climate change. Sixteen countries  sent delegates, plus the United Nations, and the European Union.

Out front on Beretania environmentalists waved signs with their own suggestions on how to conserve energy and protect the environment.

Artur Runge-Metzger of the European Commission said, "It shows just how serious people think about climate change... They expect real decisions in the coming years, and that politicians and bureaucrats need progress."

Yoshi Nishimura, the Cabinet Secretariat of Japan said, "One must be conscious of all these things.  Try not leave your house with air conditioning running. Try not to leave your house with the lights on... There are all sorts of things you can do."

He adds, there are many more things we can all do to conserve energy, and reduce the number of toxic emissions being released into the air.  Some of them include driving a hybrid vehicle, and something as easy as changing your light bulbs to incandescent fluorescents.