Today marked the start of the High Level Segment - in other words the final few days where heads of state and ministers involve themselves in debating the final outcomes of the COP15. On one hand, the participation of more than 100 heads of state signifies the high level of political commitment to the issue of climate change -something which in may people's words has never been greater.

On the other hand, their arrival also bring a great level of chaos, and (for the non-VIPs like us), severe logistical difficulties. The number of NGO participants for example has now been limited to 7,000, to be further shrunk to 1,000 on Thursday, and only 90 on Friday when President Obama is expected to arrive. The main challenge for us now is to get inside the venue, and stay there until the end of the week!

Four members of the Bridging the Gap team were part of the lucky few who were able to attend the opening plenary session of the High Level Segment, which included speakers such as the Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer, COP15 President Connie Hedegaard, The Prince of Wales, and Nobel Prize Laureate Wangari Muta Maathai.

Earlier during the day, a few side events on transport were held as follows (event summaries from organisers):

Facing economy-wide GHG cuts of up to 80% by 2050, we review evidence on what is possible for transport, what is feasible and how much is it likely to cost. Must we travel less? Must we travel better? Who acts? Who pays? Are we losing opportunities to cut transport GHG emissions at low cost?

http://regserver.unfccc.int/seors/attachments/get_attachment?code=H77C6EHP3LZOVTHSX9KK0LCY7HI4HSXN

In May 2009, U.S. President Barack Obama announced a new National Fuel Efficiency Policy aimed at both increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas pollution for all new cars and trucks sold in the United States. This policy responds to the country's critical need to address global climate change and to reduce oil consumption. In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Transportation signed a joint rulemaking that proposed the first-ever greenhouse gas emissions standards and increased fuel economy standards for passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles for model years 2012-2016. These proposed standards would achieve approximately 950 million metric tons of total carbon dioxide equivalent emissions reductions and approximately 1.8 billion barrels of oil savings over the lifetimes of vehicles sold in model years 2012-2016. Not only is this new national policy revolutionary in its content, but it also reflects the cooperative and collaborative nature of effective government, utilizing responsibilities of and contributions by both agencies. The new national policy was also supported by key stakeholders such as automotive manufacturers and the United Auto Workers, the State of California and 13 other states, and major environmental NGOs. A panel of U.S. government representatives will discuss this new policy and its implications.

http://cop15.state.gov/uscenter/meetingroom/index.htm#tues15drivingdownemissions

Sustainable communities - in the form of efficient, compact development where walking, biking, transit, and car or ride-sharing are easy to access - can contribute significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving environmental conditions. This session will highlight development strategies that can help create and enhance sustainable communities, including green building, building on already developed sites, reusing existing infrastructure and buildings, developing more compactly, making walking and biking safe and easy, mixing uses so that homes are closer to jobs and amenities, and providing a range of housing types. The presentation will describe a new Partnership for Sustainable Communities between the U.S. EPA, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help coordinate federal funding in support of sustainable communities.

http://cop15.state.gov/uscenter/meetingroom/index.htm#tues15event