Strasbourg (F), 14 January 2013

Michèle Sabban, Vice President of the Ile-de-France Region (F) and President of the Assembly of European Regions, is on a mission to Brazil between the 12th and 19th of January 2013, as part of her role within the R20 (Regions of Climate Action), for which she has been appointed Board President by the former Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She will meet with the governors of the states of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in order to present the R2O mission: supporting its members in the implementation of concrete projects in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, resulting in both the creation of green jobs and the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Michèle Sabban is indeed accompanying Mr Schwarzenegger’s green crusade, in which territories are role models for the rest of the international community. In less than a year since it started operating, in early 2012, the R20 was able to generate for several of its members – regions and federal states – a first portfolio of up to $1 billion in fundable projects with its technology partners. To date, the R20 is finalising the funding of several hundred million dollars coming from private investors for such projects.

Michèle Sabban, well aware of the importance of emerging economies, will explore in Brazil – after her previous mission in China with provincial and national authorities – the interest in working together on this paradigm shift.
The Assembly of European Regions is a founding member of the R20. Together, the two organisations are mobilising for green growth in Europe and around the world.

The Assembly of European Regions (AER – aer.eu) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 250 regions from 35 countries and 16 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.

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