LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Second Governors' Global Climate Summit opened here on Wednesday to advance efforts to find solutions to global climate challenge.

    More than 1,200 attendees from more than 70 states, provinces and countries were present at the meeting hosted by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

    As the largest gathering of regional leaders focused on climate solutions, this summit will help to develop cooperative partnerships and promote collaborative actions needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build green economies and fight global climate change, Schwarzenegger said.

    The efforts made here provide sub national leaders the opportunity to influence the position of their national governments in advance of negotiations for the next global agreement on climate change taking place in Copenhagen this December, the governor said in a statement.

    "Experts and leaders from around the world join together this week in an effort to move closer toward a global solution to address climate change," said Schwarzenegger. "This is an incredible opportunity to create the economies of the future and we must seize it."

    "We need to share the climate change expertise from California, Quebec, Brittany and other champion states with regions and provinces in developing countries," said Olav Kjorven, UN Assistant Secretary-General and director of policy at UNDP.

    "With the knowledge of green planning, investment and implementation, they can effectively address the interlinked climate change and poverty crisis. If they can set their economies on low carbon development paths, they will cut emissions, access renewable energy and adapt agriculture to new rainfall patterns while alleviating poverty," he said.

    To succeed in the global fight against climate change and poverty, regions and integrated climate planning need to have an important role in the Copenhagen climate deal, Kjorven stated.

    "Today's gathering in California, led by Governor Schwarzenegger is part of that global ground swell that perceives the threats from climate change, but also the inordinate opportunities if the world acts now and in concert to transit to a low carbon, green economy," said Achim Steiner, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.

    After the first Governors' Global Climate Summit last year, the United Nations asked California to host another summit focused on the great work of cities, states and regions, which already are ahead of federal governments in developing solutions to the climate challenge.

    As the eighth largest economy in the world, California has intense economic and environmental interest in the progress and design of any international agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    The summit emphasizes the critical role sub national governments play in growing their economies while also reducing pollution. Participants will engage in 21 different panels featuring discussions on energy efficiency, low carbon fuels, green buildings, clean technology, job creation, water management, deforestation, sustainable development, training opportunities and adaptation strategies as we look toward influencing the international debate on climate change in Copenhagen.

    Experts estimate that 50 to 80 percent of actions needed to reach the UN climate goals will be implemented at the state and local levels.