Britain and California will work more closely to tackle the environmental and economic consequences of climate change, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger were to announce Monday.
Blair, in California to promote British business interests, is due to meet with Schwarzenegger and captains of British industry like BP's chief executive John Browne and Virgin boss Richard Branson at a conference on the subject in Los Angeles.
But the prime minister's official spokesman was immediately forced to counter suggestions that Britain's cooperation with California was a way of circumventing potential US federal objections to a partnership on climate change issues between London and the state of California.
Instead, he said that US President's George W. Bush's concerns on energy security were similar to arguments for greater energy efficiency.
The mission statement of the collaboration states that Britain and California will "commit to urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote low carbon technologies".
"California and the UK recognise the linkages between climate change, energy security, human health and robust economic growth," it adds.
"Working together, California and the UK commit to build upon current efforts, share experiences, find new solutions and work to educate the public on the need for aggressive action to address climate change and promote energy diversity."
