Clinton Focuses Expert Minds to Kindle Energy Solutions

NEW YORK New York, December 7, 2004 (ENS) - The Clinton Foundation assembled energy and climate experts Monday to examine the relationship between energy policy and security, development, and climate change in an all day forum at New York University. During his opening remarks, former President Bill Clinton said the United States must develop a strong energy strategy that integrates renewable energy generation with more conventional sources, "for security, economic and environmental reasons."

Clinton said he was "personally disappointed" in the recent presidential campaign. "There was almost no discussion of energy and the environment," he said, "and in the three debates we had, even though there were security, economic and environmental issues raised, there was only one question asked of the candidates about environmental policy. There was no specific question about energy policy, even though the decisions we make or fail to make in this area may have a bigger impact on America and the world than virtually all the things that were debated," the former President said.

Former President Bill Clinton in 1999. (Photo courtesy Federal Register)

"If this country wants to be recognized as a positive force, then we must recognize the need for addressing climate change," he said, observing that the United States holds about five percent of the world’s population but produces 25 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases.

Clinton also talked about the challenges for two of the world’s most populated countries that are dependent on coal for energy, "China and India will be emitting more greenhouse gases than the United States in the future unless they can be shown a way to create wealth and jobs, while reducing the emissions that lead to climate change," he said.

The forum broke into three panel discussions focusing on current challenges, the future of energy, and the practical realities of governing and energy policy, with panelists agreeing that climate change is a global problem that needs global solutions.

The Clinton Presidential Center which opened last month in Little Rock, Arkansas is a green building. It has won silver LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in recognition of the environmentally sustainable and energy efficient design elements in the structure and operation of the buildings and surrounding park. (Photo courtesy Clinton Presidential Center)

Dr. John Holdren told forum participants, "The climate is changing at a pace that is outside the envelope of normal change, with an impact on farms, forestry and fishing." Dr. Holdren is Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy and Director of the Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, as well as Professor of Environmental Science and Public Policy in the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.

"The dominant cause is beyond a doubt the fossil fuels providing 80 percent of civilization’s energy supply," he said.

Stephen Byers, a Member of the British Parliament and co-chair of the International Taskforce on Climate Change, and former President Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Republic spoke of the dramatic weather changes causing concern among citizens in their countries.

"Climate change is taking place," Byers said. "It’s hard to argue the reality when you see events like the rare winter typhoon occurring in Taiwan and the Philippines, the European heat wave that led to 26,000 premature deaths in 2003 and floods in Europe in 2002."

President Fernández explained his country experienced 10 to 12 hurricanes in 2004 compared to the usual two to three. "People would say something strange is happening and there’s concern created."

Rajendra K. Pachauri of India, who chairs the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, says the science is evolving, but "we also need to get the message out. The scientific community hasn’t done a great job of spreading the word, but we need to."

Engineer and economist Rajendra K. Pachauri has served as advisor to United Nations agencies, to the Prime Minister of India, and to the Government of Japan. He now heads the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Photo courtesy U.S. Climate Change Program)

Byers said, "The way in is by explaining to people that you’re handing on to your children a worse quality of life because of the way you’re living."

Many of the panelists believe it is important to show citizens that economic growth can be combined with cutting the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change.

"We need to start by looking at the tremendous opportunity rather than the hand wringing," said Timothy Wirth, President Clinton's assistant secretary of state for global affairs, and a former U.S. Senator from Colorado who now serves as president of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund. "The key is not to tie energy to national security but to domestic policy and the tremendous opportunity for jobs by creating clean affordable energy."

While citing the real demand for hybrid cars and the potential for the auto industry, Senator Joseph Lieberman reiterated Wirth’s point in a later panel discussion, "We need to fight for bold investment in alternative fuel energy. It addresses the problem and creates economic opportunity."

Panelists also discussed the unique challenges faced by developing countries.

A woman in India collects potable water provided by a solar powered pump. (Photo by Harin Ullal courtesy Central Electronics, Ltd.)

Fellow panelist, President Fernández explained the realities of energy in his country, and why the Dominican Republic has to stay focused on the short term goal of delivering a reliable energy system to the the people. "It’s a question of survival; 18 to 20 hour blackouts cause political problems and unrest and threaten government stability."

He also pointed to the fact that a country must be able to provide reliable energy for its industries and businesses in order to develop economically.

President Clinton concluded the forum by issuing a challenge to all participants. "The lesson of today is that there is literally something every person can do," he said. He emphasized the economic opportunities that are opening for renewable and clean energy endeavors, and repeatedly urged the forum participants to stop by the booths of NGOs set up at the entrance to the gathering.

Clinton encouraged everyone to look for projects in their hometowns, their houses, and their vacation places that would promote energy conservation and contribute to the reduction of the greenhouse gases linked to climate change.