New York, NY, USA September 2011
Both Tony Blair and Mayor Bloomberg opened Climate Week’s ceremonies to a VIP crowd where The Climate Group announced its new 3-year campaign, The Clean Revolution. The Clean Revolution aims to rapidly scale the rate and speed of clean energy, technologies, growth, and best sustainable business practices through this new campaign as the human population now reaches 7 billion and stress on our natural resource base continues to increase. Ban-Ki Moon, Secretary General of the UN, commended the Climate Group and partners for their work toward a green, low carbon future. Mayor Bloomberg alluded to the extreme weather NYC experienced the past weeks, warning of what the future holds if we delay action. He outlined NYC’s sustainability agenda PlaNYC as a way forward for mega-cities. Andrew Steer, Special Envoy on Climate Change, World Bank, emphasized the ground-swell of activity in climate change mitigation and adaptation in emerging economies; while Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director, confirmed the urgency for progressive talks at Durban and Rio+20 Summit in Brazil, June 2012. Panelists from the Business Sector speaking on Innovative Solutions for the Future included Wang, Shi, Chairman, China Vanke Corporation, Michel Liès, Chairman, Global Partnerships, Swiss Re, Mark Vachon, Vice President, GE Ecomagination, Mike Ward, President, IKEA, North America and Victor Der, General Manager North America, Global CCS Institute. The discussion was moderated by Ed Crooks, the Financial Times US Industry and Energy Editor. Climate Week, 2011
