First Environmental Clinton Global Initiative Asia

First Environmental Clinton Global Initiative Asia



December 3, 2008 - Commitments to clean Hong 
Kong's beaches, produce carbon-free energy from rice residues, and raise 
awareness of climate change in India are among the results of the first 
Clinton Global Initiative meeting in Asia. 
Today, at the conclusion of the two-day meeting in Hong Kong, former 
President Bill Clinton said, "I am truly impressed by our Clinton Global 
Initiative members and the new commitments announced this week that will 
bring real, measurable change to millions of lives in Asia and across the 
world." 
"CGI Asia members have made commitments worth an estimated total value of 
US$185 million, to positively impact more than 10 million lives," Clinton 
said.

Clinton welcomed current and former heads of state and prominent regional 
business and non-profit leaders who pledged to address some of the world's 
most pressing challenges - climate change, food and water security, and 
deforestation. 
"Asia has a strong history of social responsibility and we have a unique 
opportunity to work together in innovative and effective ways to achieve 
positive change during a time of great uncertainty for the world," said 
Clinton, whose wife, Senator Hillary Clinton has just been nominated to 
serve as Secretary of State in the incoming administration President-elect 
Barack Obama. 
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed the CGI Asia meeting's opening 
plenary session on Tuesday with a video message, saying, "In recent 
decades, Asia has achieved remarkable gains in economic growth and 
development. This progress has offered valuable lessons to the rest of the 
world." 
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd also addressed the participants via 
video. "We need new ideas to confront and solve the myriad of challenges 
which lie ahead of us this century," said the prime minister. "I look 
forward to working with all those gathered at the Clinton Global 
Initiative meeting to move our world forward towards a new chapter in 
human history." 
Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said her visit to Hong Kong 
to take part in the Clinton Global Initiative was "short but fruitful." 
Arroyo told participants that she remains "laser-focused" in working to 
further strengthen the economy so the country could stay the course. 
The Commitments to Action, made by members to affect positive change 
include the CGI's three areas of focus - education, energy and climate 
change, and public health. 
The World Food Programme and partners made a far-reaching mega-commitment' 
includes six different CGI commitments involving eight countries and is 
valued at US$20 million dollars. It will focus on feeding more people with 
better food, targeting vulnerable groups in emergency and post-disaster 
situations and long-term food security. 

Environmental commitments include a pledge from Graeme Reading, chair of 
the Café Deco Group, to spend US$125,000 over two years to establish a 
Hong Kong beach authority, which will coordinate both public and private 
efforts to clean up Hong Kong's 40 beaches. 
Dr. Robert S. Zeigler, director general of the International Rice Research 
Institute, commits US$2.2 million over four years to develop a new 
technology that will produce carbon-dioxide free energy from rice residues 
such as straw and husks, helping create additional income for farmers and 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in India and Cambodia. 
The BAIF Development Research Foundation and partners, is committing 
US$30,700 over two years to integrate an educational program on climate 
change in 10,000 rural schools in Northern India and 5,000 in Maharashtra 
state. 
The Noble Group, one of the world's largest supply-chain managers whose 
operations involve many of the Earth's natural resources and raw 
materials, announced a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2008. In 
addition to going carbon neutral, the Noble Group will also generate an 
awareness-raising campaign targeting its 10,000 staff members and more 
than 4,000 business partners. This commitment is valued at US$10 million 
over three years. 
Habitat for Humanity China is committing US$12.5 million over 18 months to 
rehabilitate three communities that were affected by the earthquakes that 
struck China's Sichuan province in May by constructing 924 houses, three 
nursery schools, health clinics, libraries, and outdoor exercise areas. 
Hang Seng Bank, along with its partners, is committing US$150,000 over one 
year to build 300 biogas toilets for 1,700 people in Yunnan, China that 
will store methane gas produced by humans and poultry to provide local 
communities with alternative forms of energy for daily use, in an effort 
to reduce carbon emissions. 
The nonprofit group International Center for Networking, Ecology, 
Education and Re-Integration, along with its partners, is committing US$1 
million over two years to raise awareness of the dangers posed by climate 
change in India and Mozambique. The group intends to engage 60,000 
students in renewable energy discussions in 600 schools to demonstrate 
that a positive change in individual and community behavior can result in 
energy efficiency and resource conservation. 

The Jal Bhagirathi Foundation, with its partners, is committing US$7.6 
million over six years to implement projects in 400 villages in the Thar 
Desert of India that will improve underserved populations' access to safe 
drinking water, sanitation, and alternative sustainable livelihood 
opportunities; in an effort to reduce their vulnerability to climate 
change. 
Mlup Baitong and partners is committing US$110,000 over three years to 
reduce the current degradation of natural resources in Cambodia by 
coordinating and implementing a community based forestry management 
project in Kampong Thom province. 
51-Sim.org and its partners announced a commits US$1 million over two 
years to host China's first ever "Green Car Show" which will be 
carbon-neutral, and to hold a climate change competition to encourage 
environmentally-friendly behavior. 
Over the course of three years, Practical Action commits US$27 million to 
help disadvantaged, rural communities develop their capacity to use 
innovative agricultural techniques that will reduce their vulnerability to 
disasters and risks associated with climate change, aspiring to improve 
the lives of 700,000 people. 
Aid Foundation, Inc. commits US$260,000 over two years to provide access 
to clean drinking water for disadvantaged, rural communities by developing 
their capacity to manufacture and install AIDFI's hydraulic ram pump in 
Colombia, Indonesia, Madagascar, and the Philippines, in an effort to 
improve sanitation and agricultural activities for 3,600 people. 
Mr. Wee Lin is committing US$99,000 over nine years to enhance access to 
environmentally-friendly and affordable food for underserved and poor 
communities in Singapore by hosting a series of events and engaging 
stakeholders in dialogue. 
The World Toilet Organization, along with its partners, is committing 
US$1.2 million to expand access for more than 750 million people in 
Cambodia and India to basic sanitation by improving the current market 
structure of the sanitation sector. The WTO will work to better match 
supply of sanitation products with demand and provide training programs 
for business leaders who wish to tap into the US$1 trillion global 
sanitation marketplace. 
The WWF is committing US$200,000 over three and a half years to provide 
access to finance, education, and training to excluded and marginalized 
women and children living in the slums and rural villages of Southern 
India, and identify potential NGOs who could replicate this program in 
Northern India. 
The Shri Ram School, Shri Ram Foundation, and Save the Children Bal Raksha 
Bharat commit US$300,000 over two years to launch a comprehensive disaster 
risk mitigation program to train teachers, children and families to better 
prepare for and address natural disasters. 
GeoHazards International, India's National Disaster Management Authority, 
GeoHazards Society, ProVention Consortium, EHDD Architecture, University 
of New Mexico, Rutherford & Chekene Structural Engineering, Stanford 
University Chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World, and the National 
Centre for Peoples' Action in Disaster Preparedness commit US$5 million 
over five years to improve the earthquake resistance and energy efficiency 
of schools and health clinics in Northern India and other Asian countries.





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