News: President Clinton Promotes a Clean Energy Future

On August 18, President Clinton delivered the opening remarks at the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas, Nev., in front of industry leaders, politicians, scientists, and policy experts, stressing the importance of shaping a clean energy future in the United States.

"Energy is at the heart of the three greatest challenges US faces today," he said, urging conference participants to do more to encourage renewable energy markets and create green collar jobs that will boost the country's economy while fighting the threat of global climate change.

The one-day event hosted several panel sessions on the development of renewable energy, the progression of innovative energy-efficiency technologies, and the creation of clean energy markets in the United States and throughout the world. Rich in solar, wind, and geothermal clean energy sources, Nevada is an ideal host for the summit.

President Clinton also highlighted efforts to improve energy-efficiency in lighting along the Las Vegas strip. Resting on the fact that cities occupy 2 percent of the world's land mass but contribute more than two-thirds of global greenhouse emissions, President Clinton has made cities the focus of the Foundation's Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), founded in 2006. In its first phase, CCI is serving as the exclusive implementing partner of the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, an association of large cities around the world that have pledged to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCI is working with partner cities and companies on building retrofit, waste management, outdoor lighting retrofit, transportation, and clean energy projects.