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Public and Private Sector Leaders Launch Global Observatory at Clinton Global Initiative
Public and Private Sector Leaders Launch Global Observatory at Clinton Global Initiative
Published 09-24-09
Submitted by Global Observatory
Leaders of government, the military, the private sector, and scientists are at the forefront of the Global Observatory initiative, an international effort to guide governments towards an agreement at the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention, COP15, that will mitigate climate change and put the world on a course of greater ecological and economic prosperity and stability.
Today at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), Global Observatory will be recognized as a member commitment for its exemplary approach to addressing climate change. GO joins a prestigious list of individuals and organizations working to address the world's most pressing problems. GO was conceptualized by Jose Maria Figueres, former President of Costa Rica, a long-time leader and innovator on climate change.
"The Global Observatory will bring together experts and top scientists to evaluate how the negotiations at COP15 are going, to communicate what it means, and to show how we can proceed toward success", said Jose Maria Figueres. "The experts will work with Ambassadors, those most respected among us, to communicate where we are, what governments are discussing, and what is possible. We hope that this will create the political space for our world leaders to come to agreement to take on this great challenge, and put us on a path to prosperity and stability."
Global Observatory will act as a catalyst, bridging the gap between those responsible for making the decisions at COP15 and the public. GO seeks to bring the public into the negotiations in Copenhagen, to learn about what they can do, and to see how together we can rebuild our economies, and increase our competitiveness and security.
The GO Ambassadors are being recruited to comprise a geographically balanced mix of respected world leaders, business leaders, politicians and indigenous leaders. Ambassadors already confirmed include Desmond Tutu (South Africa), Maurice Strong (Canada), Sir Richard Branson (UK), Juan Rada (Belgium), Ashok Khosla (India) and Jeremy Leggett (UK).
Joining President Figueres on stage today was Aimee Christensen, CEO of Christensen Global Strategies, and a member of the GO Executive Team and a former member of the Clinton Administration, and Dan Abbasi, Director at MissionPoint Capital and Advisor to its sister foundation, the Betsy & Jesse Fink Foundation (lead donor to the Global Observatory).
"The Global Observatory is a useful, timely initiative that can make a difference," said Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "We have to back up our words with action. The GO can help create the political space that will inspire, engage and enable leaders from all around the world to take action."
