英國億萬富翁維京集團總裁理查‧布蘭森，21日宣佈將出資30億美元，供未來10年對抗全球暖化之用。他說：「父母傳承給我們這代一個極為美麗的星球，而他們同樣繼承自上一輩；我們不能成為造成環境不可抺滅傷害的那個世代。」
布蘭森是集娛樂、媒體及旅遊事業於一身的商業巨擘，他21日在紐約由前美國總統柯林頓所倡議舉辦的全球性會議中發表聲明。布蘭森指出，世界正面臨由人類排放的溫室氣體而導致全球暖化的大浩劫。
他指出，「雖然部分科學家聲稱為時已晚，但我並不認為如此，大多數的科學家認為我們仍然可以做些什麼。」
56歲的布蘭森在1999年時，受伊麗莎白女王冊封為爵士，他表示是受了前美國副總統高爾的啟發，而做了這項承諾。布蘭森指出這筆經費將來自維京集團旗下的運輸和航空業盈餘所得，並將由公司一個名為維京燃料的部門統籌管理。布蘭森於上週宣布成立該新部門，將投資於乾淨能源及再生能源。
今年初，布蘭森為了削減維京公司的燃料成本而投資纖維素乙醇（cellulosic ethanol）標案，並在今年夏天投資了兩座乙醇精煉廠，接著布蘭森就做出這項承諾。該公司旗下有4家航空公司並擁有近100架的飛機。布蘭森指出，暴漲的油價使得公司的燃油成本增加了10億美元以上。
前美國總統比爾・柯林頓稱讚布蘭森的承諾是一筆很重要的經費。克林頓表示，「布蘭森的承諾極具開創性，不僅因表面上看來驚人的價格，還包括他發表的陳述與聲明，乾淨的能源對整個地球及事業而言，都是百利而無一害的。」
布蘭森的聲明在柯林頓總統所倡議舉行的全球性年會第二天中，引起熱烈的回響。克林頓去年開始推動的行動為「一種無任何黨派因素的行動，將全球領導人形成一個共同體，針對全球性問題共同構思，並執行創新的解決方案。」去年的行動年會募集了大約25億美元的承諾金額。柯林頓指出在往後的數星期以及明年將會持續進行，募集更多承諾經費。
Sir Richard Branson, a British entrepreneur and billionaire, promised Thursday to spend $3 billion over the next decade to combat global warming. "Our generation has inherited an incredibly beautiful world from our parents and they from their parents," Branson said. "We must not be the generation responsible for irreversibly damaging the environment."
Chairman of the Virgin Group, an entertainment, media and travel giant, Branson made his announcement Thursday at the Clinton Global Initiative conference in New York. Branson said the world is facing a "catastrophe" from global warming, brought on by human emissions of greenhouse gases.
"There are scientists who say we are already too late, but I don't believe that is the case," he said. "The majority of scientists think we can still do something about it."
The 56-year old Branson, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1999, said he was inspired by former vice president Al Gore to make the commitment.
The money will come from profits from Virgin's transportation and airline businesses and will directed to a division of the company known as Virgin Fuels, Branson said. The new division, which Branson announced last week, will invest in clean fuels and renewable energy.
The pledge comes on the heels of a decision earlier this year by Branson to invest in cellulosic ethanol in a bid to cut Virgin's fuel bill and an investment this summer in two ethanol refineries. The company operates four airlines with almost 100 aircraft. Soaring oil prices have increased the company's fuel bill by more than $1 billion, Branson said.
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton hailed Branson's pledge as "serious money." "Richard's commitment is groundbreaking not only because of the price tag, which is phenomenal, but also because of the statement that he is making," Clinton said. "Clean energy is good for the world and it's good for business."
Branson's announcement dominated the second day of the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting. The initiative, which Clinton launched last year, is a "a non-partisan catalyst for action, bringing together a community of global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to global problems." Last year the initiative collected pledges of some $2.5 billion. Clinton said commitments will continue to be made throughout the coming weeks and over the course of this next year.
