「柯林頓全球行動計畫」(Clinton Global Initiative,CGI)在首次亞洲會議中,針對香港淨灘、稻米廢棄物再製零碳能源、以及提升印度的氣候變遷覺醒意識等議題設立了眾多許諾計畫。
在這次於香港舉行的兩天會程中,前美國總統柯林頓表示:「柯林頓全球行動計畫亞洲會員國籌備了總值美金1億8500萬的承諾計畫,將會對超過1000萬人帶來正面影響。」
柯林頓歡迎現任與前任的各國及重要經濟區以及非營利團體的領袖參與,共同許諾來解決全世界最緊迫的挑戰:氣候變遷、糧食與水安全、森林濫墾。
他表示:「亞洲具有重要的社會責任歷史,這是一個特別的機會讓我們在世界處於極大變動的時刻,能以創新與有效的方法來共同尋求正向改變。」柯林頓之妻現任國會議員希拉蕊,剛被提名出任歐巴瑪政府國務卿。
由各會員擬定的行動許諾計畫,內容包含正向改變目標與CGI的三年重點:教育、能源與氣候變遷、公共衛生。
會員團體在會中提出眾多許諾計畫,如世界糧食計畫(WFP)與其合作者設立的遠程百萬許諾,其中有六項是CGI中八國參與的美金2000萬資助計畫,主要針對糧食的改進,特別是危弱群體在急迫與可預期災害的情況,也包括糧食安全的長程目標。
在環境許諾方面,峰景餐廳集團 (Café Deco Group) 總長瑞丁(Graeme Reading)將投資12萬5千美金在兩年內建立香港海灘管轄單位,整合公共與私人力量來清淨香港40個海灘。
國際稻米研究所總執行長蕊格勒(Dr. Robert S. Zeigler)也承諾出資220萬美金,在四年內以稻米殘餘物如稻稈和稻殼等來研發碳零排放能源的新科技,幫助印度與柬埔寨農民增加收入,並減少當地溫室氣體排放。
恒生銀行(Hang Seng Bank)與其合作者承諾投資美金15萬在一年內在中國雲南建立300個生物沼氣廁所供1700人使用,並以此儲存人與家禽製造的甲烷,做為當地社區日常所需能源的另一種管道,來降低碳排放。
國際非營利團體網絡、生態、教育與整合中心(International Center for Networking, Ecology, Education and Re-Integration)及其合作夥伴許諾以100萬美金在兩年內提升迫切面臨氣候變遷的印度和莫三比克(Mozambique)的危機意識。該團體也計畫培力6萬名學生在600所學校中討論再生能源,共同示範個人與社區行動如何在能量使用效能與資源保育上產生正向改變。
Jal Bhagirathi 基金會與合作者也承諾在六年內投資760萬美金的計畫於印度塔爾沙漠(Thar Desert)中400個村莊,以改進供給缺乏的人口的安全飲水與衛生管道以及可行的永續生存機會。
過去三年內,非政府組織Practical Action承諾投資2700萬美金協助弱勢鄉村社區發展應用新式農業技術,以降低其因氣候變遷下災害與風險的受損,有助於改進70萬人的生活品質。
衛生方面,世界廁所組織(World Toilet Organization,WTO)與其合作者許諾籌備120萬美金藉由改善現有衛生市場結構來協助擴展柬埔寨和印度超過7億5千萬人的基本衛生設備。WTO將供應衛生產品所需,並提供欲投入全球1兆衛生市場的企業領導者們的訓練計畫。
WWF也許諾籌資20萬美金在三年半內提供南印度貧民區與鄉村中邊陲婦女與孩童的金融、教育與培訓管道,並找出能擴展此計畫於北印度的非營利組織。
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.
"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.
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 Caf� 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.
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.
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.
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.