Former President Clinton Concludes CGI Asia Meeting and Announces Impact of Commitments

Commitments unveiled at first (and possibly last) CGI Asia have estimated value of US$185 million, to impact more than 10 million lives

HONG KONG: Former President Clinton concluded the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Asia meeting today, highlighting examples of CGI members’ Commitments to Action that will positively impact lives across the globe.

“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 lives in Asia and across the world,” said President Clinton. “CGI Asia members have made commitments worth an estimated total value of US$185 million, to positively impact more than 10 million lives.”

Examples of the impact CGI Asia commitments will have once fully implemented include:

An estimated 715,000 children will benefit from better education opportunities.

Over 260,000 adults will learn new job skills.

Of these, nearly 26,000 are teachers and 8,000 are health care workers who will benefit from new training.

Over 250,000 girls and women will be empowered with better opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

Nearly 24,000 hectares of forest land will be protected by empowering local residents to manage their own natural resources.

The equivalent of more than 40,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be cut.

Over 700,000 people will better learn to cope with environmental stress and natural disasters.

More than 3.5 million people will gain greater access to health services.

Half a million people will now have safe drinking water, and 400,000 children will benefit from better nutrition.

Following the successful conclusion of the first day of the CGI Asia meeting, President Clinton was joined at a Gala Dinner by the Honorable Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, internationally acclaimed actor Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, founder of the ONE Foundation, and other CGI Asia members for a special evening of music and conversation to celebrate giving and inspire Commitments to Action.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addressed the CGI Asia meeting by video.

“We need new ideas to confront and solve the myriad of challenges which lie ahead of us this century,” said Prime Minister Rudd. “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.”

CGI participants focused on the three main CGI Asia topics: education, energy & climate change and public health. The program also acknowledged the current economic climate with a plenary session on coping with the financial crisis.

Established in 2005 as a project of the non-partisan William J. Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The CGI community includes: CGI University, a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; CGI Asia, the first in a series of regional CGI meetings; and, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anyone can commit to helping improve lives.

Information on the Clinton Global Initiative and all CGI member commitments can be found at www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

From CGI Press Release via Ogilvy.

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