http://wcbstv.com/local/local_story_269133924.html Sep 26, 2007 1:39 pm US/Eastern
Climate Change On Agenda As Gore, Clinton Reunite“This climate crisis is not going to be solved only by personal actions and business actions-" Al Gore
(CBS/AP) NEW YORK The team was back together again—at least for a little while.
Bill Clinton and Al Gore shared a stage Wednesday at the third annual Clinton Global Initiative to discuss subjects of international importance—including the former vice president’s area of expertise, global warming.
The former president, who moderated the opening panel of the three-day conference, asked Gore if he thought an international treaty was still needed to address global warming if individuals and businesses were taking steps.
“This climate crisis is not going to be solved only by personal actions and business actions,” Gore responded. “We need changes in laws, changes in policies, we need leadership and we need a new treaty.”
The United Nations has scheduled a conference on climate change for December in Indonesia, where talks may begin on an emissions-reduction agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which the United States has never signed.
Gore, who won an Oscar for his documentary “An Inconvenient Truth,” had appeared at the United Nations across town on Monday, where he cited a lengthening list of global warming’s impacts and urged world leaders to act now.
Although there has been a chill in their relationship, the two Democrats spoke warmly of each other, with Clinton praising Gore for his continued environmental activism, and Gore plugging Clinton’s new book.
Their roles have changed drastically since they left office in January 2001. Clinton is actively campaigning for his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, in her bid to win the Democratic nomination, and Gore, a jetsetting expert on climate change, continues to attract speculation that he could jump into the race at the last minute.
In the interview published earlier this month, Gore again declined to completely rule out a presidential run next year but said “it doesn’t feel right at this point.” He also said he doubted he would ever completely rule out a return to politics in the future.
Gore wasn’t the only one talking about climate change at the Clinton summit.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist joined Clinton to announce plans by Florida Power & Light to build a solar power plant as part of a $2.4 billion clean energy program.
“This is a huge deal for America and I think potentially a huge deal for people all around the world who want to do this,” Clinton said.
Clinton praised the Republican governor for signing an order that sets a goal of reducing the state’s carbon emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and to 80 percent of 1990 levels by 2050.
The conference is filled with panel discussions and smaller working sessions about four broad topics: poverty relief, global health, education and energy and climate change.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, tennis star Andre Agassi and media mogul Rupert Murdoch were among the celebrities on the guests list this year.
Those who attend pay a $15,000 registration fee and are also expected to commit time or money to the conference’s big issues. Those who do not fulfill their pledges are not invited back.
Clinton spokesman Ben Yarrow said there were five people this year whose registration fees were not accepted.
More than $10 billion was pledged in the first two conferences.