NEWS: Clean Tech and the Clinton Global Initiative

Dispatch from SSC Intern Wendy Tng

The fifth annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative recently concluded in New York. Centered around 4 key action areas – harnessing innovation for development, strengthening infrastructure, developing human capital and financing a sustainable future, this year’s meeting sought to encourage collaboration on the key economic challenges at present. 

At this meeting, attendees like the CEOs of Wal-mart, Coca-Cola and Goldman Sachs were asked to focus on profitable ways in which to address critical issues such as climate change, women’s rights and health care. 

Stressing this meeting’s theme of innovation, Bill Gross, founder of Idealab, argues that the current economic crisis presents great opportunities, especially with regard to clean tech, since it is an issue of global concern. Many governments, he argues, already support clean tech companies in some way. 

You can hear more from Bill Gross’ interview with The Economist, including his views on a carbon tax and electric cars, here.