Clinton Wants Billions to Aid World's Poor
By NAHAL TOOSI
Clinton described major strides in addressing global health challenges like HIV infection in Africa, saying the CGI had negotiated testing and treatment for 250,000 people and would probably reach a million or more by next September.
But he also warned of a growing crisis brought about by global climate change and said the U.S. had not responded adequately to the threat.
"I don't understand why we in our country are in denial about this," Clinton said, adding that Great Britain and other countries in western Europe had cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 15 percent with no detrimental impact on their economies.
Bloomberg, a Republican, praised Clinton's efforts as "vitally important."
Clinton spokesman Jay Carson said there had been good progress on the commitments from last year, though some pledge-makers have had problems fulfilling their commitments. He wouldn't name those who were struggling but said there was still time for them to come through.
This year's gathering is set for Sept. 20-22 in New York with some of the focus on poverty, public health, energy and religious conflict. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, investor Warren Buffett and French President Jacques Chirac are among those expected to attend.
The 2005 session drew about 800 people at $15,000 a head.
Some of the more than 300 plans that resulted from that session:
• Three philanthropists and a group called Vital Voices Global Partnership collected nearly $170,000 to help women in the Middle East gain business skills.
• A doctor hoping to get medical supplies to needy parts of the world gained the support of the World Health Organization and the Cardiovascular Research Foundation in an initiative valued at $500,000 a year.
• Deutsche Bank launched a $75 million microfinance consortium.
• Three of the larger commitments that Carson said were being met: Swiss Re, a reinsurance and financial services organization, pledged $300 million to start an investment fund to promote clean energy in Europe; Scottish entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter pledged $100 million to fight Third World poverty; Sudanese businessman Mohamed Ibrahim pledged $100 million to create an investment fund for African companies.
Commitments already are rolling in for 2006, including a $5.5 million promise from the Global Consumer Group at Citigroup to expand microfinancing efforts in 25 countries.