New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and a group of private corporate underwriters are hosting the Summit on behalf of the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group and the Clinton Climate Initiative. The event is being organized by the Partnership for New York City, with support from New York City Global Partners, Inc., The Climate Group, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and ICLEI U.S.A.

 

The C40 is a group of the world’s largest cities committed to tackling climate change. Cities consume 75 percent of the world’s energy and produce 80 percent of its greenhouse gas emissions, which is why working together is so important and will help deliver emissions reductions and better energy efficiency. Mayors of large cities are uniquely positioned to take action on climate change. Building on the first Large Cities Climate Summit hosted by the Mayor of London in October 2005, the C40 cities look forward to working with their partners on developing common programs and making the New York Summit a success.

 

The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) is a Clinton Foundation project dedicated to making a difference in the fight against climate change in practical and measurable ways, initiating programs that directly result in substantial reductions in heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions. In its first phase, CCI is working with members of the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group to develop and implement a range of actions that will accelerate greenhouse gas emissions reductions. To enable its partner cities to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, CCI is providing direct assistance to individual cities, creating a purchasing consortium to pool the purchasing power of these cities, and facilitating the sharing of information about successful and replicable programs. CCI has joined with a range of the world’s leading organizations and institutions to achieve these objectives.

 

The event is being organized by the Partnership for New York City, with support from New York City Global Partners, Inc., the Climate Group, the Rockefeller Brother’s Fund & ICLEI USA.

 

With a mission to maintain the city’s position as the global center of commerce and innovation, the Partnership for New York City is an organization of the leaders of New York City’s top corporate, investment and entrepreneurial firms. They work in partnership with city and state government officials, labor groups, and the nonprofit sector to enhance the economy and culture of the city. The Partnership focuses on research, policy formulation, and issue advocacy at the city, state, and federal levels by leveraging its network of CEO partners. Through its affiliate, the New York City Investment Fund (www.nycif.org), the Partnership directly invests in economic development projects in all five boroughs of the city.

 

New York City Global Partners promotes cooperation and the sharing of information on best practices among the world’s great cities by convening summit meetings on important questions of mutual concern.

 

The Climate Group is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to accelerating the international uptake of corporate and government best practice in emissions reduction. We have offices and charitable status in the UK, USA and Australia and we operate internationally. Proactive companies, states, regions and cities around the world are demonstrating that the cuts in greenhouse gases required to stop climate change can be achieved while growing the bottom line. Using the achievements of these leaders as a catalyst, The Climate Group works to promote international action on climate change with a new, strong focus on practical solutions. We encourage the development and sharing of expertise on how business and government, including city governments, can lead the way towards a low carbon economy whilst boosting profitability and competitiveness.

Founded in 1940, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund encourages social change that contributes to a more just, sustainable, and peaceful world. The Fund’s grantmaking is organized around four themes: Democratic Practice, Sustainable Development, Peace and Security, and Human Advancement. It also has identified four pivotal places—New York City, South Africa, Serbia and Montenegro, and Southern China—on which to concentrate cross-programmatic attention. In the United States and globally, the Fund supports efforts to combat global warming. Key to these efforts has been supporting sub-federal action and groups that are making a strong business case for climate action.