Public and Private Sector Leaders Launch Global Observatory at Clinton Global Initiative

Public and Private Sector Leaders Launch Global Observatory at Clinton Global
Initiative

NEW YORK, Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders of government, the military, the
private sector, and scientists are at the forefront of the Global Observatory
initiative, an international effort to guide governments towards an agreement
at the Fifteenth Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention,
COP15, that will mitigate climate change and put the world on a course of
greater ecological and economic prosperity and stability.

Today at the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI),
Global Observatory will be recognized as a member commitment for its exemplary
approach to addressing climate change. GO joins a prestigious list of
individuals and organizations working to address the world's most pressing
problems. GO was conceptualized by Jose Maria Figueres, former President of
Costa Rica, a long-time leader and innovator on climate change.

"The Global Observatory will bring together experts and top scientists to
evaluate how the negotiations at COP15 are going, to communicate what it
means, and to show how we can proceed toward success", said Jose Maria
Figueres. "The experts will work with Ambassadors, those most respected among
us, to communicate where we are, what governments are discussing, and what is
possible. We hope that this will create the political space for our world
leaders to come to agreement to take on this great challenge, and put us on a
path to prosperity and stability."

Global Observatory will act as a catalyst, bridging the gap between those
responsible for making the decisions at COP15 and the public. GO seeks to
bring the public into the negotiations in Copenhagen, to learn about what they
can do, and to see how together we can rebuild our economies, and increase our
competitiveness and security.

The GO Ambassadors are being recruited to comprise a geographically balanced
mix of respected world leaders, business leaders, politicians and indigenous
leaders. Ambassadors already confirmed include Desmond Tutu (South Africa),
Maurice Strong (Canada), Sir Richard Branson (UK), Juan Rada (Belgium), Ashok
Khosla (India) and Jeremy Leggett (UK).

Joining President Figueres on stage today was Aimee Christensen, CEO of
Christensen Global Strategies, and a member of the GO Executive Team and a
former member of the Clinton Administration, and Dan Abbasi, Director at
MissionPoint Capital and Advisor to its sister foundation, the Betsy & Jesse
Fink Foundation (lead donor to the Global Observatory).

"The Global Observatory is a useful, timely initiative that can make a
difference," said Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change. "We have to back up our words with action. The GO can
help create the political space that will inspire, engage and enable leaders
from all around the world to take action."

SOURCE Global Observatory

Aimee Christensen, +1-202-492-9520