Press Release: Former President Bill Clinton and Governor Mike Beebe Announce New Partnership Between the State of Arkansas and the Clinton Climate Initiative
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Former President Bill Clinton, founder of the Clinton Foundation, and Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe announced a partnership between the state and the Clinton Foundation’s Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) today at the Clinton Presidential Center.
Specifically, the partnership will enhance and support the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the state by engaging in retrofit programs.
CCI, one of seven main initiatives of the Clinton Foundation, is dedicated to addressing climate change by assisting partner cities to develop and implement large-scale projects resulting in substantial reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. In 2006, CCI became the exclusive implementing partner of the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, a group comprised of 40 of the largest cities in the world that have pledged to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Arkansas is one of the first states to partner with CCI.
"While urban areas account for more than three-quarters of the world's total greenhouse gas emissions, we need to work with rural states like Arkansas to make a difference in the fight against climate change in practical, measurable, and significant ways," said former President Clinton. "Through the leadership of Gov. Beebe and with the help of CCI, I’m confident that Arkansas will set an example for the rest of the country and the world."
“I’m proud that we are one of the first states to partner with the Clinton Climate Initiative in their global efforts to affect climate change at a local level,” said Gov. Beebe. “It shows that we no longer have to rely on private enterprise to be the engine that drives this urgent effort – that we will take the lead in Arkansas.”
Beebe and his executive agencies are developing regulations and guidelines to help make state buildings and work practices more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. The goal is to find ways to reduce any harmful environmental impact of state government operations and to create opportunities to save taxpayer dollars through more efficient energy use by State operations.
Arkansas has already seen successes on the local level that can be replicated throughout the state through energy-efficient building and operating practices. In the Bryant School District, two LEED-certified schools, which opened in the past few years, saw a combined $75,000 in energy savings in 2007. Through this partnership, savings can be realized for current and future buildings on both the state and local levels.
The partnership is the product of University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service student JD Lowery’s capstone project. During his international public-service project in Melbourne, Australia, Lowery, recognized the overlap between Arkansas’s environmental issues and policies and CCI’s work in Australia.
ABOUT CCI
President Clinton launched the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) in August 2006 to make a difference in the fight against climate change in practical, measurable, and significant ways. In its first phase, CCI is serving as the exclusive implementing partner of the C40 Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, an association of large cities around the world that have pledged to accelerate their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCI is assisting partner cities to develop and implement large-scale projects resulting in substantial reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Expanding upon its work with the C40, CCI is extending the benefits of its programs and purchasing assistance to additional cities, building owners and institutions. For more information about the Clinton Foundation and CCI, please visit www.clintonfoundation.org.
