Avoided Deforestation Partners - News and Events

"Without the leadership of the United States of America, everybody else will say, maybe this is not as serious as it seems. If America is not concerned, then it cannot be a serious issue." Wangari Maathai, the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, commented on the issue of deforestation and climate change. Sen. Richard Lugar, an Indiana Republican, and Sen. John Kerry, a Massachusetts Democrat, both offered support to the "Call for U.S. Leadership on Deforestation". "Above all, we need leadership, leadership, leadership and leadership," said Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry (D–Mass.) as he addressed a crowd of approximately 200.

The panel of executives from American Electric Power, Marriott International, CARE USA, The Nature Conservancy, Oxfam America and Conservation International also expressed their support for the "Call for Leadership". Together the speakers made these important points.

• The U.S. Congress must act immediately, this year, to curb climate change and must include tropical deforestation as part of any climate policy. Approximately 20% of annual greenhouse gas emissions come from forests.
  
  
• Including forests in climate policy has additional benefits besides reduced emissions: it protects biodiversity, it will make climate policies more cost effective, and it will help advance sustainable development in developing countries.
  
  
• Large numbers of the world's poor are dependent on forests for their water and other ecosystem services, and forests play an important role in adaptation to climate change as well.
  
  
• A flexible "basket of approaches" that includes private sector carbon markets, development assistance and improved governance is needed to address the climate problem.
  
  
• Resolving climate change should not be viewed as zero sum proposition. The environment is interlinked with national security, energy supply, diplomacy and other elements of national welfare.
  
  
• Forest protection is measurable and technical challenges can be overcome. We can"t allow concerns over technical issues to paralyze action —we can figure out solutions

(l–r) Jeff Horowitz, founder – AD Partners; Aimee Christensen, Christensen Global Strategies; Arne Sorensen – CFO, Marriott International; Frances Beinecke – President, NRDC; Mark Tercek – President, The Nature Conservancy; Kathleen Kennedy Townsend – former Lt Gov. MD; Michael Morris – Chairman, American Electric Power; Prof. Wangari Maathai – 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate; Senator John Kerry; Helene Gayle – President, CARE USA; Raymond Offenheiser – President, Oxfam America; Kevin Knobloch – President, Union of Concerned Scientists; Teresa Heinz – The Heinz Foundations; Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat – former Chief U.S. Negotiator, Kyoto Protocol; Peter Seligmann – Chairman, Conservation International

Jeff Horowitz AD Partners	U.S. Senator Richard Lugar, Republican – Indiana	U.S. Senator John Kerry, Democrat – Massachusetts

 

Former Chief Negotiator, Stuart Eizenstat	Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai	Frances Beinecke – NRDC

United States Russell Building Senate Caucus Room

Senator John Kerry presentation	Call for Leadership – Panel Discussion by leaders from conservation, poverty alleviation and industry