Global Environmental Leader Meets Students at “Kids Summit”

Just days before some of the world’s most powerful and influential leaders of local governments and businesses convened in New York City for the second C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, global environmental leader Dr. Patrick Moore came into town to discuss environmental concerns and climate change with New York City youth.

Dr. Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace, journeyed to New York City to speak with future environmental leaders at the High School for Environmental Studies (HSES) located on Manhattan’s West Side.

The event was organized by the New York Affordable Reliable Electricity Alliance (New York AREA), a non-profit organization committed to local energy and environmental sustainability issues. Dr. Moore serves as an advisor to the coalition.

Dr. Moore spent several hours interacting with some 140 students whose studies are focused on environmental and earth sciences. His presentation covered aspects of climate, environment, transportation, and energy concerns, all of which were on the agenda for global leaders to discuss at the Large Cities Climate Summit.

“It is quite fitting that the Large Cities Climate Summit is being held in New York,” said Dr. Moore. “Indeed, the leaders from municipal governments and international businesses who are convening this week can learn much from New York City and State.”

He continued, “New York has one of America’s lowest per capita CO2 emissions rates.  It has achieved this, in good part, by getting approximately 45 percent of its electricity from environmentally friendly nuclear and hydro power.”

In 1992, HSES was created to become a model in urban environmental education by promoting environmentally literate citizenry in a rigorous college preparatory program.  Nia Rhodes Jackson, Executive Director of the Friends of the High School for Environmental Studies, said of Dr. Moore’s visit, “It was wonderful to have a veteran environmental activist such as Dr. Moore come in and share his experiences and views with our students.”

Friends of the High School for Environmental Studies is a non-profit organization charged with helping HSES fulfill its environmental mission.

The Large Cities Climate Summit, which ran from May 14 through May 17, hosted events and forums for leaders from 45 of the world’s largest cities. Highlights included a keynote address by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former President Bill Clinton.

Kathryn S. Wylde, President and CEO of the Partnership for New York City and member of the New York AREA Advisory Board, in speaking about the environmental conference remarked, “The Climate Summit showcases the important role that New York City's international business community is playing around the world to help cities make the most of the economic development opportunities associated with cleaner and greener business practices."

The event was organized by the Partnership for New York City in conjunction with the Clinton Climate Initiative.

“Hosting an event like the Climate Summit,” said New York AREA Advisory Board Chair Jerry Kremer, “sends a message to the youth of New York City that as future leaders, they will need to take initiative in tackling tomorrow’s sustainability challenges. New York AREA recognizes that 45% of the power generated in our region is clean energy derived from hydro and nuclear sources, including Indian Point Energy Center, all which are important components for the success of Mayor Bloomberg’s forward thinking PlaNYC.”
Among the other cities with representatives at the summit were Bangkok, Beijing, Cairo, Delhi, Dhaka, Istanbul, Jakarta, Johannesburg, Karachi, Lagos, Melbourne, Mumbai, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.