U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today said the world needs sustainable forests to build low carbon economies.
In her remarks video Remarks to the Deforestation Partners Conference, Ms. Clinton thanked Avoided Deforestation Partners for hosting the event to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Wangari Maathai, a true visionary.
She said Wangari knew better than anyone that the key to this future is to empower women. So she pioneered the Green Belt Movement, a grassroots effort led by women from around the world.
“Because of her work, millions of women are making decisions about the environment they live in, which is benefiting whole communities and countries.” -Ms. Clinton
She stressed that the Obama Administration is committed to protecting and restoring forests. She said women are key partners in this effort. She added that the United States support the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public-private partnership that promotes the use of clean cooking solutions, helping to reduce the pressure on local natural resources.
She stressed that governments, communities, civil society, and the private sector need to keep creating new partnerships and finding new solutions that will save forests and environment.
