Over 2,000 participants from more than 80 countries gathered in New York this week for the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), strategically timed to coincide with the UN General Assembly.
As the world faces unprecedented challenges, from climate change and health disparities, to gun violence and humanitarian crises, CGI serves as a vital platform for collaboration, and action among leaders from various sectors.
"We can't afford to see the world just as it is. We have to think of it as it ought to be," former President Bill Clinton said during the opening session to CGI attendees.
Since its return in 2022 after a six-year hiatus, this year’s theme, “What’s Working,” showcased successful strategies and scalable initiatives that target global issues. The annual meeting featured the launch of more than 170 new partnerships known as Commitments to Action. These are specific and measurable projects that address a complex global challenge.
"You don't look at problems and say that’s impossible," Clinton said. "You ask instead, what is possible? You keep going. Because you know that you always have some power to build a better tomorrow."
At #CGI2024, President @BillClinton surprises his friend of 40 years, President @JoeBiden, with the 2024 Clinton Global Citizen Award. pic.twitter.com/HFzD9fzeJn
— Clinton Global Initiative (@ClintonGlobal) September 24, 2024
Actor Matt Damon, a long-time advocate for clean water access, provided updates on Water.org and its spin-off, Water Equity, which aim to deliver clean water and sanitation to vulnerable populations. “When you see the difference that water can make in a community—the joy it brings—there's nothing like it,” he stated passionately, urging further investment in water infrastructure.
NASA Administrator Senator Bill Nelson opened Day Two with a powerful reminder of NASA’s role in addressing climate change. “I don’t need a telescope to see the impact of our climate crisis,” he asserted. Nelson emphasized the urgency of collective action, stating, “The climate crisis is a challenge we can no longer ignore; it requires the full engagement of all sectors of society.”
In a conversation with journalist Katie Couric and conservationist Jane Goodall, World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés celebrated the unifying power of food. Andrés highlighted that “the best of humanity shows up” during crises, citing the collaborative efforts of Israeli and Gazan chefs working together to feed those in need on both sides of the border, illustrating how compassion transcends conflict.
Later Samantha Power, Administrator of USAID, who was raised in Ireland and moved to the US when she was nine, joined former President Bill Clinton to announce a $140 million Commitment to Action, the "Partnership for a Lead-Free Future." The project aims to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in developing countries. This initiative promises to improve health outcomes for countless children worldwide and is a significant step toward protecting vulnerable populations from environmental hazards.
The day concluded with a panel featuring Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, exiled Belarusian political activist, and Yulia Navalnaya, who continues the fight for democracy following her husband Alexei Navalny’s tragic death in a Russian prison earlier this year. Their discussion underscored the courage of those advocating for justice in oppressive regimes, shining a light on the ongoing struggles faced by many.
Maura Kelly is an Emmy Award-winning producer and a media, comms and marketing specialist. She is a prominent member of the Irish American community in New York and has championed the work of women's leadership program LEAP.
Maura Kelly
Director | Media | Marketing | EMMY-Winning Producer | Board Member. FOCUS:
