RMI25 in the Press

RMI Panel Made Suggestions That Could Change the Course of Environmental Threats
(www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_6701189)
By Joanne Ditmer, Columnist for the Denver Post (23 August 2007)

The Rocky Mountain Institute's 25th anniversary seminar, Celebrating Solutions, earlier this month was a mind-boggling look at a possible disastrous future. High-powered panelists discussed global warming, terrorists attacks, water shortages and rising sea levels that wipe out coastlines and create the most dire energy shortages. These events are so catastrophic that we can't comprehend them. But the members of the RMI seminar's panel made suggestions that could change the course of these environmental threats, if the public demands changes. A sampling: Fifty percent of all diseases could be wiped out by bringing clean water to people, since 1.6 billion people have no access to clean water. In many countries, women spend 20 percent of their day getting water, many times walking for miles, and it's not always clean. Global warming threatens a rise in sea levels that could obliterate coastlines and cities around the world, and destroy food and potable water sources. Millions of people would flee to higher grounds, not just in their own countries. Our current immigration problems would look like child's play. Rocky Mountain Institute, based in Old Snowmass, is an environmental think tank fostering business-led solutions. New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman was moderator at the seminar. President Clinton was a special guest. Panelists included Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia; R. James Woolsey, former director of the CIA; Dr. Eric Rasmussen, a U.S. Navy physician on rotation to return to Iraq; Rob Walton, Wal-Mart board chairman; James Murdoch of British Sky Broadcasting; and other luminaries.

The Distributed Generation of Amory Lovins’ Brainpower
(www.worldchanging.com/archives/007115.html)
By Warren Karlenzig for WorldChanging (15 August 2007)

One of the world's leading energy and environment think (and do) tanks celebrated its 25th anniversary in characteristic style this past week. With numerous references to the looming risks of global climate change, peak oil and energy disruption, combined with developing nation social-political and national security challenges, the event took on the air of urgent practicality. Besides the Rocky Mountain Institute's stellar staff and its fearless founder/leader, Amory Lovins, the Aspen-based event attracted a jaw-dropping line-up. On-stage were former President Clinton, past CIA director R. James Woolsey, former New York Governor George Pataki, Sustainable South Bronx's Majora Carter, Wal-Mart Chairman Rob Walton, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, technology luminary Bill Joy, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, and British Sky Broadcasting CEO James Murdoch. Offstage things were no less dull, with a brain-pummeling cast of physicists, business leaders, authors and technologists mixing it up in perpetual reminiscing, scheming and celebrating. "You can bet I will be so on your ass," said a longtime corporate dematerialization expert to a clean tech incubation strategist he had just met, after they plotted how the United States can capture various sectors of global innovation markets.

Who's Who of Green Business and Sustainable Development
(www.andrewwinston.com/blog/2007/08/rocky_mountain_institute_25th.php)
By Andrew Winston for AndrewWinston.com (14 August 2007)

Last week I spent a couple of days at the RMI 25th anniversary gala, celebrating a quarter century of cutting-edge thinking from Amory Lovins (and many others who have passed through his halls). I was honored to speak on a panel (I spoke a bit about the seeming oxymoron of corporate environmentalism — see previous post here), and I was thrilled to hang out with a veritable who's who of green business and sustainable development — Interface founder and eco-evangelist Ray Anderson, reluctant capitalist and founder of Patagonia (and "alpinist" as James Murdoch called him) Yvon Chouinard, Segway inventor Dean Kamen — as well as politicos from former New York Governor Pataki and President Clinton. It was really something. But more interesting than the sustainability star wattage was the in-depth conversation, led by master of ceremonies, famed columnist, author, and thinker, Thomas Friedman, who gave one of the best talks I've ever seen about the green imperative, roughly titled "green is the new red, white, & blue" (his next book). My favorite quote: "It's not about the whales anymore...every time you look in the mirror, you're looking at an endangered species."

RMI Panel: Green Business is Good Business
(www.aspendailynews.com/archive_21100)
By Sarah Gilman, Staff Writer for Aspen Daily News (11 August 2007)

To the average Joe, multinational corporations don't exactly bring to mind environmental activism of any stripe. To the contrary -- it's easy to imagine fat executives cackling over fistfuls of money from the top of a pyramid of discarded water bottles and broken discount floor lamps. But business leaders from Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola and other companies said Friday that environmentally friendly practices are good for the bottom line, lend a competitive advantage, and can ultimately lead to a better world if certain barriers of will can be breached. "The business case is crystal clear," said Ray Anderson of Interface, Inc., a carpet manufacturing company that is working to reduce its oil use and make all its products from renewable materials. "Waste elimination alone has brought $350 million in cost avoidance," he said, and that's been more than enough to finance other environmental initiatives. "I've never witnessed anything like it in terms of galvanizing people around a shared purpose," he said.

Clinton Criticizes Bush Policies, Praises Energy Bill
(www.aspendailynews.com/archive_21085)
By David Frey, Correspondent for Aspen Daily News (10 August 2007)

Former President Bill Clinton called on the nation Thursday to embrace what he called a "new energy economy," using green technology to lower greenhouse gases and energy reliance while increasing jobs and improving the economy. Increasing energy efficiency, Clinton said, would address global inequality, insecurity and unsustainability, what he called the three biggest problems facing the world. "We've gotta turn it into a solution," Clinton said. "We can't be Chicken Little. We can't be raising our hands. And we can't treat this like castor oil." The former head of state spoke at a symposium at the Hotel Jerome honoring the 25th anniversary of Rocky Mountain Institute, the Old Snowmass-based environmental think tank.

In Addition Twenty or More Luminaries Will be Featured, Including Thomas Friedman of The New York Times
(www.snewsnet.com/cgi-bin/snews/09402.html)
By John L. DiCuollo for Specialty News (19 July 2007)

Rocky Mountain Institute today announced that Former President Bill Clinton will participate in the August celebration of the Institute's 25th anniversary. President Clinton will be participating in its "RMI25: Celebrating Solutions," held August 9–10, 2007. Activities over a two-day period include a free, public RMI Quest for Solutions (RMIQ) presentation as well as an all-day Symposium in Aspen and a Gala at the Peace Ranch in Basalt. In the mid-1990s, RMI worked for the President in an effort to "green" the White House and the Old Executive Building. Today, RMI is working with him again on the Clinton Climate Initiative. Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) applies the Clinton Foundation's business-oriented approach to fight climate change in practical, measurable, and significant ways. The first phase of the initiative is focused on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions in the world's largest cities.