In-House Counsel

Technology?s Role in Earth Day

Earlier today, I listened to former President Clinton speak in honor of Earth Day. He was at Fortune Magazine’s Green Brainstorm conference on the importance of upcoming climate change talks (to take place on Copenhagen later this year). He called on everyone in the audience to focus on the economic impact of managing our energy and environmental challenges.

He said we must prove it is good economics to change the way we produce and save energy. This made me think more about the role technology can play in doing so…giving us tools to measure, monitor and manage our energy use, thereby reducing our impact on the environment.

Cisco’s announcements this week on Smart Grid and the Urban EcoMap show what is possible. The President also gave a shout out to Cisco on our Connected Urban Development program. Many other companies are working on their own solutions and the tech industry should be proud, but on this Earth Day, we should take note of the former President’s call:  Let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture and think about how we can individually remind today’s leaders about what is at stake before Copenhagen in December 09.

Full post as published by Cisco High Tech Policy Blog on April 22, 2009 (boomark / email).