AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Sept. 22, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Clinton Global Initiative today acknowledged AkzoNobel's promise to help cities around the world build more resilience to the challenges of the 21st century.
The commitment - officially made by AkzoNobel CEO Ton Büchner at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York - establishes a partnership with 100 Resilient Cities - pioneered by The Rockefeller Foundation.
As well as compiling an urban resilience guide for cities, AkzoNobel has also committed to undertaking special projects in four cities named on the 100 Resilient Cities list. In addition, the company will make its expertise in paints, coatings and chemicals available to the program's advisory committees.
"Partnering with The Rockefeller Foundation and 100 Resilient Cities is a natural fit for AkzoNobel, following the launch of our Human Cities initiative in June," explained Büchner. "It offers further proof of our serious commitment to tackling the many challenges being faced by some of the world's biggest urban areas."
He added that by making a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action, AkzoNobel is reinforcing its position as a key player in the whole area of urban resilience and regeneration, helping planners and policy-makers to build more capacity and adaptability into city systems, businesses and communities.
"As an industry leader with operations in 80 countries, we are uniquely positioned to play a key role in building resilient cities across the globe, both in terms of physically safeguarding infrastructure and creating a stronger sense of community, identity and belonging," continued Büchner.
"We therefore believe we can make a vital contribution and take positive action to help make city life more enjoyable, inspiring and vibrant for people all over the world."
Commenting on the announcement of AkzoNobel's commitment, Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities said: "We are proud to join with AkzoNobel in our efforts to build resilience in cities around the world. AkzoNobel is on the cutting edge of developing resilience building tools, and we look forward to working with them to deliver those tools to cities. One of the key tenets of our organization is to influence the market, and help the private sector understand what additional resilience building tools cities need - this partnership will help us deliver on that promise."
AkzoNobel's Human Cities initiative is built on six key pillars - color, heritage, transport, education, sport and leisure, sustainability - and is designed to engage with the challenges and opportunities posed by 21st century cities.
Established in 2005, the Clinton Global Initiative encourages global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.
100 Resilient Cities is a program launched by The Rockefeller Foundation designed to help cities become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century.
About AkzoNobel
AkzoNobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and a major producer of specialty chemicals. We supply industries and consumers worldwide with innovative products and are passionate about developing sustainable answers for our customers. Our portfolio includes well-known brands such as Dulux, Sikkens, International and Eka. Headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, we are consistently ranked as one of the leaders in the area of sustainability. With operations in more than 80 countries, our 50,000 people around the world are committed to delivering leading products and technologies to meet the growing demands of our fast-changing world.
For more information on Human Cities: https://www.akzonobel.com/aboutus/human_cities/index.aspx
For visuals on Human Cities: https://brand.akzonobel.com/share/3A26F0D8-26EF-4FB7-999BEB7E3C558B8A/
About the Clinton Global Initiative
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, convenes global leaders to create and implement solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 180 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date, members of the CGI community have made more than 2,900 commitments, which are already improving the lives of more than 430 million people in over 180 countries.
CGI also convenes CGI America, a meeting focused on collaborative solutions to economic recovery in the United States, and CGI University (CGI U), which brings together undergraduate and graduate students to address pressing challenges in their community or around the world. For more information, visit clintonglobalinitiative.org and follow us on Twitter @ClintonGlobal and Facebook at facebook.com/clintonglobalinitiative.
About 100 Resilient Cities
Pioneered by the Rockefeller Foundation (100RC) is dedicated to helping cities around the world become more resilient to the physical, social and economic challenges that are a growing part of the 21st century. 100RC supports the adoption and incorporation of a view of resilience that includes not just the shocks - earthquakes, fires, floods, etc. - but also the stresses that weaken the fabric of a city on a day to day or cyclical basis. Examples of these stresses include high unemployment; an overtaxed or inefficient public transportation system; endemic violence; or chronic food and water shortages. By addressing both the shocks and the stresses, a city becomes more able to respond to adverse events, and is overall better able to deliver basic functions in both good times and bad, to all populations.
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AkzoNobel Press Release http://hugin.info/130660/R/1857417/650335.pdf
HUG#1857417
