Obama ‘impressed’ by Macri administration
Former US president makes his second visit to Argentina to address Green Economy Summit in Córdoba.
Former US president Barack Obama made his second visit to Argentina yesterday, delivering the keynote address at the Green Economy Summit 2017 ( Cum
bre Economía Verde) summit in Córdoba. The trip comes 19 months after his March 2016 state visit to Buenos Aires, following the assumption of President Mauricio Macri. Now visiting as an ex-president, Obama began his speech yesterday by praising the government’s policies and desire to reintegrate Argentina with the rest of the world.
“I’m impressed with the work that is being done in Argentina. I think President Macri has initiated efforts to reconnect this countrywitht he worldco mm unityand has laidtheg ro undwork for more sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said.
Obama emphasised the importance of Argentina maintaining and enhancing its leadership role, not only in the region but also on a world stage so nations can work together to address the many challenges that exist such as growing economic inequality, terrorism, and failed states, but he highlighted – aptly considering the event – that the most important one was climate change.
“There is one issue that I believe will define the contours of this century more dramatically, and that is the urgent threat of a changing climate,” he said, noting how the 15 warmest years on record have occurred in the past 17 years.
Obama, who is estimated to be receiving US$ 400,000 per speech since he left the presidency, spoke infront of a packed audience at the Quorum hotel, where 300 leaders from Argentina and different parts of the world gathered to discuss the importance of environmental sustainability and responsible business practices to protect the environment. The speech lasted for less than 20 minutes, with a Q&A session held after with Juan Verde, th eh o stand fo un der of the event.
When Verde asked about the decision of US President Donald Trump to leave the Paris climate accord, leaving the US as one of only three countries outside the deal, Obama chimed in, and “that’s not great company.”
The former president, without mentioning Trump by name, said the move wasn’t helpful. “I prefer they (the US) stay in the Paris accord and they meet the stand ardsandcont in u et hework aggressively to do what needs to be done,” Obama said.
Obama had landed in a private plane at Córdoba airport at noon where a massive security operation of an estimated 200 security officials were waiting for. He first met with Córdoba’s Governor Juan Schiaretti and a small group of businessmen and local Peronist mayors.
After he finished his interview with Verde, the former president left for Buenos Aires where he had a cocktail reception at the Palace Duhau Park Hyatt hotel restaurant organised by the Werthein and Sielecki families along with the Advanced Leadership Foundation. Business leaders, journalists and politicians participated in the event.
He later had dinner with Cabinet Chief Marcos Peña and Buenos Aires City Mayor Horacio Larreta, along with 10 other people. This will be followed by a golf game this Saturday morning with Macri at the Bella Vista golf club, anda yet to be decided lunch at the Abrojos hotel.
Nobel prize winning economists, business leaders representing multinational tech companies such as Uber, Waze and other leaders participated giving s pee che sandholdingd is cuss ion panelsatth es ummit,w her et he y emphasised the need for new sustainable business practices to protect the environment.
Nobel laureate and economist Edmund Phelps, whose research has be en fundamental in crea ting the theories of full employment, inaugura tedt he e ven tonThursd ay mor ning.Amongt he notable speakerswe re Nelson Mande la’ s grandson, Ndaba Mandela, who leads the NGO Africa Rising, an org anisa ti onde di cated to dev el opingAfrica’ s yo uthandthep reside ntof CAARA, Jorge Furlan, who addressed environmental risk insurance.