NEW YORK (AP) — Alec Baldwin says he is passionate about green energy and is hoping next week’s U.N. climate summit brings home to Americans that the United States has fallen behind other countries in promoting wind and solar power.
The Emmy award-winning actor who has appeared on film, stage and television spoke at a reception Thursday night to celebrate the launch of a book entitled “Addressing Climate Change” featuring the work of award-winning English photographer Henry Dallal, who has often photographed Queen Elizabeth II. Its contributors include U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and U.N. climate chief Christiana Figueres, who attended the launch.
“We’ve been talking about this for 25 years,” Baldwin told The Associated Press. “We need to learn the lessons that other people are learning - no nukes, less coal … reduce, reduce, not eliminate.”
He singled out Germany’s increasing use of solar and wind power.
The reception was hosted by Peter Brown, the onetime manager of the Beatles who is now chairman and CEO of BLJ Worldwide, a global public relations firm.
Baldwin made clear his opposition to fracking, which involves injecting water, sand and chemicals to break apart underground rocks to release oil and gas - even if it does lead the U.S. to energy independence.
“For me energy independence comes from renewables,” he said.
“We have to fan those flames … and teach another generation of young people that this is the vital issue - renewable energy,” he said.
Baldwin said he can’t attend the climate summit Ban is hosting next day because he will be flying to London that day to start filming “Mission Impossible Part 5” with Tom Cruise, where he will be playing the director of the CIA.
“Me the director of the CIA?,” he asked. “I think it’s perfect!”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.