Baldwin touts green energy at book launch

Alec Baldwin says he is passionate about green energy and is hoping next week's UN climate summit brings home to US citizens that the United States has fallen behind other countries in promoting wind and solar power.

The Emmy-winning actor, who has appeared on film, stage and television, spoke at a reception on Thursday night to celebrate the launch of the book Addressing Climate Change, featuring the work of award-winning English photographer Henry Dallal, who has often photographed Queen Elizabeth II. Its contributors include UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN 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 former personal assistant 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 US 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 was hosting the next day because he will be flying to London that day to start filming Mission: Impossible 5 with Tom Cruise, in which Baldwin will be playing the CIA director.

"Me the director of the CIA?" he asked. "I think it's perfect!"

(China Daily 09/20/2014 page10)