Former Presidents, Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, applaud GAIN's work during Atlantic Basin Initiative conference in Sao Paulo

SAO PAULO, April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Developing nations will require significant investments in adaptation to climate change and other global trends in upcoming years. Private investments and public-private partnerships will be the key to saving lives and improving livelihoods.

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Global Adaptation Institute (GAIN) Founding CEO Juan Jose Daboub is part of The Atlantic Basin Initiative Eminent Persons Group, which held its conference April 18-20 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Adaptation in the Atlantic Basin region was a topic of discussion.

During the conference, Dr. Daboub shared the results of the GAIN Index 2011, and proposed it as a tool that can help decision makers in the Atlantic best prioritize and attract investments.

Former New Mexico Governor and former U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson participated in the event and highlighted the work of GAIN.

"Adaptation should take priority in the agenda of the Atlantic Basin Initiative. What GAIN is doing under the leadership of Juan Jose is a fresh and well-thought-out approach. Food, water, energy and agriculture are key for human development," said Gov. Richardson.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria also heralded the tool as a way to help highlight areas of opportunity for investors seeking a return on investment while doing good in Africa.

The Government of Sao Paulo and the SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations (CTR) organized the event. They believe in the practical solutions that can come from successful leaders in the private and public sectors – especially when people in need are put in the center of discussions. GAIN Advisory Council Chairman, the former President of Spain Jose Maria Aznar, leads CTR and also presided over discussions about the initiative.

Other attendants of the Eminent Persons Group conference include Sao Paulo Governor Geraldo Alckmin; Johns Hopkins University's Center for Transatlantic Relations Executive Director Daniel Hamilton; European Investment Bank (Germany) President Werner Hoyer; former Peru Prime Minister Pedro Pablo Kuczynski; and Colombia Minister of the Economy Oscar Ivan Zuluaga.

The Atlantic Basin Initiative is dedicated to researching, mapping and charting the future of the relationships among the four Atlantic Ocean continents.

With questions or to set up an interview with Founding CEO Juan Jose Daboub or Chief Scientist Ian Noble contact:

•  Jamie Carson, Director of Communications

202-559-4549 or [email protected], or

•  Davis Cherry, Development & Communications Associate

202-559-4539 or [email protected]

The Global Adaptation Institute (GAIN) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization guided by a vision of building resilience to climate change and other global forces as a key component to sustainable development.

Please visit us at: gain.org 

SOURCE Global Adaptation Institute