Sadamori pointed out that carbon-dioxide emission has in fact decreased in the United States as natural gas is increasingly replacing coal. The emission rate is on a 20-year low this year.
Natural gas is a clean-burning energy source releasing about half the amount of carbon releasaed by burning coal.
Neil Parsan, ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the US and Mexico, also praised natural gas exploitation and urged cooperation between governments and the public and private sectors to enhance production.
"Natural gas is to the 21st century, what oil was for the 20th century or coal was for the 19th century," Parsan said.
Panelists agreed that clean and renewable energy are also abundant in the Americas and should be exploited. Some trends show that the price of producing clean energy, for example wind energy in Brasil, can match that of gas and thus become a viable alternative.
Billionaire Patrice Motsepe has donated R12 million to help rid Cape Town of poverty and unemployment.
Up to 145 500 jobs and 60 percent of SA's platinum output could be a risk in coming years amid unrest.
"Govt failed to use almost 20 years of democracy to address and redress the land question..."
