Clinton effort reaps pledges of $7.3 billion in global aid

A Sheraton hotel in Midtown Manhattan was the scene of feverish matchmaking over the past three days during Bill Clinton's second annual gathering on global problems. Only those who promised to do something concrete about poverty, disease, conflict or climate change were invited. The entry fee for aspiring philanthropists was $15,000. Hundreds lined up for the privilege.

Mr. Clinton triumphantly announced the results of this year's Clinton Global Initiative from a circular stage in a hushed ballroom filled with more than 1,000 people. "As of now, we have 215 commitments from two times that many people and the value, my staff swears, is $7.3 billion," he said. Sir Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur, had promised to invest an estimated $3 billion of his personal profits from airlines and a rail company over the next decade in renewable energy sources. Barbra Streisand, the liberal singer and actress, donated $1 million and Rupert Murdoch, the conservative media mogul, gave $500,000.

The speaker who brought down the house was Al Gore, who delivered an extemporaneous riff on global warming and the "planetary emergency." "I have been extremely impressed at the role played by visionary C.E.O.'s who have provided important leadership in helping to organize the response for the climate crisis," he said. "And I commend them. But I think it's time for all of us to recognize that it is government that sets the rules within which business competes. And the rules that are currently in play now send the wrong signals."

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