Over the past 16 years, I have been involved in 5 successful startup companies ranging from an energy company, to several .com companies. Now I am focusing all of my attention on creating the tipping point in the sustainability movement by pushing initiatives in government, business and the broader social landscape. 
Many people are curious, what I am doing since I left Powerset. Well, the short story is that I have decided to dedicate myself to what I call the new Green Economy and I am working on several initiatives with other leaders in government and businesses that all fall under the responsibility of non-profit that I am founding called SF Green. 
Hot on the heals of the 3 other big committments by the EU and US, Japan announces it's commitment. Yet Japan, along with the EU, the US, India and China are being outspent and humbled by one of emerates of one of the smallest countries in the world - Abu Dabi of the United Arab Emerates.
Japan:
$10B fund to help emerging countries develop green infrastructures. Why is this important: Pretend you are a 3rd world country and you are imagining you future. Do you want one whereby 1) you have built and oil and coal based energy infrastructure and you are squeezed out by the big guys when the impacts of peak oil hits or do you 2) leapfrog past existing fossil fuel based infrasructures and skip straight to renewable energy resources by dumping your existing infrastructure, taking out huge loans and become beholden to a whole new group of more powerful nations or organizations that will try to control your country? Not an easy choice for the 3rd world countries and it is world domination chess by the countries in power - Japan has made its first move.$30 billion for research in renewable sources of energy over the next 5 years. Ok, well that's 6 billion per year in research and development. That represent's Japan's interest in building green companies and competing on the world stage as a player in the Green market space. However, for Japan, it also represents something much more. Japan has no natural resources. Is this a must have move for Japan? Who would win in a peak oil fight between the US, India, China and Japan? Who would loose? If you thought you might loose, is $10 billion enough?
Cool Earth 50 initiative, calling for a halving of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 2050 is too long away to make this meaningful for me.
EU:
EU Renewable Energy Commitment. Right now, the EU is commiting that on average the EU will have 20% of its energy resources come from renewable resources by 2020. Some countries are much more, some are much less.
UAA:
$15 Billion Renewable Energy Fund. They already have other investments in their Masdar CleanTech investment fund, but this is the latest announcement. Place yourslef in the UAA position. Your economy is largely based on fossil fuels and those fossil fuels are going to be running out sometime. You have to start thinking about what industry your country is going to be in when that happens. Check out what they are doing below that shows that they really aren't kidding around:
Tax-free Green Development Zone. The UAA has announced plans for a 6 square kilometer tax-free zone in Abu Dhabi in 2009. This new development zone offers very attractive financial incentives for businesses and technology research companies. They state that they will be offering full foreign ownership for light industry, development units and laboratories, as well as facilities for education and research.
The Development and Management of the World's First Zero Carbon City - Masdar City. WOW! If that isn't a commitment, I don't know what one is. But how is this different than any other commitment by a government or politician - They are breaking ground in February of 2008 - yes that's right, next month.
$2 billion dollar 500+MW Hydrogen Power Plan in Abu Dabi. This new power plan is said to be ultra-green and will be online starting in 2012.
US Residents are Already Moving In. We all know that where the brains of a society go, so does the money. As part of the plan many US based and UK based universities are commiting to be a part of the project including MIT, Columbia, Imperial College of London and the Tokyo Institute of Technology. This is a BIG deal! It looks as those this ultra green city campus is going to be the gold standard for other countries to match.
United States:
George Bush - $2 Billion Dollar commitment to Green initiatives. I just can't bring myslef to even comment. I'm too embarassed.
Democrats - pledge anywhere from $50-$160 billion for Green Initiatives over a 12 year period. We'll see.
Republicans - nothing
See my feature report for more details on the dismal US position.