In Brussels on Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged the audience to see crises as opportunities for positive change, particularly in rebuilding economies in a more environmentally friendly way. She also criticized the use of energy as a political tool, highlighting Europe's concerns over potential gas export disruptions from Russia. Clinton emphasized the importance of seizing the moment during times of global economic turmoil to make positive impacts on climate change and energy security. Europe views the United States as a key partner in climate negotiations, especially with President Obama's commitment to addressing climate change in contrast to his predecessor. Europe has plans to reduce carbon emissions, while Obama has proposed a shift towards renewable energy and a cap and trade system for CO2 emissions. However, with numerous countries experiencing a severe recession, there are doubts about whether businesses can find the necessary funds to reduce carbon emissions, according to Clinton, who criticized the United States for not fulfilling its obligations. She believes that now is an opportune time to show a commitment to addressing this issue. Many politicians believe that the economic crisis, energy security concerns, and climate change can all be addressed through a "New Green Deal" that would involve replacing high-carbon infrastructure with green alternatives and creating jobs. Clinton emphasized the importance of addressing both energy security and climate change together. She criticized the use of energy as a political weapon, citing concerns in Europe following disputes between Russia and Ukraine that affected EU supplies. She expressed disapproval of using energy for intimidation, stating that it hinders the development of a more efficient energy system. Clinton is scheduled to have dinner with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva to improve relations after tensions during Bush's presidency. The reduction in Russian gas exports in January led to the shutdown of facilities and left many households without heating in Eastern Europe. A potential conflict between Ukraine and Russia was seemingly avoided on Thursday when Gazprom, a state-owned company, announced that Ukraine had resolved the payment issue that had caused tension. However, European leaders were concerned about the threat of supply cuts from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.