Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunity presented by crises to rebuild economies in a more environmentally friendly and energy efficient manner during a speech in Brussels on Friday. She also criticized the use of energy as a political tool, particularly in light of Russia's recent threats to halt gas exports to the EU via Ukraine. Clinton urged young Europeans to view global economic turmoil as a chance to make positive changes in climate change and energy security. The United States, under President Barack Obama's leadership, is seen as a key ally in international climate talks, as the administration has shown a strong commitment to addressing climate change through renewable energy initiatives and a cap and trade system for CO2 emissions. However, with numerous countries facing a severe recession, there are doubts about whether businesses can gather the necessary funds to reduce carbon emissions, as stated by Clinton during her first trip to Europe as secretary of state. Many politicians believe that the economic crisis, energy security concerns, and climate change can all be addressed through a "New Green Deal," which would involve replacing high-carbon infrastructure with green alternatives and creating jobs. Clinton emphasized the importance of addressing both energy security and climate change simultaneously. She criticized the manipulation of energy as a political tactic, drawing parallels to concerns in Europe following conflicts between Russia and Ukraine affecting EU energy supplies. She expressed dismay at the use of energy for intimidation, stating it hinders the development of a more efficient energy system. Clinton is scheduled to have dinner with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva in an effort to mend relations following strained ties during Bush's presidency. The recent reduction in Russian gas exports in January led to the shutdown of essential services in Eastern Europe, leaving many households without heating. A potential conflict between Ukraine and Russia was apparently avoided on Thursday when Gazprom, a state-owned company, announced that Ukraine had resolved the payment issue that had caused the dispute. However, European leaders were concerned about the threat of supply cuts from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.