Michael Bloomberg is one of the trailblazers who made it onto our list of 2012 Visionaries. As a deep-pocketed philanthropist and chariman of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, he's showing cities around the world how to protect the environment.

How did you first become aware of environmental issues?

My interest in public health was spurred by being the chairman of the board of Johns Hopkins. Public health issues and environmental issues go hand in hand. A billion people will die of smoking in this century. I’m sure the number is even greater from pollution in the air. In New York City, you can plot the residences of kids who show up at the emergency room with asthma attacks, and you will have a map of the main roads.

What’s in your travel survival kit?

My shaving kit. It has in it everything I can think of, including chargers for my iPhone and my GPS watch for the golf course. In each of my suitcases, there is an envelope with blank cards, paper, pen, American flag pins, Urban League pins, and rubber bands—which are always helpful and you can never find them. I can pack very quickly—shirts from the left, ties from the right. I was an engineer. Everything I do, it’s methodical.

How has being a New Yorker armed you to be a good traveler?

It is sad, because a lot of people don’t have the experience that most New Yorkers do of different cultures. New Yorkers get someplace else and understand—comprehend more. It isn’t, ‘Oh my goodness, look at that.’ There’s still a wow factor, but if you experience different cultures, you are not afraid to enter into a dialogue with a stranger. Whatever foreigners do, whatever customs they have, you’re not surprised.

What’s your favorite food that you can’t get in New York?

No, see, you can get everything in New York City. Now, I always say you can get the best Italian food here, the best French food, the best Japanese. I’m not sure that’s true, but on balance, there’s no place you can get as good food.

Most surprising meal you’ve ever had?

The strangest thing I ever ate was fried scorpion. One time, my older daughter, Emma, and I were walking along the Great Wall in Beijing, and somebody was selling fried scorpion. I insisted that Emma eat one. I said, It’s the only time in your life you’ll be able to do it and you’ll be able to say you have. I had one, too. The oil hadn’t been changed in a month! That’s all you could taste. It was a terrible thing.


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Photos by Ben Baker