Continental Dynamics of Energy and Climate Change: Policies and Politics

When: Tuesday, June 9, 2009 - 11:45 – 14:00

Where: Rideau Club, Ottawa

The Obama administration is in the midst of a significant shift on U.S. energy and climate policy. The transition period offers Canada a window of opportunity to consider the implications for Canada of such a shift, as well as how to engage the United States on these critical issues.  In order to contribute to the public debate on this important topic, the Public Policy Forum convened a 'working lunch' on the continental dynamics of energy and climate change politics and policies. Panel presentations addressed the following topics:

• Current state and future directions of U.S. energy and climate policy
• Implications for Canada of a national cap and trade system in the United States
• The key ingredients-and obstacles in the way-of a coordinated continental policy response to deal with energy and environmental pressures
• What Canada needs to do to 'set the table' for a serious bilateral dialogue on climate policy cooperation
• The continental response in an international context

Speakers:

• David McLaughlin, President and CEO, National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy
• Franz Litz, Senior Fellow, World Resources Institute
• Anne Drinkwater, President and CEO, BP Canada
• Velma McColl, Principal, Earnscliffe Strategy Group (moderator)