Environmental Policy Roundtable
Spring 2004

May 7: THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: William Mcdonough, Michael Braungart and the Birth of the Sustainable Economy (Film)

Tells the story of the movement led by architect Bill McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart to bring together ecology and human design, reinventing technical enterprises to mimic natural processes. Explores how businesses are transforming themselves to work with nature and enhance profitability. Examines changes being made at: Nike, Inc., Herman Miller Furniture, Adam Lewis Environmental Studies Center at Oberlin College, Designtex, Inc., Rohner Textile, and Ford Motor Company.

www.thenextindustrialrevolution.org
www.theatlantic.com/issues/98oct/industry.htm

Apr 23: EARTH DAY SYMPOSIUM WITH JOHN MCNEILL

John McNeill (Georgetown) is the author of "Something new under the sun - an environmental history of the 20th century". He will be the keynote speaker on the EESG Earth Day Symposium on Environmental Education. Among the further participants are Ken Conca (UM-GVPT), Bruce James (UM-ENSP), Rena Steinzor (UM-Law), Joanna Goger (UM-Law), Mark Starik (GWU).The symposium will go from 10am to 3pm and include two panel discussions:

1. Challenges in teaching environmental issues in an interdisciplinary way
2. Challenges in the real world when it comes to dealing with environmental problems
3. Complex environmental issues require broad-based knowledge that integrates biological and physical sciences with social sciences and the humanities. Yet crossing conceptual borders presents challenges and opportunities to teachers, students and practitioners alike. If true Environmental Education requires us to see the world differently, can we learn to feel at ease, addressing issues and perspectives outside of our comfort zones? Is it possible to develop fluency in a broad range of disciplines?

In this one day symposium, teachers, students and practitioners will describe their experiences of crossing intellectual boundaries, of attempting to convey an understanding of the environment that places humans and social systems within their biophysical contexts, of trying to bridge theory and practice. The emphasis will be on the challenges and opportunities of the variety of inter-, multi- or trans-disciplinary approaches that are key to developing balanced responses to environmental challenges.

The event is planned by Maryland's Ecological Economics Student Group (UM School of Public Affairs), with support from the Harrison Program on the Future Global Agenda (UM Department of Government and Politics), the Center for Historic Studies (UM Department of History), the UM Environmental Science and Policy Program, and the Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club.

"Environmental education is a learning process that increases people's knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to make informed decisions and take responsible action." UNESCO (1978)

Apr 9: VALUING BIODIVERSITY (Neil Perry)

Mar 19: EXPERIMENTING WITH CONTAGIOUS IDEAS (AKA MEMES) TO REACH A SIMILAR PRE-ANALYTIC POINT OF VIEW TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT (Luisa Robles)

At least since the early seventies several authors have tried to adopt the principle of evolution by selection to understand the continuous change in cultural behaviors. Richard Dawkins popularized the memetic approach. He coined the term ‘meme’ as an analog to the biological unit of inheritance, the gene or the genetic replicator. The rather simple distinction between genetic replicators as 'genes' on the one hand, opposed to all non-genetic replicators as 'memes' has been firmly imprinted in the evolutionary thinking about cultural information Since its initial conception, the term 'meme' has been used under very different meanings and in very different contexts, infecting a wide variety of disciplines. (From the journal of memetics)

The impetus of Luisa’s dissertation was to find a way to achieve a similar pre-analytical point of view of our behavior towards the environment. The study was to test participation and memetics in aiding people to change their behaviors towards environmentally friendly ones. She examined behaviors that the people themselves identified as wanting to change. The study was done in Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico.

Mar 5 : THE WORLD BANK CARBON FUNDS-BENCHMARKING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (Benoit Bosquet)

The World Bank’s carbon finance initiatives are part of a larger global effort to combat climate change, and go hand in hand with the Bank's mission to reduce poverty. The threat climate change poses to long-term development and the ability of the poor to escape from poverty is of particular concern to the World Bank. The impacts of climate change could unravel many of the development gains of the last several decades. The Bank is therefore making every effort to ensure that poor countries can benefit from international efforts to address climate change, including the emerging carbon market for greenhouse gas emission reductions. The World Bank’s carbon finance products help grow the market by linking the private sector buyers of carbon credits with climate-friendly projects in developing countries and economies in transition that are seeking financing. (http://carbonfinance.org)

Feb 6: A DOUBLE-HEADER ON ENERGY ALTERNATIVES

"Global Warming: local dangers, local solutions"
Mike Tidwell, Chesapeake Climate Action Network

Mike Tidwell will discuss the effects of global warming within the Chesapeake basin, including severe weather events and species extinctions. He will also address the ability of clean energy technologies to avert these disasters.

Mike is founding director of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), a local NGO dedicated to fighting global warming through clean, renewable energy. His own home is fueled almost entirely by wind, solar and corn power. Mike has also published several books, including two about efforts to save Ecuador's rainforest and the wetlands of coastal Louisiana.

"A Future for Renewable Energy"
George Sterzinger, the Renewable Energy Policy Project

George Sterzinger will argue that the emergence of a strong renewable energy sector must have more than strong research and development. To realize its full potential, the development of renewables must be closely linked to education and outreach, policy analysis, and hands-on development. George is executive director of REPP, providing research, analysis, and innovative energy strategies. With more than 20 years' energy experience, he has been Commissioner of Vermont's Department of Public Service, and worked with the Corporation for Solar Technologies and Renewable Resources to develop solar energy in Nevada.

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