November 8, 2006

2006 ELI-Miriam Hamilton Keare Policy Forum
Governing Climate Change: Can Regional, State and Voluntary Approaches Do the Job?

Many believe climate change is today’s most pressing environmental issue. States acting alone or through regional compacts are creating mandatory carbon reduction programs, while the federal government says it is relying on voluntary measures to reduce carbon emissions.

How successful will these efforts be? Can we reduce global warming without mandatory limits on carbon emissions? Are there aspects of climate change governance that only the federal government can do?

An illustrious panel moderated by David Sandalow, Director, Environment & Energy Project, The Brookings Institution, discussed this critical issue.

Panelists:
Vicki Arroyo, Director of Policy Analysis, Pew Center on Global Climate Change
John Cahill, Secretary to the Governor of New York, former Commissioner, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Ken Cohen, Corporate Vice President for Public Affairs, ExxonMobil Corporation
Michael S. Parr, DuPont Company
David Hawkins, Director, Climate Center, Natural Resources Defense Council
William Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator, U.S. EPA Office of Air and Radiation