Tuesday and Wednesday Mardi Et Mercredi
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Tuesday and Wednesday May 1 - 2, 2012 Drawing Room - Château Laurier Ottawa, Ontario Mardi et mercredi Le 1er et 2 mai, 2012 Salle Drawing - Château Laurier Ottawa, Ontario Building on Rio+20: Canada’s Role and Priorities in a Global Green Economy A two-day conference to examine the policy and economic dimensions of Canada in a global green economy Presented by Sustainable Prosperity and the Institute of the Environment of The University of Ottawa Château Laurier, Ottawa Tuesday and Wednesday, May 1-2 , 2012 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit. The 1992 Earth Summit, attended by more than 100 Heads of Government, was intended to chart a course for global sustainable development with the aim of combatting climate change and protecting biodiversity. This June, Brazil will host Rio+20. While this meeting will be a stocktaking opportunity, it will also be forward-looking, with the Green Economy taking centre stage. The Green Economy has been described by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as “one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities. In its simplest expression, a green economy can be thought of as one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.” The Green Economy is increasingly on the global agenda as decision-makers grapple with multiple pressures – a warming climate, ocean acidification, deforestation, growing human population and loss of biodiversity – all of which could threaten long term prosperity, sustainability of the current global economy and the well-being of the planet’s citizens. As the world’s leaders prepare to gather in Rio de Janeiro on this important milestone, the Green Economy will be a key to ensuring global sustainability, and this represents both challenges and opportunities for Canada. This two day conference will examine Canada’s role in a global Green Economy by: • taking stock of Canada’s efforts to build a low carbon, Green Economy as an essential strategy for sustainable development on a global basis. • providing a cross-cutting view of the policy, economic and governance challenges faced by Canada and other nations, in the context of Rio +20. • identifying leading practices and solutions as well as challenges in transitioning to a Green Economy. Conference Overview: The first day of the Conference will emphasize the importance of building a Green Economy, in Canada and around the world – what it means to build a Green Economy, how we can measure Canada’s progress and overall contribution to a global Green Economy? What are the opportunities and the responsibilities of leaders in industry, government, communities and civil society? The second day will examine Canadian accomplishments, their global significance and future challenges for Canada in its engage- ment in sustainable development issues and practices. A Green Economy will be built on the strength of Canada’s natural resources, its people and our innovative capacity. What does this mean for policy makers and organizational leaders in Canada? How will Canada position itself as a global player in the Green Economy to ensure environmental sustainability? Sur la lancée de Rio+20 : le rôle du Canada et ses priorités dans une économie verte mondiale Conférence sur les dimensions politiques et économiques du rôle joué par le Canada dans une économie mondiale verte La Prospérité durable et l’Institut de l’Environnement de l’Université d’Ottawa Château Laurier, Ottawa Mardi et mercredi 1er et 2 mai 2012 En 2012, on célèbre le 20e anniversaire du Sommet de la Terre à Rio de Janeiro, qui s’est tenu en 1992 et a réuni plus d’une centaine de chefs d’État. Le Sommet devait montrer la voie vers le développement durable à l’échelle mondiale, afin de combattre les changements climatiques et de protéger la biodiversité. En juin, le Brésil accueillera Rio+20. Ce sera l’occasion de faire le bilan, mais également de tourner nos regards vers un avenir où l’économie verte occupera une place centrale. Le Programme des Nations Unies pour l’environnement décrit l’économie verte comme « une économie qui entraîne une amélioration du bien-être humain et de l’équité sociale tout en réduisant de manière significative les risques environnementaux et la pénurie de ressources. Sous sa forme la plus simple, elle se caractérise par un faible taux d’émission de carbone, l’utilisation rationnelle des ressources et l’inclusion sociale ». L’économie verte figure de plus en plus à l’ordre du jour des décideurs de la planète, qui font face à de multiples défis : réchauffement climatique, acidification des océans, déforestation, pollution générée par l’activité humaine et perte de biodiversité, qui constituent une longue série de menaces à la prospérité à long terme et au développement durable, tant pour l’économie mondiale que pour le bien-être des habitants de la planète. À la veille de la rencontre Rio+20 pour marquer cet important anniversaire, le Canada doit prendre note des possibilités offertes par l’économie verte, garante du développement durable, et des obstacles qui se dressent elle. Cette conférence consacrera deux journées à l’examen du rôle du Canada dans une économie mondiale verte. Pour ce faire : • on dressera le bilan des efforts du Canada pour diminuer les émissions de carbone en vue de favoriser l’émergence d’une économie verte, stratégie essentielle de développement durable à l’échelle mondiale; • dans le contexte de Rio+20, on donnera un aperçu transversal des problèmes rencontrés par le Canada et les autres Nations sur le plan de la politique, de l’économie et de la gouvernance; • on mettra en lumière les principales pratiques et solutions adoptées pour faire face aux défis que pose la transition vers une économie verte. Survol de la conférence : La première journée de la conférence portera sur l’importance de l’économie verte au Canada et dans le monde. Une économie verte, ça veut dire quoi au juste? Comment mesurer les progrès accomplis par le Canada et sa contribution globale en la matière? Quelles sont les responsabilités des entreprises, des gouvernements, des communautés et de la société civile? La seconde journée se penchera sur le progrès accompli par le Canada et sa signification globale. On examinera également les problèmes auxquels le Canada fera face au cours des prochaines années et son engagement envers le développement durable, en théorie et en pratique. Une économie verte prendra appui sur les ressources naturelles et les ressources humaines du Canada et sur notre capacité à innover. Quelles en sont les implications pour les responsables des politiques et pour la classe dirigeante au Canada? Comment le Canada trouvera-t-il sa place en tant qu’acteur global dans l’économie verte, afin d’assurer le développement durable? Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Canada and the World in the Green Economy 7:30 am – 8:15 am Registration and Breakfast 8:15 am – 9:00 am Session 1: Honourable Jean Charest, Premier of Québec 9:00 am – 10:30 am Session 2: The World at a Crossroads: Shifting to a Green Economy The 1992 UN Rio Earth Summit was the largest gathering of world leaders in modern history. The Summit ended with an action plan for developing the planet sustainably through the 21st century and two new conventions, one on cli- mate change and the other on biodiversity. Canadians played a leading role in the1992 Earth Summit: Maurice Strong was the Summit’s Secretary General and Désirée McGraw the Youth Ambassador; they will be joined by UN Executive Coordinator for Rio+20 and former French Environment Minister Brice Lalonde to discuss their thoughts on progress since the '92 Summit and what Canada and the world can accomplish at Rio+20. Moderator: Dan Gagnier , Sustainable Prosperity Steering Committee Member and Chair, International Institute of Sustainable Development Panel: Maurice Strong, 1992 Earth Summit Secretary-General Brice Lalonde, Executive Coordinator, UNCSD Rio +20 Désirée McGraw, World Youth Ambassador to the 1992 Earth Summit and Executive Director, Jeanne Sauvé Foundation 10:30 am – 11:00 am Coffee Break 11: 00 am – 12:00 pm Session 3: Packing for Rio: What Leading Economies are Bringing to Rio+20 A Green Economy has been described by UNEP as one which is "low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.” Countries, both developing and developed are being asked to grapple with sustainable development and poverty eradication where one in five people still do not have access to modern energy. Hear directly from leading economies on their energy agenda for Rio+20 and beyond. Moderator: David Runnalls, Acting Executive Director, Sustainable Prosperity and Visiting Professor, University of Ottawa Panel: Janos Pasztor, Executive Secretary, UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Global Sustainability Ambassador Ole Andreas Lindeman, Head of the Energy+ team in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oslo Ambassador Piragibe Tarrago, Brazilian Ambassador to Canada Euan Wallace, Head of Global Issues, British High Commission 12:00 pm – 1:45 pm Networking Lunch 1:45 pm – 3:15 pm Session 4: A National Perspective: How is Canada Performing in “Greening” the Economy? This session will provide three important perspectives on how we are building a Green Economy and the extent to which Canada is meeting its own policy goals and taking our place as a global player. Canada can play an effective role in the sustainable development goals that are at the heart of Rio +20. Moderator: Alex Wood, Senior Director of Policy and Markets, Sustainable Prosperity Panel: David McLaughlin, President & CEO, National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy Scott Vaughan, Commissioner of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Government of Canada Jon Dogterom, Cleantech Practice, Lead Advisor, MaRS Discovery District 3:15 pm – 3:30 pm Coffee Break 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Session 5: Fork in Canada’s Green Economy Road: Where to next? Sustainable Prosperity Chair Stewart Elgie makes the case for Natural Capital Productivity while Lorne Johnson assesses Canada’s voluntary versus regulatory approaches and their impacts at home and abroad.