Transcript First US-European Conference of Metropolitan Regional Councils

First US-European Conference
of Metropolitan Regional
Councils
International Conference
on Climate Change
Sharing Knowledge –
Developing Joint Action
April 9-12, 2008
New Connections – Stimulating Dialogue
• First meeting between
U.S. and European
regional councils
• 170 policymakers from
over 40 U.S. and
European regional
councils
New Connections – Stimulating Dialogue
• Shared and exchanged
innovative regional
climate and energy
programs
• “Declaration of
Cooperation” introduced
new era of formal
learning and information
exchange on climate and
energy between U.S. and
Europe
Feedback
“I found it stimulating and I
sensed a real need to share, at
our regional level, experience and
knowledge…I enjoyed the
‘openness’ and honesty of
American colleagues, although I
do think that you underplay your
achievements in this field. Many
are innovative and
exciting. There is much, positive
and negative, that we can learn
from the US…” - Glasgow
Feedback
“I had reluctantly planned to fly home Thursday evening
due to significant conflicts but after I got there and saw
what was going on I stayed until Saturday
morning. Looking forward to more opportunities to be
plugged into the network you have built over the last
several years.” - Sacramento
“It was one of the best
conferences I ever attended.” Atlanta
Dynamic Speakers Point Out
Potential
• Neal Peirce
• Ambassador John Bruton
• Congressman James Oberstar
Neal Peirce
• Syndicated Columnist,
Washington Post Writers
Group
• International authority on
metropolitan regions and transAtlantic relation
• Affirmed that metropolitan
regions are the key to
addressing economic
development and climate
change on both continents
– “Climate is the most globally
binding issue in world history”
- Peirce, during his keynote
speech
Ambassador John Bruton
• Head of EU Delegation to U.S.
• Former Prime Minister of
Ireland
• Transatlantic economic
relationship is the most
vigorous in the world with
profound implications for subnational/regional actors
– “This global problem will be
solved locally”—Bruton
during his keynote speech
Congressman James Oberstar
• Chair of the House Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure
• The science of global climate
change is indisputable –
temperatures are rising due to
anthropogenic activities
• U.S. Regional Metropolitan
Planning Organizations need to
be the direct recipients of federal
transportation funds
• There is much to learn from
Europe in all matters of regional
transportation planning
Session Highlights
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Advancing Economic Development
Innovative Transportation
Regional Climate Action Plans
Climate Change and Water Management
Greenhouse Gas Inventories
Advancing Economic Development
– Many European regions have
integrated climate change and
regional economic development
activities. Germany will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 21
percent (against 1990 levels), but
its energy consumption per dollar
of GDP is 50 percent that of the
United States!
– In Germany, the renewable
energy sector employs over
215,000 people. If growth trends
continue, by 2020, renewable
energy will employ over 500,000.
Innovative Transportation Planning
– Sacramento
Blueprint Project
– Stockholm
Congestion Pricing
Regional Climate Action Plans
– Helsinki has linked climate, economic development and regional
transportation planning. 62 percent of all trips in Helsinki are on
public transportation.
– The Washington D.C. region emits 65.6 million metric tons for a
population of 4.9 million. The entire country of Finland emits
57.0 tons and its population is 5.2 million
– By 2050, the Paris region plans to meet 1/3 of its energy
demands through renewable energy
Climate Change and Water
Management
– Atlanta Prepares
30 year Water Plan
– Rotterdam has
innovative
integrated vision
Greenhouse Gas Inventories
– Many U.S. regions have challenges developing
accurate greenhouse gas inventories at regional level
(individual inventory efforts are sometimes disparate)
– EU Regional Greenhouse Gas Inventory Program
(GRIP) has been developed to establish inventories in
23 EU regions and seeks to inform stakeholders about
practical policy alternatives
– GRIP could potentially be applied
for the Metropolitan Washington
region and Northern Virginia
Next Steps – Actionable Plans
• Declaration of Cooperation sets stage for regional strategies,
international sharing of best practices, cooperative activities and
educational and technical exchanges, including:
– Potentially beta-testing GRIP in North America;
– Developing “community energy and plans” informed by METREX
best practices for local authorities in northern Virginia;
– Expand exchanges between Northern Virginia regional business,
technical and political leaders and EU counterparts in Stuttgart and
Hamburg – June 2008;
– Explore concept of “solar region Northern Virginia”;
– NVRC Executive Director to speak at National Association of
Regional Councils and Virginia Association of Planning District
Commissions;
– Discuss long-term cooperation – specifically the “Transatlantic civil
dialogues EU-USA,” and GRIP project in London, October 2008.
Solar Energy
Germany (at left – not to scale) is the world’s largest solar market, despite solar
resources significantly poorer than the United States. A solar panel in Ohio will
produce 20 – 25% more energy than the exact same panel in Germany.
(solar maps – National Renewable Energy Laboratory, European Commission)