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Roundtables
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12/08/09 |
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On the occasion of the annual Ambassadors’ Dinner, The European Institute launched a new initiative on Russia-EU-U.S. Triangular Relations. The fluidity and complexity of common strategic, economic, energy and environmental challenges can best be met through effective triangular cooperation. His Excellency Sergey Kislyak, Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the United States, His Excellency Jorge Dezcallar de Mazarredo, Ambassador of Spain to the United States and Ambassador Richard Morningstar, the U.S. State Department Special Envoy for Eurasian Energy offered their assessments of the prospects for stronger triangular cooperation.
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Roundtables
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12/01/09 |
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On Tuesday December 1, 2009, The European Institute, in cooperation with the Royal Danish Embassy, convened a meeting to address prospects for the upcoming Copenhagen climate conference and U.S. energy and environment policy. While expectations for the conference to achieve real success have fallen recently, the experts who addressed the two panel seminar all concurred that this conference is an essential step towards securing effective climate change legislation.
The first panel, moderated by Lisa Friedman, Deputy Editor of ClimateWire, addressed what obstacles must be overcome and whether an agreement can be reached in Copenhagen. His Excellency Friis Arne Petersen, Ambassador of Denmark to the United States, The Honorable Timothy Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, The Honorable Eileen Claussen, President of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change and Ned Helme, President of the Center for Clean Air Policy offered their opinions. The conclusions of the first panel were split between pessimism and optimism, but the crucial takeaway was the continuing importance of global dialogue to engage all countries in the climate change process. The second panel was moderated by Anne Thompson, Chief Environmental Affairs Correspondent at NBC and shifted the focus from international mitigation efforts towards U.S. legislative attempts to curb carbon emissions. The panelists included: Jonathan Lash, President of the World Resources Institute, Jason Grumet, President of the Bipartisan Policy Center, Martha Wyrsch, President of Vestas Americas and Jim Connaughton, Executive Vice President of Constellation Energy.
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Roundtables
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11/04/09 |
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During this seminar, experts from both sides of the Atlantic discussed and debated key ideas and mechanisms for reducing global carbon emissions and containing costs. Panelists addressed the debate between the cap and trade system and carbon tax as well as internationalizing efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The speakers noted that effective market measures are critical to making real progress and that the continuing debate between cap and trade and carbon tax measures is crucial for driving innovation and investment.
The meeting consisted of two panel discussions which were followed by engaging question and answer sessions. The first panel addressed ‘Exploring Transatlantic Policy Options for Curbing Carbon Emissions,’ and brought together political and corporate representatives to discuss what is being done to address pressing climate issues. Peter Zapfel, Assistant to the Deputy Director General, DG Environment at the European Commission, Anne Lammila, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Finland and Sylvain Garnaud, President of Cement Divisions at Lafarge North America, Inc. spoke about the development of the European carbon market and efforts in the United States to reduce carbon emissions. While there was agreement that the U.S. and the EU do not agree on every proposal, there was also a consensus that this is a period of great opportunity for collaboration. The second panel focused on ‘The Carbon Market in Practice’ and brought together experts on cap and trade initiatives and carbon tax to debate the merits of each mechanism. Dr. William Ferretti, Vice President of the Chicago Climate Exchange, Kevin James, Vice President, Carbon Finance at Climate Change Capital and James Handley from the Carbon Tax Center provided a discussion of market initiatives for reducing carbon emissions. Though they disagreed about which mechanisms were most effective, there was convergence on the idea that the most important step the United States can take is to set a price on carbon in order to encourage carbon reduction initiatives. Mark Hopkins, Director of International Energy Efficiency at the United Nations Foundation moderated this meeting. |
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Roundtables
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10/01/09 |
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Leading experts from both sides of the Atlantic discussed the re-emergence of nuclear power as a complementary asset in the drive to de-carbonize energy resources. In addition to evaluating current demand for nuclear power and the relative cost and capacity issues inherent in the industry's expansion, participants also addressed the challenge of nuclear safety and waste disposal, as well as the current financial and regulatory environments. Offering their perspectives were: Dominique Ristori, Deputy Director General for DG Energy and Transport at the European Commission; Margaret Doane, Director of the Office of International Programs at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Jacques Besnainou, President of Areva, Inc.; Dr. Alex Severinsky, President of Fuelcor, LLC; Dr. Kevin Crowley, Director of the Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board for the National Research Council at the National Academy of Sciences; Dr. Jean-Pierre Benqué, President, Electricité de France International North America, Inc.; Dr. Roland Schenkel, Director General of DG Joint Research Centre at the European Commission; and Richard W. Cortwright, Jr., Managing Director of U.S. Utilities and Infrastructure Ratings at Standard and Poor’s. The Honorable Kristina M. Johnson, Under Secretary of Energy at the Department of Energy, offered the luncheon keynote address. Tom Harrison, Chief Editor Nucleonics Week, Nuclear News Flash, Inside NRC and Nuclear Fuel at Platts moderated this roundtable. |
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