Business Council on Climate Change

BC3 Networking Event - January 21st, 2009

Event Summary

Over 60 BC3 Members Exchange Ideas for New Administration at Networking Event

On January 21, 2009 ARUP hosted a large group of BC3 members with the goal of networking and conversing about which environmental policy changes are expected of the Obama Administration. After a brief introduction of Janine Kubert, BC3's new Executive Director, and a short presentation by ARUP's John Eddy, the group filled up an entire wall with hopes for the upcoming years.

Here are some ideas that our participants put forth:



Local

  • Solar panels on municipal buildings
  • Bike Network
  • Waste to Energy, landfill diversion, CH4 reduction
  • Funding for study of climate change adaptation infrastructure
  • Duplex Printing
  • No more homeless!
  • More community gardens
  • No more bottled water
  • More grassroots involvement and composting
  • Water recycling/re-use
  • Sustainability focused urban planning – no sprawl!
  • Programs to reduce poverty and homelessness
 

Regional

  • Reclaim suburbia
  • Smart growth
  • Gardens, not lawns
  • Incentives for coordinated regional land planning to reduce traffic and transit impacts
  • High Speed Rail
  • Carbon Cap
  • Support alternative transportation (no 1 person – 1 car)
 

National

  • Reduce GHG emissions to 10% above pre-industrial levels
  • Accountability for results tied to spending
  • Energy independence
  • Alternative energy production
  • A food garden at the White House
  • Build greater trust and positive/constructive interaction between business, government, and environmental/labor/consumer goods
  • Cap & Trade
  • Assist ‘workers’ from the Big Three find employment and transition to more efficient industries
  • Implement California standards (energy, water, waste) nationwide
  • Farm/food bill that supports sustainable, local, organic farming
  • Clean, inexpensive water for all
  • National RPS
 

International

  • Help the developing world help itself
  • Agree to goal to stabilize at or below 350ppm
  • Bring Key US Best Practices, Technology & Standards other countries – advance US leadership on these fronts
  • Sign and ratify the Kyoto Protocol
  • Cap global warming below 2ºC
  • Universal access to clean water
  • Work to convene a joint energy/environmental ministerial as part of the APEC 2011 year in the US (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation)
  • Be a leader at the 2009 Copenhagen/Bonn UN FCCC and set aggressive US GHG emission limits
  • Adopt and adhere to cap on emissions
  • Create a framework that can productively engage ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries
  • Learn from other countries about new measures of health’s well-being