Environmental Change Institute

On May 28, scientists, traders, business people, environmentalists, policy-makers, and students gathered to hear and see the visual evidence of global climate change from educator Will Steger, one of the world's foremost polar explorers.

The stories and pictures were reinforced by preeminent climate scientist Don Wuebbles. Ron Burke of the Midwest Chicago Climate Change, helped us understand the link between science and policy recommendations to mitigate climate change.

Michael Gerard, of Columbia Law School in New York, helped us understand the challenges of designing a cap and trade system and Gilbert Metcalf, professor of economics at Tufts University explained in economic terms how different program designs might play out in the market place.

Joel Friedman, representing the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, chief sponsor of the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Illinois, gave us a personal story and impassioned plea to make change happen now!

Ann McCabe, from The Chicago Climate Registry, described the benefits for companies to begin to measure and manage their carbon footprint using the GHG protocol and the tools of the Climate Registry.

Michael Walsh gave an overview of the Chicago Climate Exchange and how they are working worldwide to provide a functional and pragmatic trading platform for carbon financial instruments and futures and options.

We then moved to the first and only governmentally regulated carbon market in the USA. Lois New, from the Office of Climate Change at the New York State Department of Conservation, presented the rationale and history of the regional Green House Gas Initiative, an initiative that has already gone through three auction periods without any known market manipulations.

Steve Frenkel gave us a thorough overview of the many programs already underway in Illinois to mitigate environmental damage and increase the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Working together with the other states in the Midwest, Illinois is a leader in climate change mitigation strategies.

The closing keynote was provided by the City of Chicago's Commissioner of Environment Susan Malec-McKenna. She detailed the amazing local efforts led by the City of Chicago to be a model global city in the fight against climate change.

We encourage you to follow the Environmental Change Institute and work with all the contacts you made today towards effective climate policy, based on sound science and implemented in an economically effective manner.