Monday, June 18– Ecological Policy Frameworks in Federal Systems, How to encourage performance?

The Path to Washington and Report to The Nation are looking for a framework that supports getting to an ecological “yes” that routinely produces grater results.  The pillars of the project adopted in 2006 guided this workshop’s content and are harbingers of next stops in New York City in 2008 and Washington, DC in 2009.  The pillars are: promoting innovative, performance-based approaches; advancing ecological thinking; exploring the role of market drivers, and identifying potential improvements to existing legal and institutional frameworks.  The 206 Utah workshop produced three principles for performance-based approaches: differentiate good performers, protect Good Samaritans and Reward good risks.

Presenters: Jeff Smoller is special assistant to the secretary, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and president of MSWG.  Dennis Treacy is vice president of Environmental and Corporate Affairs, Smithfield Foods, and president of the MSWG Policy Academy on Environmental Tools, MSWG’s implementation arms.

The Path to Washington and a Report to the Nation

Federalism and the Environment: Overseas Report

Lessons in self-responsibility for The Path to Washington

Federal systems establish rights and responsibilities.  They set limits and provide opportunities to succeed and excel.  So why has a country like the United States become a land of environmental minimums?  Can a new approach to federalism inspire a land of ecological opportunity to complement the land of compliance?  What does that mean for government and business?  Are there places we can look for ideas and examples?  Looking Back, Thinking Ahead: Part One

Presenters: Lee Paddock and DeWitt John, Scott Hassett (welcome and introductions) is secretary of the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources.  State Minister Dr. Werner Schnappauf is Minister for the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection in the Free State of Bavaria, Germany.  He speaks on “Environment, Regulatory Innovation and Federalism.”  Maria-Elisabeth Schaeffler* is CEO of Waelzlager Schaeffler KG, Herzogenaurauch, Germany.  She speaks on environmental role companies can play in federal systems and global economy.  State Minister Dr. Werner Schnappauf, Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection

Examples of Alternative Legal Frameworks

A Conversation:  Looking Back, Thinking Ahead

Tribal Activities for Environmental Stewardship

Few would dispute that businesses can do a better job of minimizing both their regulated and unregulated environmental footprints.  Many even believe business can be leveraged to improve and restore the environment.  Are there tools to support greater environmental performance?  And do they have a track record?

Presenters: Norbert Horauf is the environmental director of INA Waelzlager Schaeffler KG in Germany. Matthais Weigand is head of trans-media law in the Bavarian Ministry for Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection.  T.C.R. van Someren, Voorburg, The Netherlands, advises governments and businesses in The Netherlands, Germany, China and elsewhere. 

Wisconsin borrowed regulatory innovation ideas from Europe, Asia and other US states to create its Green Tier law, a finalist in the best policy innovations in America competition sponsored by Harvard University.  Green Tier is a “we can” law that complements the “you can’t” of command and control, using contracts, charters and environmental management systems as it’s a main tools.  What lessons does Green Tier offer?

Presenters: Grahm Wilson is the chair of Political Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and editor of Governance Magazine.  Mark McDermid is  the director of the Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance in the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Native American Tribes in the United States have cultural roots that are tied to the land, water, sky and living things.  There is a reverence for nature.  Under United States law, the Tribes have special rights to protect and manage natural resources within the lands under their control.  The philosophy of “Seven Generation thinking” has guided the Tribes’ actions.  Native Americans from Wisconsin explain the cultural roots of their relationship to the land, water, sky and living things and how it is expressed in daily practice.  They will talk about sustainable forestry, land stewardship and the fish and wildlife resources.  Are there lessons for non-Native Americans and their governmental, political and business practices?

The 1990s were something of a renaissance period for environmental policy reform with the Aspen Institute, President Clinton’s Council on Sustainable Development, William Ruckelshaus’ Enterprise for the Environment, the National Academy of Public Administration, the Reason Foundation and The Progressive Policy Institute all releasing major reports.  Most of the recommendations were not implemented.  Do those ideas still have standing or has their time passed?  Those who wrote the reports will discuss those questions and much more for The Path to Washington and Report to the Nation.

Presenters: Joanne Scott is the director of the Centre for Law and Governance in Europe, University College, London.

Peter Wise Memorial

In 2006, MSWG lost one of its founders, Peter Wise of The Delta Institute, a non-government organization in Chicago.  A life-long advocate for the environment, Peter worked diligently in the government,  non-government and private sectors to pursue a cleaner environment for all citizens.  His passions were The Great Lakes and the belief that businesses and other working for a cleaner environment could produce greater results if public policies helped make it happen.  Peter’s many friends will use this session to announce a fitting tribute to Peter and his work, including developing the concept of the MSWG Policy Academy on Environmental Management Tools.

Presenter: Keri Luly is stewardship coordinator for Allsteel, Inc. based in Muscatine, IA and chair of the Peter Wise Memorial Committee.

World, Inc and The Path to Washington

The Path to Washington takes place in a world where businesses increasingly Substitute:  The Path to Washington takes place in a world where businesses increasingly are recognized as not only having the capacity to create economic wealth but social value.  Organizations such as the United Nations have long sought to leverage that capacity.  Former President Clinton and Bill Gates are to more recent examples of individuals trying to do the same thing.  Can businesses be leveraged to not only reduce their environmental footprints but create greater ecological value?

Response to World, Inc: The Role of Business in Making the World a Better Ecological Place

The day’s first two plenary sessions provided information, ideas and questions to discuss and develop for The Path to Washington and its Report to the Nation.  This panel discussion and develop for The Path to Washington and its Report to the Nation.  This panel discussion and audience feedback session honors MSWG’s policy of involving the business, government and non-government sectors, respecting all speakers and providing fair consideration of all views.

Presenters: Steve Hellem* is the executive director of the Global Environmental Management Initiative, a not-for-profit organization of leading companies dedicated to fostering environmental, health and safety excellence worldwide. Arleen O’Donnell is acting commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.  Jason Morrison is the director of the Pacific Institue’s Economic Globalization and Environment Program, Oakland, CA and member of the MSWG Board of Directors and Policy Academy Board of Regents.

Integrated Product Policy and International Product Stewardship

The European Union’s Integrated Product Policy seeks to minimize the environmental impact of products by looking at all phases of the product’s life cycle and taking action where it is most effective.  What has been Europe’s experience with this policy?  What impact has it had outside Europe in places like the United States, Canada and China?  And are there lessons for business, government, non-government and consumer interests that can be transferred elsewhere?

Presenters: Garth Hickle is product stewardship team leader from Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.  Suzanne Bangert is the director of the Bureau of Waste Mangement for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Robert Donkers* is counselor for environmental affairs of the European Commission Delegation in Washington, DC.  Klaus Koegler is head of Sustainable Production and Consumption Unit of the European Commission, Burssels, Belgium.  Martin Bigg is head of industry regulation in the United Kingdom Environmental Agency, London.  Cheng Xu is director of solid waste, State Environmental Protection Administration, People’s Republic of China, Beijing. 

The Future of Innovation

Over the years, the US Environmental Protection Agency has advanced a range of innovative programs including Project XL, the Common Sense Initiative, the Sector Strategies Program and much more under the label of re-inventing government and to conform with the Government Performance Results Act.  The EPA’s major innovation effort at the present time is the National Environmental Performance Track program.  That program and others fall under a stewardship label that looks to everyone in society and all organizations to be responsible environmental stewards and offers options beyond traditional regulatory tools to be responsible environmental stewards and offers options beyond traditional regulatory tools to fulfill that role.  What lessons do past initiatives provide and what’s the future of innovation?

Presenters: Rick Otis is deputy associate administrator of the Office of Policy.  Economics and Innovation of the US Environmental Protection Agency.  Washington, DC. Others will join him.

Using the Right Tools Locally and Globally

Over the years, the US Environmental Protection Agency has advanced a range of innovative programs including Project XL, the Common Sense Initiative, the Sector Strategies Program and much more under the label of re-inventing government and to conform with the Government Performance Results Act.  The EPA’s major innovation effort at the present time is the National Environmental Performance Track program.  That program and others fall under a stewardship label that looks to everyone in society and all organizations to be responsible environmental stewards and offers options beyond traditional regulatory tools to be responsible environmental stewards and offers options beyond traditional regulatory tools to fulfill that role.  What lessons do past initiatives provide and what’s the future of innovation?

Presenters: Rick Otis is deputy associate administrator of the Office of Policy.  Economics and Innovation of the US Environmental Protection Agency.  Washington, DC. Others will join him.

Native American Sacred Drum Ceremony

The drum is a sacred instrument to communicate Native American culture and messages.  The drum ceremony is among the most powerful and profound experiences in America.  It is especially meaningful when connected to Seven Generation message of Native Americans in their caring for The Mother, the earth.  Wisconsin Native Americans have been invited to share their culture through this means with attendees.  Native American food will be served at this event which will be among the trees on the roof of Monona Terrace, looking to the North and the State Capitol, symbol of government and its duty to protect the ecological commons and to the South and the water of Lake Monona as it reaches to the tree-lined shore, to the adjacent countryside and then to the sky beyond.  Attendees will remember this experience and the message.

Morning Breakout Sessions

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Ecological Federalism: Climate’s Lessons About new Ideas, Tools and Roles for Business, Government and Non-government Organizations in the 21st Century.

Presenters:  Eileen Wenger Tutt

Using the Right Tools

Climate change has not only dominated the environmental conversation in the last six months it has opened up the minds of policy makers and players to many new options that are available to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changes that are already documented.  These options involve a range of tools that can be applied at the international, national, regional, state and local levels.  The State of California is the world’s sixth largest economy and the steps it is taking on climate are changing the world. 

Presenter:  Eileen Wenger Tutt is the Assistan Secretary of the Environment for Climate Change for the State of California.  As such she is responsible for coordinating climate change programs throughout state government, no only in her home agency of Cal EPA.