CARBON SOLUTIONS DEEP DIVE
We need all hands on deck when it comes to dealing with the climate crisis. That is why we are gathering the sharpest minds who care about this issue and want to see leadership and meaningful action at the local level.
The good news is that there is a lot that can be done at the local and state level when it comes to advancing climate and environmental policy. Learn from our experts on different topics around ground-level campaigns – using the market to further a just transition, the importance of smart climate communications, and the politics of market-based climate solutions.
WHEN
Tuesday, November 19th
9:30am – 2:00pm
WHERE
University of Minnesota ǀ Humphrey School of Public Affairs
301 19th Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55455
Register at No Cost
AGENDA
9:30am – 10:00am
Light Breakfast and Refreshments
10:00am – 11:00am
Using the Market to Drive Climate Solutions
Economists and experts agree that putting a price on carbon is a vital measure in to rapidly transition us to a sustainable and regenerative economy. Rather than pick winners and losers, carbon pricing allows the market – meaning the countless choices made by people every day – to favor cleaner ways of living and doing business.
So what exactly can market-based mechanisms achieve, and how can they be designed to tackle the unique environmental and economic challenges of the Midwest? How can we put equity and environmental justice at the forefront of market policy solutions?
Join our discussion on what best practices in carbon pricing can spur green innovation, rebuild crumbling infrastructure, and free us from the vast social and environmental injustices associated with the polluter-industrial world.
11:15am – 12:15pm
The Political Benefits of Market-Based Climate Policy
In this workshop we’re exploring the existing opportunity to build broad stakeholder support in New Mexico for market-based climate policies, including carbon pricing. Drawing on Climate XChange’s political experiences at the national and state levels, we examine why businesses, environmental justice communities, lawmakers, local governments, budget hawks, conservatives, and sometimes even the fossil fuel industry support market climate policies. We will also look at how carbon pricing can help concurrently achieve other environmental and climate goals, such as increasing renewable energy deployment and improving air quality.
12:30am – 1:30pm
Communicating the Climate Crisis
There is widespread recognition that communicating the climate crisis is a critical part of moving solutions forward. As advocates and professionals in the space, we are in charge of communicating not just the problems we currently face, but also bringing to life the solutions and future we envision. Communications has been a massive challenge in thise space, – we will explore the reasons why it has been so, to the psychological and social barriers in translating knowledge into action, and conclude with a series of best practices.
You will learn how to become a messenger for change, and gain the tools you’ll need for working with grassroots advocates and forming coalitions to maximize your impact.
1:30pm – 2:00pm
Lunch and Networking
WHY PRICE CARBON?
There is widespread recognition and scientific consensus that in order to stabilize the climate and prevent the worst consequences of the climate crisis, greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 80 percent by 2050.
The fuels responsible for emitting the gases that are causing this crisis have long been cheap and subsidized by governments around the world. In turn, we have failed to account for the true cost of these fuels as the main agents of global climate change, and all the impacts that come with it, which we are already living with today.
What if instead of subsidizing these dirty fuels, we actually began to account for their true cost?
Our coverage of the latest carbon pricing news in the Midwest
Wisconsin Fails to Act on PFAS Contamination and Climate Policy
Wisconsin is dealing with a crisis that is largely unknown and continues to worsen: PFAS contamination (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water and groundwater sources. PFAS are a class of man-made chemical compounds that are commonly found in various industrial...
More Than Half Of Nebraskans Guaranteed To Receive Clean Electricity By 2050 Thanks To Advocacy Around State’s Public Utilities
Wind energy capacity across the United States has been expanding rapidly for years, especially in Nebraska. From 2017 to 2018, the nation averaged an eight percent increase in wind energy capacity, but according to a report from the American Wind...
Rerouting Line 5 and the Ongoing Decommissioning Battle
The Great Lakes ecosystem is a vital network of freshwater bodies for those in and outside of the Midwest, which supports 21% of the world’s freshwater supply and home to over 3,500 unique flora and fauna. Bordered by both Lake...
Pandemic Alters Plans, but does not Prevent Wisconsin from Progressive Climate Action
The newly created Wisconsin Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy and associated Climate Change Task Force are working to establish climate policy and promote state level change. Since COVID-19 spread across the country, public comments and listening sessions have gone...
ABOUT CLIMATE XCHANGE
Climate XChange was founded in 2013 to develop and promote effective and viable policy solutions to reduce carbon emissions. We built and promoted winning climate policies in our home state of Massachusetts and have since brought our expertise, resources and guidance to state-level carbon pricing campaigns around the country. Our mission is to provide research, education, and advocacy tools to enhance climate action through effective policy at the state level. At a time when climate action has been heavily politicized and the federal government is not taking action, it has been left up to state governments to lead the way.
Climate XChange staff has collectively over 50 years’ experience in climate advocacy. Our extensive expertise in building campaigns enables us to share our knowledge and convene several networks for cross pollination of strategies. Our networks not only focus on advocacy but also private sector engagement. We know that without having business leaders at the table, we will not be able to best leverage our resources.
REGISTER TODAY
Wednesday, November 20th ǀ 9:00am – 11:00am ǀ Humphrey School of Public Affairs ǀ 301 19th Ave S., Minneapolis, MN 55455