Hi, all. I'm brand new to the OS list.
I'm preparing for presenting an Open Space session at a conference at Michigan State University (East Lansing, MI; April 9-10). Here's the blurb about the session: Title: Open Space for (Public Discussion of) "No Regrets" Policies and Actions Organizer: Tom Stanton, Michigan Renewable Energy Program, Public Service Commission Abstract: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change advocates "no regrets" mitigation and adaptation approaches; these are ways to address climate change at no or very low cost, or with high benefit-cost ratios. The 4th IPCC report explains: "[Some] mitigation actions can result in near-term co-benefits (e.g. improved health due to reduced air pollution) that may offset a substantial fraction of mitigation costs. ... In several sectors, climate response options can be implemented to realize synergies and avoid conflicts with other dimensions of sustainable development." As Nordhaus and Shellenberger (2007, pp. 257-258) anticipate, a helpful public policy response to global climate change could be capable of establishing a new, inspirational "social contract" based on a "clean energy investment platform" that could enable "fulfillment, self-creation, and a new ecological politics." This session seeks to identify and actually begin the process of initiating implementation of "no regrets" options for the Great Lakes Region: mitigation and adaptation opportunities with various combinations of net negative costs; near-term co-benefits, especially in terms of new economic development and employment creation opportunities; and synergies with other dimensions of sustainable development. Workshop leaders will use an "Open Space" meeting approach (http://www.openspaceworld.org/), in which participants self-organize. Participants will set their own agenda, and then form small groups to begin work on the topics they choose. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEAD DISCUSSION OF A SPECIFIC "NO REGRETS" TOPIC, please contact Tom Stanton at stanto...@michigan.gov. Conference details are here: http://www.environment.msu.edu/climatechange/index.html If any of you are interested in participating and/or helping to lead this session at this FREE conference, please let me know. I'll buy your MSU Dairy Ice Cream Cone (a $3 value you won't soon forget)!!! Thank you in advance for any help you can give me towards this end... All the best, -- Tom Stanton, Coordinator Michigan Renewable Energy Program -- http://www.michigan.gov/mrep voice 517-241-6086, generally 9a-5p, M-F EMAIL: stantont1[at]michigan[dot]gov <mailto:stantont1%5bat%5dmichigan.gov> * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
