Tuesday, 09-26-2006

The End of Oil? The Beginning of…

Between the Iraq War, global warming, natural disasters, and painful price hikes at the gas pumps, our nation’s international energy policy is more important now than it ever has been. Are we prepared for a post-oil economy? Do we need to be? What are the economic and environmental issues surrounding an industrial transition to renewable energy sources? What new technologies are emerging and when can we expect them to reach the public? Where are the resources concentrated, and what are the global implications of distribution?

On September 26, the World Affairs Council and Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) jointly present a symposium on the global future of energy. Christopher Flavin, President of the Worldwatch Institute, an international research organization whose focus is the achievement of an environmentally sustainable future and a socially just society, will be the keynote speaker and will address his strategy for improving energy efficiency, developing renewable fuels, and building cooperative alliances with countries in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Other speakers include Bill Kidd, Director of External Affairs at BP, Jeff Morris, Director of the Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative, and Kirk Thomson, Director of Environmental Affairs, the Boeing Company.

Each speaker will have the opportunity to address Flavin’s remarks and provide his/her own perspective on the issues, followed by a Q&A session with the audience and moderated by Enrique Cerna of KCTS.

About the Speaker

A long-time critic of U.S. energy policy and the failures of several presidents and congresses to develop a viable alternative to dependence on fossil fuels, Christopher Flavin is widely known for his writing on energy strategies and policies. He has testified before national legislatures, meets frequently with the leaders of governments, international agencies, and corporations, and has participated in several historic international conferences, including the Climate Change Conference in Kyoto in 1997 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002.

Co-Sponsors:
BP
Consulate General of Canada, Seattle
Sierra Club Cascade Chapter

Co-Presenters:
Climate Solutions
EarthCorps
Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative