CONFERENCE PROGRAM
DAY ONE - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008
| 8:15 am | Welcome |
Gabriel Sékaly, CEO, IPAC
| 8:20 am | Introductions |
Program Moderator - Dr. David Pearson, Co-chair of Ontario's Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaption, Laurentian University
| 8:30 am | Opening Keynote: Global Warming: The Scale of the Problem and the Path to the Solution |
Andrew Weaver, author of Keeping our Cool, (Sept 2008) University of Victoria
Key questions for Climate Change mitigation and adaptation:
- We know there is a problem; we know we need to act; we know we need to work together: why is this so hard?
- The urgency of Adaptation: plans, first steps and effective action
- Lessons learned from other complex problems, other jurisdictions.
- Acting in uncertainty and measuring success.
| 10:00 am | What Canadians Expect from their Governments |
Keith Neuman, Vice President, Public Affairs, Environics Research Group
| 10:30 am | Break |
| 10:45 am | Panel: Adaptation and Innovation |
Government leadership and innovative adaptation programs are needed. How can governments use emerging trends, garner political support and engage citizens? What are the roles of partnerships with universities, the private sector, NGOs and other jurisdictions?
Moderator: David Pearson, Co-chair of Ontario’s Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation, Laurentian University
Donald S. Lemmen, Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Directorate, Natural Resources Canada
Marcel Gaucher, Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et des Parcs, Québec
Jenny Fraser, Climate Change Section, Ministry of Environment, British Columbia
| 12:00 | Lunch |
| 12:30 pm | Keynote: Smart Buildings in Smart Communities |
Dr. Ron Dembo - CEO, ZeroFootPrint
Most Canadians live in cities: What can citizens, governments, companies and communities do to reduce our impact and adapt to the changing climate in Canada's urban environment.
| 1:30 pm | Communities Panel |
Communities are facing challenges of expansion and adaptation: they affect transportation, public infrastructure, water, public institutions. What do we need to be more resilient? What are the "no regrets" actions of Adaptation Plans? Which Canadian communities are experiencing the impacts of Climate Change? How have the C40 cities approached adaptation?
Moderator: Eva Ligeti, Executive Director, Clean Air Partnership and Ontario's first Environmental Commissioner
Rob McIsaac, Chair, MetroLinx
Ian Church, Senior Science Advisor, Yukon Government and International Polar Year
Lawson Oates, Director, Toronto Environment Office
| 3:00 pm | Break |
| 3:15 pm | PRIVATE SECTOR: INSURANCE, LEGAL ISSUES AND RISK ANALYSIS |
Extreme weather events could have catastrophic consequences affecting individuals and their homes, businesses, government institutions, schools, hospitals and other critical infrastructure. How do we weigh the risks and liabilities? Who will pay the bills associated with adaptive measures? As “50-year” storms and major heat waves occur more often, what are the key issues for Canadian policy makers and public officials?
Paul Kovacs, Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction and University of Western Ontario
Dianne Saxe, Saxe Law Office
Wendy Potomski, Sustainable Business Solutions, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
| 5:00 pm | Reception for Delegates |
DAY TWO - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2008
| 8:20 am | Introduction: IPAC CEO Gabriel Sékaly |
| 8:30 am | Hon. John Gerretsen, MPP, Minister of the Environment, Ontario |
| 9:00 am | Graham Whitmarsh, Head, Climate Action Secretariat, British Columbia |
| 9:30 am | INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE |
How have governments approached the Climate Change Adaptation challenges? A dialogue to compare challenges, timing, political culture, citizen and corporate responses and suggestions for Canadian policy makers and leaders.
Ian Burton, Co-chair of Ontario’s Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation, University of Toronto
Philip de Waal, Embassy of the Netherlands
| 10:30 am | Break |
| 10:45 am | ADAPTATION - IMMEDIATE CONCERNS |
Health Canada's new study focused on Climate Change implications for human health and vulnerable populations: heat waves and poor air quality are front page news. Natural resources are changing quickly: lower lake levels, reduced snow, pest infested forests are also news. What are the most immediate concerns for Canadians and their natural environments? What are the strategies for adaptation?
Moderator: Rob De Loë, University of Waterloo
Dr. Pierre Gosselin, l’Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Ouranos, and Centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec
Judith Guernsey, Dalhousie University
Quentin Chiotti, Pollution Probe
Chris Jones, VP Public Affairs, Tourism Industry Association of Canada
| 12:00 pm | Lunch |
| 12:30 pm | Keynote: Carbon Mitigation Action and Adaptation to Climate Change: The German Perspective |
Dr. Gunther Buchmann, Germany Council for Sustainable Development
| 1:00 pm | Questions |
| 2:00 pm | Leading Approaches: The Big Pictures |
Panelists will discuss leadership, some bold actions, bringing together public/private sectors and pragmatic approaches to adaptation. Science, politics, governance and the allocation of scarce resources: what are the strategies for adaptation through big complex organisations?
Moderator: Dr. Ian Burton, Co-chair of Ontario's Expert Panel on Climate Change Adaptation
Hon. John Godfrey, PC, sponsor of Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Act, 2008, and former Minister of State for Infrastructure and Communities
David Greenall, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Services, Deloitte & Touche LLP
Alain Bourque, Director Impacts and Adaptation, OURANOS
| 3:30 pm | Synthesis, lessons for governments |
David Pearson
| 4:30 pm | Closing Remarks – Gabriel Sékaly IPAC |
