The Future of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

Media Contact: Public Affairs, 212-854-2650 or [email protected]

New York, Oct. 23, 2012The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was formed in 2005 by northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states as the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program for carbon dioxide. RGGI is now undergoing a comprehensive review, and on Mon., Oct. 22, the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School will hold a public meeting featuring speakers with a broad range of perspectives on RGGI's future.
 
Leading environmental experts will address an array of questions, such as: Is RGGI achieving its purposes? Where does RGGI fit in the context of North American efforts to fight climate change? Can and should RGGI be linked with trading programs in California and Canadian provinces? Should RGGI lower the cap on emissions, or include more pollutants or sources? How can emissions leakage be controlled? What has been the environmental and economic impact of RGGI? What is the impact of Governor Chris Christie’s withdrawal of New Jersey in 2011?
 
Columbia Law School’s Michael B. Gerrard, the Andrew Sabin Professor of Professional Practice and director of Center for Climate Change Law, will moderate the discussion. Panelists will include the following leading environmental experts including:  
  • Gavin J. Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer, Independent Power Producers of New York
  • Ross Gould, Air & Energy Program Director, Environmental Advocates of New York 
  • Jared Snyder, Assistant Commissioner for Air Resources, Climate Change and Energy, New York Department of Environmental Conservation
  • Robert N. Stavins, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
  • Susan F. Tierney, Managing Principal, Analysis Group
The event is made possible thanks to the generous support of the John Gorham Palfrey Memorial Lectureship Fund. It is free and open to the public; seating is limited.  RSVP to [email protected]
 
Sponsors: The Earth Institute, the Center for Climate Change Law, the Environmental Law Institute and the Environmental Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, the Environmental Law Committee and the Energy Committee of the New York League of Conservation Voters. 
 
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Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, stands at the forefront of legal education and of the law in a global society. Columbia Law School combines traditional strengths in corporate law and financial regulation, international and comparative law, property, contracts, constitutional law, and administrative law with pioneering work in intellectual property, digital technology, tax law and policy, national security, sexuality and gender, and environmental law.
 
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