North American Workshop on Environmental Sustainability and Competitiveness
The main objective of the meeting was to explore the relationship between environmental sustainability and competitiveness from a North American perspective, and identify opportunities for regional cooperation
Agenda
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Welcome and opening remarks by the JPAC Chair, Jane Gardner
Introductory remarks by the CEC Executive Director, Felipe Adrián Vázquez-Gálvez
Opening address by Mexican Secretary for the Environment, Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada
Panel I
Drivers and barriers to improvements in environmental performance |
What motivates industry-wide improvements in environmental performance?
How are those forces likely to change in the future?
How are different firms in the industry responding to those forces?
- Moderator:
Patricia McDonald – JPAC member for the United States
Panel II
Drivers and barriers to environmental performance innovation |
How are those forces likely to change in the future?
How are different firms in the industry responding to those forces?
- Moderator:
Jean Guy Dépôt – JPAC member for Canada
Panel III
How are corporate improvements in environmental performance
influencing business competitiveness? |
Are improvements in environmental performance or its drivers affecting competitiveness? How?
What are the most important factors in this relationship?
Are there specific considerations for this within North America?
- Moderator:
Nelly Correa – JPAC member for Mexico
- Panelists:
Alejandro Lorea – Executive Director, Commission for Studies on Sustainable Development of the Private Sector (Cespedes)
Irene Henriques – Associate Professor, Schulich School of Business, York University
John Gocek – President and CEO, SOFAME Technologies Inc.
Industry focus, the transportation sector
Stephen Blank – Ross Distinguished Visiting Professor of Canada-US Business and Economic Relations, Western Washington University
Jorge Luis Chávez Zárate – Director of Communications, Meridian 100
Bill Prentice – Director, Transport Institute and Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Remarks by the JPAC Chair, Jane Gardner
Roundtable: How can mutual supportiveness between environmental performance
and competitiveness be promoted?
Is there room for the participation of various sectors (private sector, public sector, academia, nongovernmental organizations, local and national governments) in defining and attaining improved environmental performance and, if so, what roles should particular sectors play?
- Moderator:
Carlos Sandoval – JPAC member for Mexico
- Participants:
Isabel Studer – Director, Center for Dialog and Analysis on North America, Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education, Mexico City Campus
Carlos Muñoz Piña – Director General for Research in Politics and Environment, National Institute of Ecology (INE)
Brent Parker – Senior Policy Advisor, Sector Sustainability Division, Environment Canada
Dianne Dillon-Ridgley – Director, Interface Inc.
Bill Prentice – Director, Transport Institute and Associate Professor, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Manitoba
Wrap-up session: Potential elements for a North American agenda
What are the common challenges and opportunities for business and governments in North America in promoting synergies between environmental sustainability and competitiveness?
Moderator: Jane Gardner, JPAC chair for 2008
Report from the National and Governmental Advisory Committee Representatives
JPAC follow-up and administrative matters
a) Discussion on a potential Advice to Council on the outcome of the meeting
b) Election of the 2009 JPAC Chair
c) Discussion of 2009 JPAC priorities and other meetings
Observers’ comments
End of Session
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North American Workshop on Environmental Sustainability and Competitiveness
Agenda – North American Workshop on Environmental Sustainability and Competitiveness