Conference Schedule

Thursday, March 19, 2009

1 - 1:45 p.m. – Introduction and Keynote Speaker

2 - 3:30 p.m. – Opening Plenary Session

Energy policies that damage the environment can imperil environmental “goods” valued by consumers; energy policies that protect the environment can expose consumers to higher costs. Consumers are, however, in a unique position to influence energy policy through their political, behavioral and consumption choices to prevent environmental harms and protect other consumer interests. The opening plenary session will define the connection between energy and the environment and establish the vital role of energy-environment consumers, in particular individuals and their local governments, who both consume energy and experience the energy and environmental effects of that consumption.

3:45 - 5:15 p.m. – Concurrent Panels

Consumer Pocketbooks, Energy Policy and Carbon Control
Consumers will experience many negative impacts from climate change and its related adaptation costs – everything from increased risks of flooding (and higher insurance costs) to increases in taxes as government undertakes necessary adaptation measures. However, strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (such as a carbon tax or cap and trade system) may impose costs and hardship on consumers as well. And low income and minority consumers are likely disproportionately vulnerable to both the negative impacts of climate change and policies to avoid climate change. This panel will consider how consumers (and in particular the most vulnerable consumers) will be affected by climate change, adaptation, and the carbon control strategies adopted or proposed to mitigate climate change.

Identifying the Consumer: Who Consumes How Much Energy and Why?
Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions vary widely between individuals, regionally in the US, and internationally. This panel will identify and discuss these differences in energy consumption and emissions and assess the types of individual behaviors, municipal practices, government policies, and other factors that affect consumption and emission levels.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Part II: The Power of Energy-Environment Consumers

8:45 - 10:15 a.m. – Concurrent Panels

The Communication of Science and Consumer Empowerment
Many would argue that appreciation of the connection between energy policy and deleterious environmental effects, such as climate change, is a necessary predicate for changes in consumer behavior and demands. Climate science in the US has been vociferously contested and attitudes about the need to mitigate climate change remain divided. This panel will consider factors that shape individual and institutional beliefs about environmental science, generally, and climate science in particular and explore the relationship between scientific understanding and consumer support for environment-friendly behaviors and energy policies.

Empowering Consumers as Investors: Disclosure of Climate Risk
This panel will explore disclosure of climate risk. Is disclosure of climate risk required under existing securities laws? Should the securities laws be revised or supplemented with respect to climate risk? Does it matter to the investor and would disclosure influence investor or corporate behavior? What is the state of voluntary disclosure?

10:30 a.m. - Noon – Concurrent Panels

Municipalities: Empowering Consumers by Creating Energy Options and Implementing Local Conservation Measures
Municipalities are major consumers of goods and energy and can also adopt policies that influence the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of their citizens and the regulated community. This panel will consider how municipalities can influence energy policy, consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions -- through energy and product procurement policies, forward-looking energy conservation programs, and other initiatives -- and assess the role of municipalities as the US moves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Consumers as Regulatory Targets: The Power of Consumer Behavior and Choice
Consumers are in a unique position to influence energy policy, conserve energy, and reduce individual greenhouse gas emissions through their political, behavioral, and consumption choices. This panel will assess the role of individual consumer choice in addressing environmental problems such as climate change and consider strategies for motivating consumers to make “green” choices.

Noon - 1 p.m. – Lunch Break & Presentation of Student Writing Competition Winner

1 - 2:30 p.m. – Concurrent Panels

Over-empowered Consumers? NIMBY and Alternative Energy
Even residents and municipalities generally supportive of environmental goals may hesitate when faced with proposals to develop alternative energy projects (such as wind farms) locally because of aesthetic and other concerns. This panel will consider how communities have reacted to the proposed siting of such projects and suggest solutions for resolving these conflicts.

The Power of Consumers as Litigants: Climate Nuisance Suits
States, municipalities, and even individuals have sued major energy companies alleging that the practices of these companies in procuring and producing energy contribute to a nuisance (climate change) by causing the release of significant amounts of greenhouse gases. This panel will survey nuisance claims that have been brought against significant emitters of GHGs and consider their merit, potential impact, and relevance as the US moves toward comprehensive legislation to regulate GHGs.

A Threat to Consumer Empowerment: Greenwashing
Advertising and other commercial claims may be inaccurate or misleading with respect to the environmental attributes of companies and their products, a practice known as “greenwashing.” This threatens the efficacy of consumer choice to achieve environmental goals, yet efforts to police greenwashing may face First Amendment limits. This panel will define and provide examples of greenwashing, consider how widespread the practice is, assess its impacts on consumer choice, and evaluate public and private efforts to police environmental claims.

Part III: The Duties of Energy-Environment Consumers

2:45 - 4:15 p.m. – Closing Plenary Session

Self interest may not suffice to support action to mitigate climate change. The most harmful impacts of climate change may be felt most acutely outside of the US and by later generations, legal mechanisms are not in place to prevent “freeloading” by others, and greenhouse gas reductions may be costlier to achieve in the US than in other parts of the world. Is sacrifice to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – reduced energy consumption, lifestyle changes – justified even where the benefits do not accrue to the sacrificing individual(s)? This session will critically examine rationales – including moral, ethical, and political – for individuals and municipalities in the US to take action to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.