When it comes to the environment, it is easy to get lost in a sea of problems. Environmentalists have publicized the crises facing today's world, but the more challenging task is to come up with solutions for the future. At an all-day conference Monday at Monona Terrace in Madison, experts from six countries came together to discuss innovative ways to integrate ecology into the world economy.
The speakers represented the traditionally separate fields of environmentalism, business and government, saying no one field can solve environmental problems on its own. Global solutions will require experts in these fields to flex their muscles together.
The focus at the conference \Environmental Law in a Connected World,"" was on changing environmental regulations to encourage industries to go above and beyond meeting minimum standards. Current environmental regulations are not always effective because they can be difficult to enforce and do not provide incentives for businesses to exceed minimum compliance. So worldwide environmental leaders are turning to the private sector for voluntary, performance-based environmental management, which is the key to creating good policy, according to Donald Nichols, director of La Follette School of Public Affairs.
Scott Hasset, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, said Wisconsin's strength lies in its tradition of innovation and meaningful change through new ways of thinking. He encouraged new tools and technologies that create less waste; lower regulation costs; and the fostering of healthy communities. One way Wisconsin is achieving these goals is with the Green Tier law, which Hasset said ""empowers [Wisconsin residents] to imagine the possibilities.""
Green Tier changes the focus of regulation-instead of encouraging companies to simply comply with regulations, Green Tier gives firms incentive to improve their environmental performances beyond current standards. Companies that do so gain regulatory flexibility, newer technologies and public recognition. Through self-reporting and community oversight, the government can spend less in enforcing compliance, leading to both environmental and economic benefits.
A similar program in Europe has already demonstrated its effectiveness. State Secretary of Bavaria Emilia M??ller described the successes her country has enjoyed through a similar program of voluntary environmental regulation. She said more than 4,800 companies, from big corporations like BMW to small unions of the region's chimney sweeps, have signed voluntary contracts with her office.
Emphasizing that local solutions can make a difference throughout the world, M??ller agreed that Wisconsin can be a leader in creating a global solution.
""No region is able today to exist all by itself,"" M??ller said, citing global climate change as the prime example of how connected the world is. She also called for the cooperation of all countries in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
In the past, business and environmentalism have been seen as two distinct sectors. At the Monona Terrace, experts emphasized that the solutions of the future depend on the breakdown of this barrier. The economy, natural resources, public health, and international trade are all related. Only when experts from these fields come together to share information and responsibility can environmental protection become more than just repair work.
