Green Meets Green: Conference program

Friday November 30
THE CLIMATE FOR CHANGE
Ramapo College’s Bradley Center

HIGHLIGHTS: 9 a.m. James Florio, 9:45 a.m. Ed Mazria, 11:30 a.m. Unpacking the N.J. laws and policies with Jeane Fox and others, 2:30 p.m. Deeper Explorations Sessions, 4:30 p.m. EXPO opens with the MAGIC electric car and much more AND 7:30 p.m. Bill McKibben.

Registration: 8 – 8:45 a.m., Bradley Center, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Breakfast refreshments complements of Whole Foods
(For your information, an HBO documentary is being shot during the event. Please be understanding).
 
8:45                                         Bradley Arena
Welcome
Peter Mercer, President, Ramapo College of New Jersey. Welcome.
Michael R. Edelstein, Ph.D. Professor, Ramapo College of NJ and Conference Chair. Introduction: “The Greening.”
An Environmental Psychologist, Michael Edelstein has spent his career studying the human impacts of environmental contamination and degradation and the prospects and options for sustainable change. He is best known for his book Contaminated Communities (Westview Press, 2nd edition, 2004). His most recent work is Cultures of Contamination (Elsevier, 2007).

9 a.m.                                      Bradley Arena
KEYNOTE EVENT 1: Leadership in Setting the Agenda

JAMES FLORIO, Esq. Former Governor and Congressman. Currently at Florio, Perrucci, Steinhardt, & Fader, LLC and Rutgers.  Addressing the Climate Crisis: Lessons from Superfund. 

Former Governor Jim Florio had established himself as one of the true experts on the environment during his distinguished Congressional career. As a Congressman, he authored the Superfund Bill to address the threat of contaminated sites across the U.S. Here he analyzes the lessons of Superfund for addressing the Climate Crisis. Times have changed; the issues have become more complex. What strategies do we use?

9:45 a.m.                                 Bradley Arena
KEYNOTE EVENT 2: Rethinking the Built Environment     
Introduction: William Makofske, Ph. D. Professor Emeritus of Physics, RCNJ

EDWARD MAZRIA, AIA, Architecture 2030 www.architecture2030.org.

Architect Ed Mazria, author of the 1979 classic The Passive Solar Energy Book (Rodale Press) has been anticipating and preparing for the climate crisis during his entire illustrious career.  He offers an incisive analysis of the issues faced in New Jersey and the surrounding region and the steps needed to address it.
About Edward Mazria (PDF)

Break: 11:15-11:30

11:30 a.m.                                           Bradley Arena
KEYNOTE EVENT 3: Unpacking and Implementing New Jersey’s Far Reaching Climate and Energy Policies                                                
Chair: Deborah Mans, Esq. Policy Adviser, Office of the Governor of N.J.

Panel 1: The What and the How of the Climate Law and Revised Energy Master Plan.
Jeanne Fox, President, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities;
Jeanne Herb, Director of Research and Policy, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
Deborah Mans, Esq., Policy Adviser, Office of the Governor.

Panel 2: Commentary and Response
Clinton Andrews, Ph. D. Director, Urban Planning Program, E.J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, Rutgers University. Author, Energy Sustainability Project.
“How much sustainable change can we sustain?”
William Makofske, Ph. D. Professor Emeritus of Physics, Ramapo College of N.J.  “Houses that generate their own energy, and then some: the role of conservation and renewable energy.”
John McMahon, President, Orange @ Rockland Utilities.
“Utilities Face New Challenges and Rise to New Occasions.”
Paul Heitmann, Senior Program Architect, Comverge.
“Taming the Grid: Impacts of New Generation Transportation and Demand Side Control”

DEEPER EXPLORATIONS SESSIONS  2:30 p.m.                        Various Rooms
Twelve participatory sessions to explore models of success, barriers and opportunities and to list the key needed action steps in the transition toward sustainability. 
Details of Sessions Deeper Explorations (PDF)
Report-Out Session: Charting the Sustainable Transition   4 p.m. Bradley Center

4:30-7:30 p.m.                                       Bradley Center
GREEN EXPO and Green Holiday Boutique Open free to the public. 6:00 – 7:30 booksigning by Bill McKibben in the Expo.
MAGIC ELECTRIC CAR                Demonstrations: 4, 5, and 6 p.m. Bradley Lounge
(MAGIC stands for Mid Atlantic Grid Interactive Vehicle)

7:30 p.m.                                             Bradley Arena
KEYNOTE EVENT 4: Implications for Social Change: Addressing Cliamte Change through Sustainable Communities
Bill McKibben, www.billmckibben.com. Founder, Step-it-Up Climate Action and Best Selling Author, Fight Global Warming Now, Deep Economy and The End of Nature.
About Bill McKibben (PDF)                           
Preceeded by a Book Signing in the EXPO Green Book table beginning at 6 p.m.