Coming Soon: 2010 Aspen Environment Forum Agenda

To give you an idea of the 2010 Aspen Environment Forum agenda, below is the 2009 Forum agenda:

Wednesday, March 25, 2009: Forum Opening Reception, The Sundeck, Atop Aspen Mountain

6:00 – 10:00 pm
On Wednesday, March 25, Forum participants will ascend 3,200 vertical feet on Aspen Mountain’s Silver Queen Gondola to arrive at the Sundeck Restaurant, perched high atop the mountain at 11,000 feet. There, participants will open the Forum with cocktails, dinner, some opening “Big Ideas” to kick-start the Forum, a keynote address by the new US EPA Administrator, and a host of Aspen memories — not the least of which is the stunning view of the city lights on the way down.

What’s the Big Idea?
In this opening session, a medley of Forum presenters share some key ideas that drive at today’s energy challenges and issues and their big dreams for the future.

Forum Opening Keynote
US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson opens the Forum with a keynote on the United States, environmental progress, and new directions.

Thursday, March 26, 2009: Day One: The Power Challenge
The first day of the Forum is dedicated to presenting some of the latest information, data and theories about the global power challenge. Participants are invited to leave the politics and policy for a day to learn about the latest research into the factors that influence our sources of energy and the ways energy is used.

On this day, on campus programming begins at 9:00 am and ends at 5:00pm.  The Evening Exchange begins at 8:30pm and end at 9:45pm.

Opening Plenary Session  9:00-10:30 am

Short Film Presentation
“Powering the Planet”
Energy for the Future: National Geographic magazine Editor in Chief Chris Johns explains some of the urgent challenges in moving society towards a cleaner, more secure future.

A New Energy Era for Government?
Leaders from top federal and state posts outline the prospects for a new era of energy policy in the United States.

Concurrent Sessions  10:45 –12:00pm

Food and Fuel: The Future of Biofuels
Experts discuss how land-intensive biofuel technologies impact food production, the environment, and hunger around the world.

Power Land: Energy Landscape Now
Experts map today’s energy landscape, with an emphasis on energy resources and supplies, energy consumption, and global security.

Energy and the Law of Unintended Consequences
As the world races to uncover new sources of energy, experts discuss how renewable energy does not necessarily mean sustainable energy – and how to achieve both

Tripling Energy: Meeting Mid-Century Needs
Scientists and industry leaders discuss what we’ll have to do to meet the world’s expanding energy needs: challenges to overcome, possibilities to act on, and potential energy sources to pursue.

From Sun to Sun: Can We Return to Sunlight?
Leading researchers and scientists explore the potential and promise of today’s photovoltaic technologies.

Lunch Presentation  12:15-1:30pm
Scraping the Bottom of the Barrel
A National Geographic photographer and an environment editor report back on their explorations of Alberta’s oil sands at the height of a mining boom.

Plenary Session   2:00-3:15pm
Pricing Energy: From Shock to Trance
A discussion of oil’s wild price fluctuations and its derailment of sound investment environments for alternative energies.

Concurrent Sessions   3:30-4:45pm
Conventional Energy: Unconventional Demands
Experts discuss the facts, myths, and future of “clean” coal.

The Ocean Carbon Cycle: Facing the Damage
A panel addresses how rising levels of carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere are affecting the ocean carbon cycle – and what can be done to turn this around.

21st Century International Environmental Governance: The Challenges
Panelists will provide insight on the inadequacies of the current global environmental governance arena.

In Conversation   3:30-4:45pm
How Much Time Do We Have To Act on Climate Change?
Leading minds look at our energy choices and the trajectory of climate change, and evaluate the social, moral, economic, and political issues of managing climate change in an equitable way.

Evening Exchange  8:30-9:45pm
Extreme Ice
A special film event open to the public at the Wheeler Opera House, this Nova/National Geographic special follows the exploits of acclaimed photojournalist James Balog and a scientific team as they deploy time-lapse cameras in risky, remote locations in Greenland, Alaska and Iceland.

Friday, March 27, 2009: Day Two: Energy Transitions
Decisions about energy have assumed a prominent place in public discourse. This day will be one to parse out the challenges and possibilities that our energy choices and priorities present – an opportunity to take a closer look at the broader mechanics and forces – including climate change, energy extraction and use, innovation and technology, conservation and more. The day will conclude with a special gala dinner and presentation of the second annual Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Awards. 

On this day, on campus programming begins at 9:00 am and ends at 5:00pm.  The Evening Exchange begins at 8:30pm and end at 9:45pm.

Plenary Sessions  9:00-10:15am
Energy and Environment: Perspectives from Emerging Economies
Five environment ministers discuss their unique challenges and strategies for eradicating poverty, raising living standards, and adapting to environmental shocks caused by climate change.

The Future of Transportation
Government and industry leaders discuss breakthrough innovations in fuel-efficient automotive technology and weigh in on the future of this challenged industry.

Concurrent Sessions   10:30-11:45am
Climate Change: Politics and Science

Energy Markets: Funding the Future?
Leading economists and scholars analyze today’s investment atmosphere for green technologies, energy research and development, and carbon markets.

The Carbon-Limited World: Nuclear Power
Experts address the technical, economic, environmental, and political challenges of increasing global nuclear power utilization

Powering the World: Renewables and Wind’s Potential
Wind power innovators and researchers probe questions of wind energy’s potential, integration, and environmental impact.

In Conversation   10:30-11:45am
21st Century International Environmental Governance: Solutions
Participants will present and debate a range of possible environmental governance reforms and discuss the political viability of each option.

Lunch Presentation   12:15-1:30pm
The Global Food Crisis
An exclusive National Geographic presentation on the looming crisis between food, energy, and the environment.

Plenary Sessions   2:00-3:15pm
Taking the Carbon out of Energy: A Range of Choices
Thought leaders explain a range of choices to tackle climate change and each option’s timetable for implementation

The Environment in a New-Media World
A panel of journalists and bloggers addresses how idea fermentation and environmental change take shape in the new-media world of Web 2.0, blogging, and social networking.

Concurrent Sessions  3:30-4:45pm
Energy Equity: Clean Energy for All
A group of leaders reveals exciting new alternative energy innovations with the potential to change the lives of the “bottom billion” of the world’s poor—and discusses what needs to happen in order to see these technologies deployed around the globe.

Saving Energy: Less Is More (And It Begins at Home)
An in-depth discussion on energy efficiency—consumption, demand, social and behavioral changes, and different energy cultures around the world.

The New Oil: Energy Demand and Water
As our energy demands increases, we will take more from the rivers and lakes of the world.  Experts discuss the world’s increasing appetite for energy and explain the huge implications on water.

The Future: What We Don’t’ Know
Author and social critic James Kunstler teams up with futurist and planner Peter Schwartz to imagine a post-oil world.

Special Presentation   5:30-8:00pm
Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Awards Presentation Gala and Dinner
A ceremony to recognize and reward excellence for those making a real and concrete contribution to innovation, implementation, and communication of energy and environmental solutions. 

Evening Exchange   8:30-9:45pm
The Charcoal Wars
Photojournalist Brent Stirton and reporter Mark Jenkins share the “story behind the story” about their experience covering National Geographic magazine’s July 2008 cover story “Gorilla Murders”.

Saturday, March 28, 2009: Day Three: New Energy World 
This day will be devoted to examining a way forward. How do fast growing economies across the globe adjust their demands for energy to the realities of sustainable supplies? Are there short- and long- term alternatives available to provide the energy needed? Topics will include: clean energy; the economics of changing our energy diet; and the emergence of a new global understanding of energy. 

On this day, on campus programming begins at 9:00 am and ends at 5:00pm.  The Closing Reception begins at 8:30pm and end at 9:45pm.

Plenary Sessions   9:00-10:15am
Poverty Alleviation and Conservation
Leaders work on finding ways to alleviate global poverty and conserve nature at once—and where that is not possible, ways to strike a balance.

The World’s Oil Supply: 50 Years into the Future
A panel looks ahead and focuses on the future of oil politics.

Concurrent Sessions   10:30-11:45am
Spurring Energy Research and Innovation: What It Takes
A discussion on the constraints and barriers of innovation, and how to overcome them.

Energizing Our Will: Realizing the Art of Energy Possible
Leaders speak on hope for the future and promising possibilities.

The Power of Scale: The New Frontiers of Energy Efficiency
Is energy efficiency the most promising “resource” of all? This session will reveal groundbreaking progress in efficiency and what may come of it.

Man-Made Planet: Engineering the Climate
Are there ways for mankind to engineer our way around climate change? Scientists discuss what’s possible.

In Conversation   10:30-11:45am
Changing Arctic: Changing Planet
How does climate change impact the Arctic region, what does it mean for the rest of the planet, and most importantly, what can be done?

Lunch Presentation   12:15-1:30pm
Saving Forests, Saving Ourselves
A national geographic photographer discusses his exploration of the California redwoods.

Plenary Session   2:00-3:15pm
Redefining Conservation in the 21st Century
The Nature Conservancy President and CEO Mark Tercek looks at the changing concept of conservation in the 21st Century.

Getting Green Done: Strategies for the Green Economy
Business leaders who have found profitability while promoting environmental responsibility share their experiences.

Concurrent Sessions   3:30-4:45pm
Can China Go Green?
Insiders and experts discuss the role of clean energy in China’s relatively insatiable thirst for energy.

Radical Solar Power
Experts discuss the most game-changing solar technologies, and how these innovations will change the way we deliver both heat and electricity to places far and wide around the globe.

Empowering the Grid
Leaders discuss ways to strengthen our energy infrastructure by both exciting new grid technologies and by feeding the grid with cleaner types of energy.

In Conversation  3:30-4:45pm
Jane Lubchenco, President Obama's pick to head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shares her thoughts on bridging the gap between science of climate change and domestic policy in the years ahead.

Green Buildings and Cities
Designers and leaders explain the making of LEED, explore how a “green city” is designed, and envision the cleaner, greener cities and communities of the future.

Closing Reception   5:00-7:30pm
Big Ideas and Dreams for the Future
After three and a half days of thought-provoking dialogue and idea exchange, select presenters and audience members share some new big ideas and big dreams for the future.