From Copenhagen to Ann Arbor

On January 23, the University of Michigan’s Envirodems hosted a series of panels and presentations entitled “From Copenhagen to Ann Arbor: Charting Michigan’s Green Future” that talked about various environmental issues and problems facing both the international community and Michigan. The event was an all-day one held in the Dana Building.

Debbie Dingell, a prominent member of the Michigan Democratic Party, delivered the introduction. She emphasized that it was important to begin at the grassroots level and communicate with elected representatives to advocate change. At the same time, she said, it was also essential to “not underestimate the whole issue of cost,” and make green technology and jobs more available to people.

The following presentation featured three delegates from Michigan who attended the COP-15 conference in Denmark as part of various groups.

Chris Detjen, a U-M alumnus and attendee of the COP-15 conference, traced the history of international environmental agreements from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. “It was decided to replace the Kyoto Protocol with the Copenhagen Summit,” he said. “The COP-15 focused on five major points, namely, a shared vision for post-Kyoto [Protocol], emissions reduction, adaptation to climate change impacts, technology development and transfer, and how countries were leveraging private sector financing.”

Ayodele Akinpelu, a Wayne State student, said that countries were expected to cut down emissions by 2020 and that most countries were using 1990 as their baseline for the target. The USA, he said, “is using 2005 as its target. Because of this, the actual reduction is only about 3-4%. This is inconsistent with scientific claims that stress greater reductions.”

Sarah Mullkoff, a Michigan State alumna, pointed out, “the whole world is looking to the US and there are high expectations for Obama.” The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act is currently pending in the Senate, she said, and “it is important that we continue putting pressure on the Democrats to push this forward.”

The next panel touched upon issues in the state of Michigan. Ann Arbor’s Mayor, John Heiftje, explained the measures that the city is taking, including the introduction of an LED program in the city and solar cells of the farmers’ market. He also took the example of the state of Ontario, which has been doing much to increase sustainable energy, and pointed out that Michigan could easily do the same.

Leslie Garrison, a U-M alumna, spoke about wind energy and how her firm had already drawn up plans to construct wind energy farms in the Great Lakes. State Representative Rebekah Warren stressed the importance of not making environmental issues partisan, and said that it was equally applicable to everyone.

The afternoon panel consisted of U-M professors who spoke about local environmental behavior and action. Improving public transport was a definite priority, they said.

“For instance, constructing a light rail system from Detroit to Ann Arbor would help create jobs and growth opportunities. We would see a large difference in a short time scale,” said Professor Nathan Sheldon of the Geology Department.

Professor Van der Pluijm, also of the Geology Department, mentioned that “infrastructure, not resources, blocks equitable distribution,” and that it was imperative to focus on that issue. “Real change can only occur at the policy level,” said Professor of History Matthew Lassiter, and hence it was essential to continue contacting policy makers and advocating changes from them.

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