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Toward 21st Century Environmental Protection

November 14-15, 2019
Summary Report

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Center for Environmental Policy 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United States

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Toward 21st Century Environmental Protection Policies, Technologies, and Institutions

Summary Report

November 14, 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Arent Fox, LLP (1717 K Street, NW, Washington, DC)

November 15, 8:15 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hogan Lovells (555 13th St NW, Washington DC)

The School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University and the School of Public Affairs at American University are sponsoring a dialogue on the challenge of 21st Century Environmental Protection to be held in Washington DC on November 14-15, 2019.

This conference is based on five themes that characterize 21st century environmental protection:

  • Managing the environment requires greater issue integration – across water, air, land, waste, climate change, conservation, biodiversity and others — as well as linkages with broader issues like energy, the economy, and equity.
  • Emerging technologies offer both challenges and opportunities for progress toward a sustainable future.
  • Progress going forward will require efforts not just by federal officials, but also by state and local governments as well as business and civil society.
  • New policy frameworks and tools will be essential for further environmental progress., especially a shift toward more use of market mechanisms, information technologies, and other breakthroughs.
  • More focus on incentives, investments in environmental progress, and innovation will be required.

New, innovative policy frameworks and tools are available and essential for further progress on the complex environmental issues we face today and in the future. Policy innovations, public engagement, partnerships, incentives and new technologies provide opportunities to address these challenges.

This conference builds upon two initiatives: Yale’s Environmental Dialogue and American’s EPA and the Future of Protection. Both initiatives share a concern with applying new ideas and expertise to practical problem-solving; with learning from what has worked and what has not; and with preparing institutions, devising policies, and using technology to meet a complex and dynamic future.

Center for Environmental Policy & Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies