International Climate Stewardship Solutions Conference - North Dakota

Preston Chiaro, CEO, Rio Tinto’s Energy Group and Michael Morris, CEO, American Electric Power called on policy makers to provide the coal and utilities industry with clear policy now in order to make carbon capture and storage a commercial reality especially for coal dependent states like North Dakota. Peter Head, Director, Arup provided a vision of a low carbon future, inspiring the audience and sharing stories from around the world. Michael Zarin, Vestas Wind Systems, shared Denmark’s success in separating economic growth from carbon dioxide emissions while capturing 20% of the nation’s electricity from wind power. Representatives from the embassies of Australia, China and The Netherlands shared their successful efforts to accelerate low carbon technology and climate policy and all guests called on North Dakota and the United States to join them.

Congressman Earl Pomeroy, Governor John Hoeven, Senator Kent Conrad and Senator Byron Dorgan also shared their vision for North Dakota’s energy future. Congressman Pomeroy heard from eleven international experts on coal, wind and climate policy in a dialogue session on the first day of the conference.

With one ten thousandth of the world’s population but two important Senate votes, North Dakota has a significant role to play in determining US climate policy and therefore, a global climate policy. The world recognizes this and made it clear this week at the International Climate Stewardship Solutions Conference. The Road to Copenhagen truly does run through Bismarck, North Dakota.