2007 Potomac Conference Overview
Purpose
With an accelerating sense of urgency, leaders of cities, states and nations around the world are joining forces with business executives, elected officials, scientists and civic leaders to tackle the root causes of global climate change. Diverse leaders - from Rupert Murdoch and Arnold Schwarzenegger to Michael Bloomberg and Angela Merkel - have recognized that reducing greenhouse gasses, improving air quality and enhancing environmental stewardship are essential to long-term economic competitiveness and improved quality of life. This global “green wave” has and will continue to provide new opportunities for businesses.
Greater Washington has considerable economic, natural and public assets at stake --- a thriving economy across three jurisdictions, the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, and the historic institutions of our nation’s capital. With these stunning resources, combined with the region’s intellectual talent and political power, Greater Washington has an outstanding opportunity - and a strategic necessity - to become a leader in initiatives that will address the adverse impacts of climate change.
Call to Action
Recognizing this opportunity, our region’s business leadership, working through the Potomac Conference of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, issues this call to action:
We invite the governors of Maryland and Virginia, the mayor of the District of Columbia, members of Congress, and other area elected and appointed leaders to join with the chief executive officers of the region’s major companies, the presidents of the region’s universities, environmental leaders and policymakers to participate in the Potomac Conference on Oct. 29-30, 2007.
Forging a Regional Agenda
At this Conference, we will begin to forge our region’s agenda for environmental sustainability and to spur environmental business innovation, a matter of strategic urgency for Greater Washington’s continued competitiveness. As part of this agenda, the Greater Washington Board of Trade will initiate a coordinated, ongoing dialogue about best practices and innovative, new technologies for energy management, air and water quality improvement, construction and transportation. This dialog on existing and emerging environmental applications will serve as a catalyst for action by business, civic and government leaders.
More Information
For more information about the Potomac Conference, contact Rachel Silberman at 202.857.5970.
The Potomac Conference is the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s CEO-level leadership forum that brings together public, private and non-profit executives to focus their expertise and influence on improving the region’s economic health and quality of life.
