TIME

AGENDA

7:30am

Registration

8:30am

Welcome and Introduction: Overview of Forum Objectives and Goals (20 min.)

Dr. John Wiebe,President and C.E.O, The GLOBE Foundation of Canada

These introductory remarks will set the stage for the Forum by welcoming participants and outlining the objectives and anticipated outcomes.

Note: The agenda has been divided into two sessions, each with a corresponding theme. This will help provide participants with a clearer understanding of the focus of the Forum and the goals of each session.

Morning Theme: Importance of Independent

Environmental Performance Verification and Reporting

8:50am

The Importance of Environmental Technology Verification: Outcomes from the 1st International ETV Forum in Washington

(20 min. Presentation + 10 min. for Questions)

Sally Gutierrez, Director, National Risk Management Research Laboratory

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development

The goal of this agenda item is to provide a summary of the major findings and conclusions from the July 2005 Forum in Washington. It will highlight the importance of harmonizing environmental performance verification efforts.

9:20am

International Roundtable on the Role and Benefits of Independent Verification and Reporting: Brief Presentations followed by Facilitated Discussion (70 min.)

This discussion session will feature the perspectives of countries or regions seeking to develop an Environmental Performance Verification (EPV) or equivalent program. Presenters from selected countries will be requested to highlight their perspectives on the role and benefits of environmental performance verification. Proposed speakers include representatives from the European Union, India, Bangladesh, SE Asia, Central America, etc. The session will begin with a presentation by UNEP on sustainability assessment of technologies.

Moderator:

Robyn Matravers, Deputy Director, Regional Office for North America

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Panel Members:

Surya Chandak, Deputy Director, International Environmental Technology Centre

Division of Technology, Industry and Economics

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Ian Clark, Directorate General Environment, Head of Unit, Research, Science & Innovation, European Commission

Somphone Phanousith, Permanent Secretary of National Science Council, Secretary General of Laos Union of Science and Engineering Associations

Choudhury Mahmood Hasan, Chairman,

Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

S. Raghupathy, Senior Director & Head, Green Business Centre

Confederation of Indian Industry

10:30am

Break

10:45am

Practitioners Roundtable on Current Efforts to Harmonize Environmental Performance Verification: Brief Presentations followed by Facilitated Discussion

(75 min.)

This discussion session will provide an opportunity for representatives from countries that already have ETV or EPV programs in place to share their ideas on the importance of independent performance verification, and in particular efforts leading to greater harmonization of independent performance verification. Proposed speakers include representatives from China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, US, Canada, etc.

Moderator:

Edward Mallett, President and CEO

Ontario Centre for Environmental Technology Advancement

Panel Members:

Sally Gutierrez, Director

National Risk Management Research Laboratory

U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development

Kenji Kamita, Deputy Director, Office of Environmental Research and Technology, Ministry of the Environment, Japan

Abe Finkelstein, Chief, Innovative Solutions Division, Environment Canada

12:00am

Lunch

Afternoon Theme: An Action Plan for International Cooperation

1:00pm

Introduction on the Need for Action (15 min.)

Moderator: John H. Neate, ETV Canada

The intent during the afternoon is to share ideas on key facets of the verification process, as well as to identify opportunities for cooperation. Four main topics will be addressed, each one managed as a 45-minute working session, with facilitated discussion. The outcome of each working session will be a summary, recorded by a rapporteur, to be included in an overall Action Plan.

1:15pm

Defining Effective Performance Criteria through Stakeholder Engagement and Benchmarking (45 min.)

Through stakeholder engagement and benchmarking performance criteria can be developed and agreed upon thereby making the verification process more relevant to market realities.

The key question is: How can stakeholders be engaged to ensure that the criteria used for performance verification are meaningful?

Rapporteur: Andrew Trenholm, Director, U.S. ETV Air Pollution Control Technology Verification Center, RTI International

Panel Members:

Surinder Kumar, General Manager, Sahara India Pariwar

Dennis Rogoza, President and CEO, Fleet Challenge Canada

Brad Cumming, Manager, Pollution Prevention & Innovative Technologies, Environment Canada - Ontario Region

Karen Riggs, Director, U.S. ETV Advanced Monitoring Systems Center, Energy, Transportation & Environment Division, Battelle

2pm

Harmonizing the Reporting of Environmental Performance Information (45 min.)

Transparent reporting of environmental performance is essential for providing technology suppliers and users with clear, credible information which can be used in decision-making. The key questions are: What is the most important information that should be included in all environmental performance claims and reports? Is there interest in working towards a common approach or standard for environmental performance reporting?

Rapporteur: Ian Clark, Directorate General Environment, Head of Unit, Research, Science & Innovation, European Commission

Panel Members:

Surya Chandak, Deputy Director, International Environmental Technology Centre

Division of Technology, Industry and Economics

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Wayne Richardson, Director, Technology Early Action Measures (TEAM) Operations Office

Jacques Giguère, Director, Montreal Centre of Excellence in Brownfields Rehabilitation (MCEBR)

2:45pm

Development and Sharing of Verification Protocols and Test Methods (45 min.)

Much can be done to facilitate the development and sharing of appropriate test methods and protocols. The key questions are: What are the most effective mechanisms for cooperation in the development and application of relevant test methods and protocols? What are some of the priority areas where specific test methods and protocols are needed?

Rapporteur: Stewart Forbes, Advisor, CII – CIDA Project

Panel Members:

Teresa Harten, Director, ETV Program, U.S. EPA

S. Raghupathy, Senior Director & Head, Green Business Centre

Confederation of Indian Industry

Camille A. Boulet, Director, Defence Research and Development Canada

Steven B. Young, President Greenhouse Gas Measurement.Com

3:30pm

Break

3:45pm

Qualification and Accreditation of Testing and Verification Organizations

(45 min.)

National conformity assessment and accreditation organizations are essential to the successful operation of ETV/EPV Programs and related support activities. The key questions are: How best to engage existing certification and accreditation organizations in the verification process? How can the conformity assessment process be used to strengthen international cooperation and harmonization of the environmental performance verification process?

Rapporteur: Raymond Klicius, Head, Incentives Program,

Environment Canada

Panel Members:

Stefan Janhager, Senior Program Officer, Standards Council of Canada

Vipin Sahni, Director, Quality Council of India

Lora Johnson, QA Director, U.S. EPA

Lauren Jones, Greenhouse Gas Division, Environment Canada

4:30pm

Summary of Opportunities for Inter-jurisdictional and Inter-Program Reciprocity – A Charter for Action (45 min.)

This final agenda item will focus on action items and commitments from participants which can be included in an Action Plan for International Cooperation. Rapporteurs from the 4 previous sessions will make brief summary presentations. A key question to be answered is: How can reciprocity be encouraged within countries and amongst nations taking into account different stakeholder needs and realities?

5:15pm

Adjournment and Closing Remarks (15 min.)

GLOBE 2006 Welcome Reception to follow