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Environmental Policy Forum

 

Environmental Policy Forum Updates

Ensuring Wisconsin's Environmental Quality Through Regulatory Reform and Innovation
 

Audio recording of the event
Windows Media Player is required to listen to these tracks.
You can download it here

Continuing discussion on regulatory reform
Discuss issues surrounding regulatory reform on the Online Discussion Board

Working group notes
Read the facilitators' summaries of the discussions that took place during the breakout sessions at the December 15, 2003 Environmental Policy Forum
Go to Working Group Notes

Performance-Based, Information-Driven Environmental Protection.  This presentation was given by keynote speaker Shelley Metzenbaum at the December 15th Environmental Policy Forum.
View slide presentation

Background information
Event Agenda
Press Release

Event sponsored by:

Wisconsin
Builders
Association

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Realtors Association
Quad/Graphics, Inc.

PAST EVENTS...
 Environmental Policy Forum: 
Striking the Balance for 2003 and Beyond
 March 17, 2003
Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, WI
EVENT SUMMARY AND AUDIO RECORDING
 NEW!! Environmental Policy Forum Online Discussion Board

Striking the Balance for 2003 and Beyond brought together leaders from the legislature and the Doyle administration, as well as an audience of over 140 representatives of business, government, and citizen groups, to discuss the challenge of effectively addressing the state's environmental priorities while also growing the economy and managing the state budget.

IN THE NEWS...
 Doyle, Republicans follow through on regulatory change
 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
January 3, 2004

Guest Column by Tom Still
 Compromise on speedier permits is good for Wisconsin’s economy
December 23, 2003

Business impatient for regulatory reform as enviros urge caution
WISBUSINESS.COM Feature
December 16, 2003

Partnerships can Reform Regulations
Wisconsin State Journal
Guest column by Shelley Metzenbaum
December 16, 2003

Initiative eyes business without 'Green War'
Green Bay Press-Gazette
December 16, 2003

Changing direction of environmental policy
Milwaukee Business Journal
Guest column by John Imes
December 5, 2003

Guest Column by Tom Still:
Here's why it's time to break the regulatory hammerlock on Wisconsin business
November 18, 2003

Environment forum finds common ground
Wisconsin State Journal Editorial
March 17, 2003

Green Tier on fast track
WISBUSINESS.COM Feature
March 18, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
March 12, 2003
State leaders to address environmental priorities in the face of budget deficit and need to improve state’s economy


About the Environmental Policy Forum
The Environmental Policy Forum is a program designed to improve environmental policy making in Wisconsin through increased communication and collaboration among diverse stakeholders.  Program activities respond to emerging environmental issues affecting our state and region, particularly in the areas of agriculture, land use, and energy.  The Environmental Policy Forum creates a way for leaders representing all sectors and viewpoints to engage in action-oriented, outcome-driven discussions and find innovative ways to enhance Wisconsin's environment and economy.

WEI's Role
In the Environmental Policy Forum, WEI serves as a neutral third party, providing resources and support and facilitating outcomes that reflect the interests and involvement of diverse environmental stakeholders.  WEI provides general project management and logistical coordination by convening stakeholders in policy dialogues and working groups., facilitating communication between group members, providing facilitators for summits and working groups, and conducting background research on priority issues.

Background
In early 2000, a broad group of stakeholders, including representatives of environmental organizations, business, state and local government, and academia began meeting to discuss the current and future state of environmental policy in Wisconsin.  They agreed that Wisconsin is having a less productive and inclusive environmental policy discussion than in the past, and that there is a need for a forum in which stakeholders can come together to share ideas on how to create more effective environmental policies.  The idea for the Environmental Policy Forum grew out of this broad consensus.

Two events held in June and September 2000 brought together leaders from various sectors and viewpoints.  Participants created a systematic way to address environmental policy issues through collaboration and consensus-building, intended to result in policy recommendations drafted and supported by a diverse coalition of environmental stakeholders.  The collaborative process developed in these events will serve as a guide for future Policy Forum events, in which participants will work towards solutions to specific environmental challenges.