On December 5, 2007, the IISE held an international symposium entitled ‘Global Climate Change: Economic Implications and Opportunities for the U.S. and Japan’ at the Japan Society in New York. The speakers at the symposium included Professor Takamitsu Sawa (Kyoto University) and Mr. Patrick Adcock (Environmental Advisor to former US Vice President Al Gore), and other American and Japanese experts who have been deeply involved in government policies and businesses relating to global warming in both the U.S. and Japan. They emphasized the importance of the technologies for isolation and sequestration of carbon dioxides, world-wide utilization of energy-saving technologies of Japanese manufacturers, and the development of clean energy. Currently, carbon emission trading market operates currently only in the EU, because it is not mature enough. The market, however, could grow into a global market if the State of California, Northeastern states, and the Rocky Mountain states were to collaborate with the EU market, bring the low-carbon economic society closer to reality. Lively discussions ensued in the question period with many of the audience representing media and Japanese businesses.

Speakers
Takamitsu Sawa, Professor, Kyoto University and Ritsumeikan University J. Patrick Adcock, Vice President, World Energy Solutions, Inc.; Environmental Advisor to former US Vice President Al Gore Kevin Butt, General Manager and Chief Environmental Officer, Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, Inc.

Moderator
Howard Margulis, Partner, Troutman Sanders LLP, Attorneys at Law (specialized in laws related in environment and energy)