On May 8, ClimateWork Maine hosted the third annual Summit on Maine’s Economy & Climate Change in Augusta. With sponsors including Central Maine Power, Siemens, and the University of New England, and partners including the Maine Renewable Energy Association, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Maine, the event claims to be “the largest statewide gathering of business leaders focused on Maine’s economy.” With almost 500 attendees, the Portland-based organization lived up to its expectations.
Every year, the summit focuses on advancing the state’s work on climate issues and highlights how focusing on climate has benefited local households and the statewide economy. According to the promotion ahead of the event, “Our summit brings together industry experts, thought leaders, and passionate individuals like yourself, all committed to finding innovative solutions. Together, we’ll explore how climate change will reshape Maine’s economy and provide actionable strategies for sustainable growth.”
Joe Curtatone, president of the Alliance for Climate Transition Act, said, “Here you can see the real tangible impact. To remind ourselves of the successes we’ve had, the challenges we’re [sic] faced.”
Photo Courtesy ClimateWork Maine
In his keynote speech, James Dozier, principal at Civitas Public Affairs and president of the board of Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions, explained that Maine can lead the transition to clean energy and manufacturing: “If we’re going to bring manufacturing back to the U.S., we need to also have more energy — and the fastest growing energy source in the U.S. is our clean energy sector.” He added that the attendees at the summit, “want to invest in that future, and that future for Maine.”
Photo Courtesy ClimateWork Maine
In her own speech, Governor Janet Mills remembered that Maine had been a climate leader for a long time, “We’ve proven that when state leaders and scientists and technical experts and businesses and nonprofit leaders work together, we can make a difference.”
Jeff Marks, executive director of ClimateWork Maine, added, “We think if anybody is going to help confront the climate crisis, it’s the business community working with others. So this is an opportunity for us to get together, talk about mitigation, resiliency.”
ClimateWork Maine highlighted such successes by presenting climate action awards to businesses leading by example and hosting a CEO roundtable on the business case for climate action, with panelists including Rob Tod, founder of Allagash Brewing Co., and Bob Garver, president of Wicked Joe Organic Coffees.
Photo Courtesy ClimateWork Maine
One of the businesses in attendance was Northern Light Health, which runs a healthcare system in the state. Tim Doak, chief environmental sustainability officer and vice president of facilities, sustainability, and supply chain, who has now attended the summit twice, commented, “Northern Light Health for several years now has been very focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We’ve made tremendous progress, reducing our overall emissions as a system by about 15% over the last two years.” The healthcare system’s biggest success was in the elimination of an anesthetic gas called desflurane, which is highly harmful to the environment.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Piette, founder of Narrative Food, which sends custom gift boxes to corporate clients, explained the B Corp’s environmental work, “We are really wanting companies to take their gifting budgets and support small local makers.” She sources pears from Deer Isle, for example, noting, “By supporting their pears, you’re supporting biodiversity.”
Photo Courtesy ClimateWork Maine
With so much state-level and private industry climate experience, Maine is more than prepared to meet the moment in the face of the federal government’s withdrawal of support for climate-focused efforts, as panelists discussed during a session about filling this federal climate leadership gap.
Marks explained, “We’re seeing a step back on the federal level from leadership on climate. And we’re here to talk about how we step into that gap in leadership and work together on a state level.” ClimateWork Maine founder Alan Caron added, “We want to stand up and assure people that we’re going to continue working on climate and clean energy issues.”
