Climate Change Central board appointed

24/03/2000

Thirteen business and community leaders will bring a broad range of expertise to the board of Climate Change Central, a not-for-profit public private partnership established to act as a catalyst for and a coordinator of greenhouse gas reduction activities in Alberta.

The board includes representatives from the environmental and academic communities, municipalities and industries involved in climate change.

"Private sector and community participation will be key to reducing Alberta's greenhouse gas emissions," and Climate Change Central co-chair and Environment Minister Gary Mar. "Engaging all Albertans including municipalities and the environmental and academic communities is essential."

The board members are:
  • Bruce Beattie, chair, Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Council
  • Charles Fischer, executive vice-president and COO, Canadian Occidental Petroleum Ltd.
  • Paul Griss, coordinator, New Directions Group
  • Bob Hawkesworth, alderman, City of Calgary
  • Bill Hunter, vice-president of operations and general manager, Al-Pac
  • Darshan Kailly, president and CEO, Canadian Freightways Canada
  • David Lynch, dean, Faculty of Engineering, University of Calgary
  • Patricia McCunn-Miller, vice-president and general counsel, ESBI Alberta Ltd.
  • Lewis Nakatsui, president, Lincolnberg Homes
  • David Pollock, executive director, Pembina Institute
  • Ross Risvold, mayor, Town of Hinton
  • Steve Snyder, president and CEO, TransAlta
  • Gordon Ulrich, president and CEO, Luscar Ltd.


Climate Change Central was established in November 1999 in response to the work of the Alberta Economic Development Authority and the Alberta Climate Change Round Table. Through joint programs that focus on innovation, technology, education and public participation, the initiative will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while strengthening Alberta's economy and long-term competitiveness.

Premier Ralph Klein serves as Climate Change Central's executive chair, while Mar and PanCanadian CEO David Tuer co-chair. Vice-chairs are Guy Boutilier, MLA Fort McMurray, and Elaine McCoy, president of the Macleod Institute for Environmental Analysis at the University of Calgary.

The Alberta government committed $2 million per year over the next three years to operate Climate Change Central. Projects will be funded through a partnership led by the private sector. For efficient program participation, offices will be located in both Calgary and Edmonton.