Notes from Calgary

I’ve been in Calgary since Wednesday night for two reasons: first, the Gaining Ground Sustainable Urban Development Leadership Summit; the other, a friend’s wedding today.

Because of the wedding I haven’t had a chance to record all of my thoughts, but this is the second year I’ve attended the Gaining Ground event in Calgary, and for the second time it has proven provocative, enlightening and inspiring. For example:

• Provocative: Economist Peter Tertzakian told us that almost anything said about the future of energy is speculative; question all assumptions except one: we are an ‘energy obese’ planet.
• Enlightening: Daniel Lerch from the Post Carbon Institute told us about Portland’s Peak Oil Strategy and its connection with the Oil Depletion Protocol.
• Inspiring: I intend to devote a separate post in the coming days to moving remarks delivered by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on the energy and pollution challenges and opportunities ahead, and our obligations to future generations.