Green to go: how the Canadian and US government can help each other reach net zero public services
Le Global Government Forum est heureux de pouvoir offrir une interprétation simultanée en temps réel de ce webinaire en français.
Global Government Forum are pleased to be able to offer real-time simultaneous interpretation of this webinar into French.
The Canadian and US governments have both produced strategies to green the operations of government, and the two countries have also initiated the development of an international community of practice of over 40 countries as they work to make public services net zero.
The Greening Government Initiative means that the US, Canada and other like-minded governments around the world will create a forum to cooperate and share best practice on steps to green government activities, such as using cleaner energy sources, moving to zero-emission vehicles, greening procurement, and pursuing green and resilient infrastructure.
This session looked at the lessons learned to date in plans to reduce the carbon emissions of government, and how the governments can work together to develop shared plans in areas such as the net-zero supply chains for government buildings and vehicles.
The session covered
- The areas of developing best practice in greening government.
- How to ensure best practice is shared across the large federal governments of both the US and Canada.
- How national governments working together can help move supply chains to net zero.
Panel
Nick Xenos, Executive Director, Centre for Greening Government, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
Nick Xenos is the Executive Director of the Centre for Greening Government within the Treasury Board Secretariat of the Government of Canada. The Centre is working with federal departments and agencies towards zero-carbon, sustainable and climate-resilient government operations. Previous to this position Nick has worked on climate change impacts and adaptation, Arctic science, space policy and infrastructure policy. Nick has a Master’s in Business Administration from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Ottawa.
Thierry Spiess, Senior Manager, Advanced Vehicle Program, National Resources Canada
Thierry Spiess is the senior manager of the Advanced Vehicles Program at Natural Resources Canada, responsible for light-duty vehicle policy, zero emission vehicle awareness. In addition he oversees the greening government operations fleet program that supports federal departments in their transition to electrify their fleets. Prior to joining the Government, Thierry worked at the Centre for Urban Energy in Toronto, studying grid resilience strategies. He holds a Ph.D in Environmental Science from Ryerson University and a Master in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Zurich.
Webinar chair: Siobhan Benita, former UK senior civil servant
Siobhan Benita was a senior civil servant with over 15 years’ Whitehall experience. She worked in many of the major delivery departments, including Transport, Environment, Health and Local Government. She also had senior roles at the heart of Government in the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, including supporting the then Cabinet Secretary, Lord O’Donnell to lead work on Civil Service reform and strategy. Siobhan left the Civil Service to run as an independent candidate in the Mayor of London election. She subsequently joined her alma mater, Warwick University as Chief Strategy Officer of Warwick in London and Co-Director of the Warwick Policy Lab.
