Internationalizing the Subnational: Transatlantic Climate Cooperation in a Multilevel system

The conference opening event on the 5th of June kicked off the TCBC 2023 celebration and promotion of transatlantic climate policy cooperation with a multi-level look at how national and subnational leaders in the U.S., Canada, and Germany are cooperating horizontally, vertically, and diagonally (subnational to national across countries) on climate policy.

With the U.S. appointment of Ambassador Nina Hachigian as U.S. Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy and an acceleration of subnational support in Germany in Canada alike, nations are taking steps to ensure that subnational actors can be seen, heard, and exchange experience on the international stage. The discussions following were moderated by Michael Werz, Center for American Progress.

Part 1 of the Opening Event heard from the national-level leaders spearheading the facilitation of subnational action.

Featuring Keynotes and Inputs from:

• U.S. Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy Ambassador Nina Hachigian 
• Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy
• State Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Stefan Wenzel
• Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Chris Forbes

Part 2 of the Opening Event welcomed input from key sub national actors to further the debate about how this vertical and transatlantic cooperation can be improved. 

Featuring input and discussion from:

• Executive Director, ICLEI Canada, Megan Meaney
• State Secretary for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Stefan Wenzel
• Deputy Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Chris Forbes