Premier Greg Selinger and Wisconsin’s Gov. Jim Doyle agreed to next steps in their partnership on climate change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
In October, Wisconsin and Manitoba formalized their strong economic and energy relationship by signing a memorandum of understanding to enhance skills, technology transfer and research partnerships in common key sectors such as renewable energy and environmental industries, water treatment and management, biosciences and life sciences, agricultural and human-health research and development, and transportation.
“Gov. Doyle and I have agreed that, as a first step in implementing our co-operation agreement, we will host a series of workshops involving experts from within the Midwest region in an effort to increase private- and public-sector relationships and to maximize opportunities for growth,” said Selinger.
“Today’s agreement builds upon Wisconsin’s and Manitoba’s leading efforts to promote new technologies in agriculture and clean energy,” Doyle said. “Our continued commitment to collaboration will lead the future innovation and grow our economies.”
The workshops will address topics of shared importance to Manitoba and Wisconsin including green jobs and green economy, regional climate economic modelling, agricultural economics, and watershed consequences.
Manitoba and Wisconsin share many perspectives in common related to climate change and renewable energy measures and work together as partners in the Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Accord.
Both Selinger and Doyle are in Copenhagen with other sub-national leaders to participate in the Climate Leaders Summit. They are encouraging world leaders to reach a political agreement on climate change and to recognize the role of sub-national governments in climate-change actions.