Conventional Wisdom, Coalition-Style

You may have noticed that both political parties touted “greenness” at their conventions this summer. A Boston-based organization, of which CA-CP is a member, played a major role in seeing that happen.

The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Conventions (CERC) has worked for more than two years to make “green meetings the convention,” starting with two of the biggest meetings in the U.S., the political conventions in Boston and New York. Bringing together more than 60 groups, CERC sought to make the conventions “climate neutral” on a number of fronts, including green building, transportation emissions, energy efficiency, accommodations, food use and waste.

An area where CA-CP was able to play a role was in helping CERC find carbon offsets for those portions of the convention energy uses (like air travel) for which “green power” was not available. Fliers distributed to delegates of both conventions educated them about these offsets and directed them to Clean Air-Cool Planet’s website for more information about global warming and “carbon footprint” reductions.

In addition, the electricity for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at Boston’s Fleet Center, was provided in part by an energy purchase from the Hull, MA, wind turbine, which received a one of CA-CP’s Climate Champion Awards in 2003.

Electricity produced by this turbine in Hull, MA, helped power the Fleet Center during the DNC.
Photo courtesy of Ecophotography.

CERC took a soup-to-nuts approach to reducing emissions, working with convention planners to use green building products in construction at the Fleet Center and Madison Square Garden – and recycling them afterwards. Excess food was to be composted or distributed to food banks, while hotels were schooled in a myriad of techniques to reduce impacts and educate guests.

On the streets, where delegates were encouraged to walk, a fleet of GM-donated CNG and hybrid buses helped reduce the impact of thousands of conventioneers and visitors. At locations around the cities, CERC hosted and coordinated a variety of educational and outreach events designed to highlight renewable energy, alternative fuels, energy efficiency and many other environmental issues for politicians and the public alike.

CERC and its members also put considerable energy into leveraging coverage of environmental issues through the large media presence at the conventions, with press conferences, new releases, events and an active website, http://www.cerc04.org.

—Bill Burtis