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Global Resources, the U.S. Economy and National Security

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) © Conservation International/photo by Sterling Zumbrunn

There is a direct connection between international conservation and America's economic and national security interests.

A Council on Foreign Relations and Conservation International Symposium, March 20, 2013

On March 20, 2013, the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and Conservation International held a day-long symposium to bring together leading officials and experts to examine the direct connection between global resource scarcities and U.S. economic and national security interests.

Watch recordings of the full event »

The event featured panel discussions on scarcity challenges in food, water, forests, energy, and minerals; public and private sector efforts to promote conservation and sustainability; scarcity and security in Africa; and
a closing session that featured Conservation International Vice Chair Harrison Ford, Council on Foreign Relations President Richard Haass, and Conservation International Chairman and CEO Peter Seligmann.

Direct Connection Video

Conservation International board members Rob Walton, Wes Bush and Harrison Ford discuss the direct connection between international conservation and America's economic and national security interests.

Economic and National Security Interests

Learn more about international conservation programs which are directly connected to U.S. economic and national security interests, including USAID and GEF.

Agenda

8:30 – 8:45 am	Registration and Breakfast Reception
8:45 – 9:00 am	Welcoming Remarks Richard N. Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations Peter Seligmann, Chairman and CEO, Conservation International
9:00 – 10:00 am	Session One Breakfast Keynote Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary, Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
10:15 – 11:30 am	Session Two Natural Capital: Are Resources Scarce or Sustainable? Blake Clayton, Fellow for Energy and National Security, Council on Foreign Relations Geoff Dabelko, Director of Environmental Studies, Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University; Senior Adviser, Environmental Change and Security Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Greg Stone, Executive Vice President, Global Marine and Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Ecosystem Science and Economics, Conservation International Presider: Juliet Eilperin, White House Correspondent; former Environmental Staff Writer, Washington Post
11:45 am – 1:00 pm	Session Three Scarcity and Security in Africa Jendayi Frazer, Distinguished Service Professor, Carnegie Mellon University; Adjunct Senior Fellow for Africa Studies, Council on Foreign Relations Juergen Voegele, Director, Agriculture and Environmental Services, World Bank Gary Weir, Chief Historian, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Presider: Harry Broadman, Chief Economist; Leader, Emerging Markets Practice, PricewaterhouseCoopers
1:00 – 1:30 pm	Lunch Reception
1:30 – 2:30 pm	Session Four Lunch Keynote Richard L. Engel, Director, Environment and Natural Resources Program, National Intelligence Council; Retired Major General, U.S. Air Force Presider: Jamie McIntyre, Newscaster, All Things Considered, NPR; former Senior Pentagon Correspondent, CNN
2:45 – 4:00 pm	Session Five Government Efforts to Promote Conservation and Sustainability: Are They Working? Stewart Patrick, Senior Fellow and Director, Program on International Institutions and Global Governance, Council on Foreign Relations Tebelelo Seretse, Ambassador of the Republic of Botswana to the United States Katherine Sierra, Senior Fellow for Global Economy and Development, Brookings Institution; former Vice President for Sustainable Development, World Bank Presider: Richard Harris, Science Correspondent, NPR
4:15 – 5:30 pm	Session Six Conservation and Sustainability: The Role of the Private Sector Donna A. Harman, President and CEO, American Forest and Paper Association Beth Keck, Senior Director of Sustainability, Walmart David T. Perry, Corporate Vice President and Chief Global Business Development Officer, Northrop Grumman Corporation Presider: Theodore Roosevelt IV, Managing Director and Chairman, Clean Tech Initiative, Barclays Capital
5:30 – 6:00 pm	Dinner Reception
6:00 – 7:00 pm	Session Seven Direct Connection: Global Resources, the U.S. Economy, and National Security VIDEO: Direct Connection Introduced by Jill Sigal, Chief of Staff to the Chairman and CEO; Vice President, U.S. Government Policy, Conservation International Harrison Ford, Vice Chair, Conservation International Richard N. Haass, President, Council on Foreign Relations Peter Seligmann, Chairman and CEO, Conservation International