Sustainability: Making Genuine Progress
Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper, Alberta, Canada
October 16 – 19, 2003

The Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (CANSEE) held its fifth biennial conference in the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, an exclusive and unique environmental setting in Jasper National Park, Alberta, from October 16 to 19, 2003. Over 150 persons were in attendance with over 35 from international destinations including the United States, Japan, Germany, France and South Korea.

The title of the conference was: "Sustainability: Making Genuine Progress." The conference explored how ecological economics is helping to shape public policy, corporate governance, and community well being on the path towards a sustainable economy.

Herman Daly and John Cobb Jr. opened the conference with lucid and provocative presentations “On the Path to Sustainability: Are we making Genuine Progress”? Their wits, charm and provocative statements set the tone for this conference Daly explored the views of ecological economics from outside our discipline while John Cobb Jr. reflected on the progress society has made towards the vision of a sustainable future that he and Daly laid out in their book For the Common Good. A panel on the ethical values underpinning sustainability presented a diversity of opinions from both academic, business and community voices.

The 20 concurrent sessions explored the theory, research and practical application of ecological economics for households, communities, corporations and governments in implementing sustainability. The primary focus of these sessions is to explore the evidence for progress towards sustainability principles and objectives. Where is genuine progress being made, and why? Each session produced a set of recommendations on future ecological economic research and development needs of importance to government, business and communities.

The conference concluded with closing reflections by both Herman Daly and John Cobb, facilitated by Bob Fessenden, Deputy Minister of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. The recommendations of all 20 concurrent sessions were also presented and will be available on the CANSEE website. Several of the presentations and papers will also be available on the CANSEE website sometime in December.

The conference provided a healthy reality check on the progress that has been made by ecological economics in guiding the world towards a sustainable future. Some feel that real progress has been made while others are less optimistic, even pessimistic.

Overall, the participants were excited, engaged in the various discussions, and curious to learn more about ecological economics. It was a good opportunity to raise the profile of ecological economics and the contribution ecological economists have and continue to make in shaping public policy and in sustainable business practices. There were many members from the Alberta Government and Federal Government in attendance.

As a result of the conference, roughly 12 new members have joined, the majority of participants came from NGOs and the provincial government of Alberta.

ISEE was represented by Richard Norgaard and the USEE was represented by its president, John Gowdy. CANSEE is very grateful to our conference organizing team: James Van Leeuwen as conference manger, and Mark Anielski, as conference chairman. It seems that CANSEE is in the process of developing a new tradition, namely that successful conference organizers become the CANSEE-president

CANSEE 2003 Executive
A new CANSEE Executive was nominated at our business meeting including:

Mark Anielski, President, anielski@telus.net
Frank G. Müller, Past President, frank.g.muller@sympatico.ca
Adam Fenech, Secretary-Treasurer adam.fenech@ec.gc.ca
Kent Gustavson, Vice-President, Research and Education
Ellie Perkins, Vice-President, Program esperk@yorku.ca
(Ellie Perkins and Peter Victor from York University will share responsibilities for the portfolio)
Eva Kras, Vice President, Communications, evakras@telus.net

The next CANSEE conference will be in 2005 and will likely be held at York University in
Toronto. We look forward to seeing you in two years time!

Sincerely

Mark Anielski
President, CANSEE

November 15, 2003