From Policy to Action in the Great Lakes

Andy BuchsbaumAndy BuchsbaumCo‐Chair, Healing Our Waters Coalition

G t L k R i l E ti Di t f thGreat Lakes Regional Executive Director of theNational Wildlife Federation

buchsbaum@nwf.org

Who’s in charge of the Great Lakes?Who s in charge of the Great Lakes?

Who’s In Charge of the Great Lakes? Is it:Who s In Charge of the Great Lakes? Is it:

l• International Joint Commission

• Great Lakes Commission

• Great Lakes Fishery CommissionGreat Lakes Fishery Commission

• St. Lawrence Seaway Authority

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

• Great Lakes States

G L k T ib• Great Lakes Tribes

• President Obama

• U S CongressU.S. Congress

What law governs the Great Lakes? Is it:What law governs the Great Lakes? Is it:

• Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

• Boundary Waters Treaty

• International Joint Commission references

• U.S. Clean Water Act

• U.S. Great Lakes Critical Programs Act

• Great Lakes Water Resources Compact

• U.S EPA, Coast Guard Regulations on invasive species

• State laws on fish management

• President Obama’s Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

F d ti f fFoundation for progress: focus and unityand unity

Ill t tiIllustrations:

Great Lakes Water Resources Compact

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and funding

Agreement: Great Lakes Water Resources Compact

T d t il d• Two detailed agreements

M• Manages groundwater and surfaceand surface water together

• Based on• Based on ecosystem protectionprotection, water efficiency

The Compact becomes lawThe Compact becomes law

• In each Canadian province

• In each U.S. stateIn each U.S. state

• Ratified by U.S. Congress in 2008Congress in 2008

• Working with states to implement itto implement it

Second example: Great Lakes restoration

Great Lakes problems:

Toxic contamination

Nutrient pollution

Sewage wasteg

Habitat destruction

Invasive speciesp

The Healing Our W C li iWaters Coalition

• 110 Organizations110 Organizations

• Supported by a 5‐year, $5 millionyear, $5 million grant from philanthropist Peter Wege

• 5 full time staff

• Annual conferences in Washington, D.C. d G t L kand Great Lakes 

region

The Strategy:The Strategy:

• Unify the science

• Unify the cleanup plans

• Enlist the support from all stakeholders especially• Enlist the support from all stakeholders, especially business

• Unif the message• Unify the message

• Unify the request

• Focus on key decisionmakers: presidential candidates

Unify the Science

•200+ scientists endorsingendorsing

•Commissioned by th H li Othe Healing Our Waters Coalition

•Politicians, media regularly quoting

•Cited in federal legislation, federal

i tregister

Unify the Cleanup Plansp

•Federal, state, tribal, city, ENGO process

•Business, agriculture participation

•Over 1,500 contributors

•Published by U.S. EPA

•$20 billion plan

Enlist Business SupportSupport

•Study by the Brookings I tit ti i 2006Institution in 2006

•Commissioned by business, municipalities HOW Coalitionmunicipalities, HOW Coalition

•Authored by world-class economists and policy expertsp y p

•Result: $26 billion investment yields $80-100 billion in economic activity and growtheconomic activity and growth

•Promoted by regional Chambers of CommerceChambers of Commerce

Unify the message

• Extensive public• Extensive public opinion research by HOWHOW

• Branding and marketing campaignmarketing campaign

• Over 1,000 news clips in a year; millions ofin a year; millions of impressions

• Message now used byMessage now used by President, Congress, business

Key DecisionmakersKey Decisionmakers

Chief of StaffRahm Emanuel

President Obama EPA Great Lakes Director Cam Davis

Results: UnprecedentedResults: Unprecedented

• Great Lakes Restoration Initiative

• Passed: $475 Million for Great LakesPassed: $475 Million for Great Lakes restoration for 2010

P d $2 Billi l f d f• Passed: $2 Billion plus for sewer upgrades for 2010

• Part of $5 billion commitment to the Great LakesLakes

Lessons we learnedLessons we learned

• Prioritize the most important actions

• Unify around those actions: science,Unify around those actions: science, stakeholders, message

Id if h i d i i k• Identify the most important decisionmakers

• Understand and use incentives to persuade pthose decisionmakers

D l t bl ll fi d liti• Develop a stable, well‐financed coalition

• Never give up!

Thank you!! Questions?Thank you!! Questions?

Andy Buchsbaum

buchsbaum@nwf.orgbuchsbaum@nwf.org