The Energy Institute’s Karen Harbert and Stephen Eule ended a busy May with separate trips to Europe to continue the Institute’s goal of promoting a fact based discussion on energy and climate issues. Harbert was the sole American speaker at the BMW Foundation's Annual Economic Summit in Munich, Germany while Eule participated in a business workshop in Brussels, Belgium to discuss the U.S. business community’s views on global energy challenges and international climate change negotiations sponsored by the Atlantic Council and Clingendael International Energy Program, in cooperation with the Energy Institute. Harbert told an assembled group of EU government officials, economists, journalists, and academics that the United States has already made considerable progress on reducing carbon emissions without a mandatory framework such as cap and trade. In fact, she noted that according to UN data, from 2000-2006, the U.S. reduced its net greenhouse gas emissions by 3 percent, while the European Union achieved a reduction of only 0.1%. Only France saw a reduction greater than America during that time period, in part because of their predominate use of nuclear power. The Munich summit featured a robust discussion about the ways in which governments can seek to reduce emissions through advanced technology and other incentives. Harbert emphasized that the targets set by governments must be realistic, and the focus of the discussion should be on technology solutions, policies and investments needed for a clean energy future. While Harbert was in Germany, Eule made a similar case to workshop attendees in Belgium. Eule took part in a panel discussion about the standards and regulations used by governments in the U.S. and Europe to reduce emissions. The event was the first in a series of workshops planned by the Atlantic Council and Clingendael to expand the transatlantic discussion on creating common, compatible, and complementary efforts to transform energy sectors of the U.S. and Europe to ensure sustainability and energy security. The Energy Institute’s international outreach efforts are becoming increasingly more important as the U.N. Climate Conference in Copenhagen nears. In fact, next the Institute's Stephen Eule will participate in clmate negotiations in Bonn, Germany. Stay tuned to our newsletter and blog for updates.