RESTORATIVE ECONOMICS:MKE’S H2O REVOLUTION

MATT HOWARD, SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTORCITY OF MILWAUKEE

April 30, 2012

“I want to create an alignment of economic and environmental interests that improve

Milwaukee’s quality of life.”

Mayor Tom Barrett

Restorative Economics: Paul Hawken

• Current: extraction-based economy; economic value price driven; and, externalities go unaccounted

• “We can either create assets for the future or take the assets of the future.”

• Next Industrial Revolution: conservation of resources; reuse of materials; change in values from quantity to quality, and investing in natural capital, or restoring and sustaining natural resources.

Restorative Economics: Paul Hawken

• Restoration Economy: shift from new development to redevelopment + improving natural resources + price reflects ALL costs (externalities) but conveys true value of good or service

• Water(shed) restoration with infrastructure restoration is now a proven path to metropolitan & economic restoration

• Economic value more closely aligned to environmental quality = H2O in MKE!

Economic Value of Water

Price: No unit price for H20 – future uncertainty

Supply: Closed loop/finite system Demand: Population is exploding in areas

with quality/quantity issues

Great Lakes: 40m people; $7b fishing ind. Water/Energy nexus Water tech industry + water dependant

industries

Economic Value of Water: MKE Historical value of water: transportation,

tanneries, beer, research + technology Industrialization degraded MKE’s most

valuable economic asset New growth industry: water tech +

efficiency New growth industry: livability of cities

Attract people, resources, jobs Redevelopment + adaptive reuse

Is H2O MKE’s “next” industrial revolution?

Milwaukee H20 Assets

Policy Mayor Barrett Vice Chair GLSL City GI & Sustainability Planning Sweet Water, MMSD, UW-M, etc

Action MV: Major City remediation and redevelopment

Eco-industrial “park”: companies + stormwater + livability

City wants to replicate this at scale Century City, Inner Harbor, Brewery Project

Conclusion

H2O is our next Industrial Revolution Historical assets & knowledge base Restorative action drives triple bottom-

line: strong connection b/t water quality and economic growth

Mayor wants more strategic action on connection between environmental action and economic development

Continue to partner to achieve common goals

Contact InfoMatt HowardEnvironmental Sustainability DirectorCity of Milwaukee(414) 286-3351mhoward@milwaukee.gov www.milwaukee.gov/sustainability

Thank You!