One of the most significant environmental challenges facing our region is the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay. While restoration deadlines are approaching, the region continues to struggle with establishing achievable pollution reduction plans and the sustainable financing strategies necessary to support their implementation. Responding to this financing challenge, the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council - which includes the governors of the bay states and the mayor of Washington, D.C. - charged the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland with convening the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Financing Symposium.
This unique event held April 25-26, 2016 at the University of Maryland's College Park campus explored innovative strategies to finance Chesapeake Bay restoration efforts. Over the course of two days, financial leaders, environmental experts, and elected officials participated in a highly engaged, invitation-only work sessions designed to inform the development of a firm restoration finance action plan to be sent to the governors of the bay states and to the mayor of Washington, D.C.
The symposium was designed to identify specific financing options, opportunities, and resources that can accelerate Chesapeake Bay restoration by creating effective and scalable connections to the private sector and the marketplace. The working groups at this event informed a set of recommendations to the Executive Council that will help guide restoration financing into the future.