Key Stories to Watch in 2008

Jonathan Lash, President, WRIEach year I host a group of journalists to talk about what we at WRI think will be important environmental issues and trends in the coming year. Here are four key stories to watch in 2008:

1. Policy movement on climate change in the U.S.
Political pressure is mounting and Congressional leadership is increasingly committed to driving forward climate change legislation. This will be influenced by what states and cities are doing. Either Senator Reed or Speaker Pelosi will bring a significant climate bill to the floor by the end of the year.

2. Our most important ally in climate change?
With China poised to become the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world, many people are concerned that by passing legislation we will lose our industries to countries like China that aren’t addressing climate issues. There is a misunderstanding of trends within China. China has begun to deal with its environmental problems and its businesses are being pushed by customers and suppliers to adopt sustainable solutions to their massive energy needs. China just might become our most important ally in addressing climate change.

3. An explosion of investment in green technologies.
In just five years venture capital investments in green technologies have gone from 3% to 17%. Business leaders increasingly see this as tomorrow’s market. Watch the green technology space in 2008, because it’s going to explode.

4. WRI accelerating solutions to global environmental challenges.

• Legislation: Our independent analysis is helping federal legislators, their staff, and interest groups understand different climate bills pending in Congress. We are working with business and environmental groups to make the case for strong national legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

• China: WRI has provided environmental entrepreneurs in China with business advisory services and access to capital markets since 2002. We are now working with the China Business Council for Sustainable Development to provide GHG accounting tools and training for Chinese companies in the power, petrochemical, cement, iron & steel, and oil & gas industries.

• Clean Technology: A critical element of our climate strategy is to drive market penetration of low carbon technology at the tremendous scale needed to cut GHG emissions by 50-80% below 2000 levels by mid-century. WRI collaborates with businesses, investors and policy-makers to identify capital requirements and the most effective policy incentives to spur technology and investment, and to remove barriers to technology deployment.

I ask you to invest in this promising future by making a contribution to WRI.

I have worked on environmental issues for over thirty years, but I’ve never before experienced such a sense of great opportunities for change. It is creating an enormous demand for the kind of work that we do.

WRI’s success has always been tied to our ability to look to the future and to identify trends and consequences. All our research and programming is rooted in a global vision for the planet and a search for sustainable solutions for its people. If you believe in the importance of our work please support us. Simply put, WRI is an excellent investment in the health and sustainability of the planet.

Sincerely,


Jonathan Lash
President

P.S. Click here for the complete list of Environmental Stories to Watch in 2008.