Topic: china

ADVISORY: Press Call on China’s New Leadership: Confronting Energy and Environmental Challenges

Michael Oko — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:32:38 -0500

As China continues its leadership transition next week at the National People’s Congress, many are wondering how the country will confront its pressing environmental, climate, and energy challenges. On Friday, March 1 at 9 a.m. EST, WRI’s ChinaFAQs network will bring together leading experts for a press teleconference to discuss these issues.

China’s new leaders have declared that making “ecological progress” will be a priority. However, in recent weeks, environmental challenges—including pollution, air quality, water scarcity, and greenhouse gas emissions—have all been in the headlines.

Experts will discuss what to watch for in China’s energy mix and new policies, including a potential carbon tax. They will also discuss implications of the government’s restructuring of energy and environmental authorities, and opportunities for U.S.-China collaboration on clean energy.

The call is being hosted by ChinaFAQs, a network of independent, U.S.-China experts assembled to provide insights and analysis around climate and energy issues in China.

LISTEN TO THE RECORDING:

WHAT:
Press teleconference on China’s leadership transition and energy and sustainability issues

WHO:
Melanie Hart, Policy Analyst, Center for American Progress
Ailun Yang, Senior Associate, World Resources Institute
Julio Friedmann, Chief Energy Technologist, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and Technical Program Manager for the US-China Clean Energy Research Center for Advanced Coal Technology

WHEN:
Friday, March 1, 2013

TIME:
9:00 a.m. EST

CALL-IN:
US (Toll-Free): 866-803-2143
US/Int’l (Toll): +1 (210) 795-1098
CHINA: + 86-400-810-4773

ACCESS CODE: “WRI”

RSVP to lzelin@wri.org

Communicating the "Financeability" of Energy Efficiency Projects (EEPs): Guide to Data Needs for Financing EEPs in China

Sarah Parsons — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 12:12:48 -0500

Executive Summary

The purpose of this guide (Guide) is to help industrial companies (Hosts) finance energy efficiency projects (EEPs) at their facilities as defined in Annex C of this document. The Guide is designed to help Hosts know what information is required of them by financing entities (Financiers) to streamline the evaluation and financing process. This Guide can also help financial institutions, energy services companies (ESCOs), vendors, and other project developers better understand the information required to finance EEPs. The Guide draws from the authors’ experiences and insights gained through extensive work with Hosts, Financiers, ESCOs, prestigious universities such as Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU), and other stakeholders in the financing of EEPs. It was developed in partnership with Chinese and global Financiers and energy efficiency experts.

Findings indicate that Hosts can accelerate and enhance the financing process and likelihood of success in three ways:

Communicating with Financiers as early as possible to understand their informational or structural needs, their financing decision-making criteria and processes, as well as any special services that the Financiers provide (i.e., technical assistance in designing EEPs).
Performing a “self-screening” assessment of any proposed EEPs that many Financiers would evaluate, such as type of Host or technology, size of project, and so on.
Providing as much detailed and accurate information as possible at the beginning of the financing process since plentiful data will increase credibility with Financiers.

Hosts often experience delays and rejection of EEP financing because Financiers were not provided critical Host and project data in a timely and accurate manner. This has prevented Financiers from receiving a compelling picture of the benefits and (limited) risks of a promising EEP. Being prepared to present the correct data to Financiers results in a smoother financing process and a much higher probability of success.

This Guide is designed to:

familiarize Hosts with the type of data most Financiers use to evaluate EEPs, as set forth in Annex A: EEP Assessment Indicators, and explain why the data are important;
explain the general indicators used by Financiers to evaluate Host and project attractiveness and why these indicators are used;
explain what information is important during the different stages of the financing process;
help a Host conduct its own assessment of its EEP prior to submitting an application to prospective Financiers, to help improve the quality of the financing application and likelihood of success;
highlight common mistakes Hosts make when seeking energy efficiency financing, and illustrate the impact different financing mechanisms have on a Financier’s evaluation and requirements of the Host and the EEP.

By using this Guide to become more familiar with the financing process for EEPs, Hosts can improve their success rate in securing attractive external financing to increase their facilities’ energy efficiency.

ADVISORY: WRI's Stories to Watch 2013

James Anderson — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:03:26 -0500

WRI will host its 10th annual Stories to Watch event on Tuesday, January 15, 2013, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Dr. Andrew Steer, WRI’s President & CEO, will present insights into the big environmental and international development trends and events that will affect people and the planet in 2013.

Topics will likely include: What will the Obama Administration do to address climate and energy? How will China’s new leadership advance its goal of “ecological progress”? What countries will emerge on the forefront of sustainability? And, how will financial constraints impact businesses seeking to shift to a more sustainable pathway?

A continental breakfast will be served.

WHAT
World Resources Institute’s Stories to Watch 2013

WHO
Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute.

Dr. Steer is a leading expert on economic development and environmental issues. He has three decades of experience working on international development and on the front lines in Asia and Africa, and at a senior level in international policy roles.

WHERE
National Press Club
Holeman Lounge
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20045

CALL-IN INFO
USA (Toll Free): (866) 803-2143
International (Toll): + 1 (210) 795-1098

Access code: “WRI”

WHEN
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
9:00 - 10:30 a.m. ET

Use #STW2013 on Twitter.

RSVP required to press@wri.org

Dr. Lailai Li Appointed as Director of WRI China

James Anderson — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:18:21 -0500

The World Resources Institute (WRI) today announced the appointment of Dr. Lailai Li as the new country director of WRI China. A well-recognized thought leader and researcher, Dr. Li brings a strong background of working on development pathways toward greater sustainability in China and globally. Previously, Dr. Li served as Deputy Director of the China Urban Sustainable Transport Research Centre at the Ministry of Transport and as the Director of the Asia Region for the Stockholm Environment Institute.

“Dr. Li takes the reins of WRI China at a critical moment. China’s progress in adapting low-carbon and sustainable solutions is vital to the entire world,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute. “Dr. Li brings an outstanding record of accomplishments in environment and development issues, which will enable her to expand WRI’s impact. Our work in China is core to our mission, and we are very much looking forward to Dr. Li’s leadership on these activities into the future.”

Dr. Li has recently led international research on economics of climate change in China, as well as ecosystem services and management. She has also spearheaded the development of a collaborative program with Chinese partners on “rethinking development – developing low carbon cities.”

“I am deeply honored by this opportunity to lead WRI’s projects in China and to work with my colleagues to advance our goals in the country and beyond,” said Dr. Li. “This is an important moment to bring our solid research and practical solutions to advance sustainability in China.”

Dr. Li is a widely recognized expert and published author. She received her Post-Doctoral Fellow at Peking University, in Beijing, and received her PhD and MA from the University of Pittsburgh, in the United States.

“Dr. Li has long served as the head of the Leadership on Environment and Development, or LEAD, training programs in China. She has contributed significantly to the training of Chinese youth about environmental and sustainable development concepts and leadership. I believe she will bring WRI’s work in China to a higher level, and bring her wisdom and strength in the new journey of China sustainable development and Sino-U.S. cooperation,” said Qian Yi, a member of the China Advisory Board of WRI and a professor of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University.

WRI China was established in 2008 to expand the institute’s impact in key emerging markets at the forefront of sustainability. Dr. Li was preceded as WRI China Country Director by Dr. Zou Ji, who is currently the Deputy Director of the National Center for Climate Strategy and International Cooperation of China (NCSC), under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Over the past year, Dr. Xiaomei Tan has served as the acting director, and she also oversees WRI’s sustainable urbanization work in China.

“We are grateful of the strong and dynamic leadership of Dr. Tan, who helped deepen WRI’s projects and relationships in China,” said Dr. Steer. “Dr. Tan has helped position WRI for success in China, and we are now excited for the next phase under Dr. Li’s guidance.”

Dr. Li will assume her office in February 2013.

WRI China has a staff of more than two dozen people and is actively working at both national and regional levels on sustainable and livable cities, climate change, energy, greenhouse gas accounting, clean water, transport and other projects in China.

ADVISORY: Press Teleconference on Doha Climate Talks

Michael Oko — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 17:32:07 -0500

Full audio recording of WRI’s press call below:

With the U.S. elections just completed and the Doha climate talks fast approaching, this is an important moment to consider where progress can be made on international action to address climate change. The recent Hurricane Sandy, along with other extreme weather and climate events, has delivered a powerful wake-up call about the urgency of shifting to a low-carbon trajectory.

Listen to the audio recording of WRI’s press call here:

On Tuesday, November 13, leading experts from the World Resources Institute will participate in a press teleconference to discuss the state of play and key topics in Doha, including how to move forward with an ambitious climate agreement, the role of the U.S. and other countries in the international negotiations, how to accelerate climate finance, and more.

WHAT
Press teleconference on the UNFCCC climate negotiations in Doha, Qatar (COP18)

WHO
Dr. Andrew Steer, President, WRI

Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, WRI

Clifford Polycarp, Senior Associate, Institutions & Governance Program, WRI

WHEN
Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. EST (DC)//14:00 GMT (London)

Media: Call-in 10 minutes prior to the start time

DIAL-IN
+(888) 566-6569 (Toll Free, U.S. only); or

+(517) 308-9326 (U.S. and International)

Access code: WRI

ADVISORY: Teleconference on China's Leadership Transition and Implications for Energy and Climate

Michael Oko — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:03:10 -0400

The full audio of the press call is available below.

As China’s government prepares for a leadership change in November, many people are wondering what this will mean for key issues, including energy and climate.

The World Resources Institute has gathered leading experts from think tanks and academia to discuss the implications of China’s upcoming transition for U.S.-China relations, clean energy, coal, climate change, and more. They will also put these issues in context for U.S. policymakers.

The speakers are part of ChinaFAQs (www.ChinaFAQs.org), a WRI-led network of independent China experts assembled to provide insight and analysis for U.S. policymakers around climate and energy issues.

The press teleconference is timed with a briefing the same day on Capitol Hill called, “Why China Is Acting on Clean Energy” (Russell Senate Office Building, Room 385; 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.).

The full audio of the press call is attached. Speakers start at 5:05.

WHAT
Press teleconference on energy and climate issues related to China’s leadership transition

WHO
Joanna Lewis, assistant professor of Science, Technology and International Affairs (STIA), Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service

Kenneth Lieberthal, senior fellow, Foreign Policy and Global Economy and Development at Brookings

Deborah Seligsohn, senior advisor, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute

Ailun Yang, senior associate, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute

WHEN
Friday, October 12, 2012

9:30 a.m. EST (DC time)

CALL-IN
U.S. Toll Free: (866) 803-2143
U.S. International Toll: +1 (210) 795-1098
China Toll Free A: 10800-712-1320
China Toll Free B: 10800-120-1320

Access Code: WRI

For more information, contact Michael Oko, Tel. (202) 729-7684; Cel. (202) 246-9269; moko@wri.org

Sustainable Cities Initiative

Christine Potochny — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:13:34 -0400

In October 2011, WRI launched a five-year global initiative to advance the progress of building environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil. We intend to develop low-carbon city models and pathways for environmentally sustainable urbanization, by partnering with four urban centers to increase energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and improve water quality, urban mobility and land use.

The Challenges of Rapid Urbanization

China, India, and Brazil are among the world’s most rapidly urbanizing nations. In China, experts predict that by 2030 more than 70 percent of its people will live in cities, and that 221 cities will have at least one million residents. In India and Brazil, urban growth is explosive, expanding existing cities and creating new ones. In all three nations, cities have the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty and become powerful engines for social progress.

Rapid urbanization, however, poses substantial challenges. Poorly-planned, sprawling cities have the potential to undermine efforts to sustain economic growth, improve energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and secure clean water supplies. Although China, India, and Brazil are rethinking their approach to urban growth to prevent such setbacks, the leaders of many growing cities lack the training and tools needed to translate concerns into practical, cost-effective action. As a result, these cities risk making poorly-informed development decisions that will have long-lasting consequences.

Recent developments suggest that the time is ripe for meaningful action. In China, urbanization and sustainability issues feature prominently in the national government’s new 12th Five Year Plan, and cities will be required to meet new environmental targets. In India, the world’s fourth largest economy, a growing middle class is demanding better planned, more livable cities. In Brazil, the government has launched a major initiative to fundamentally remake major cities, spurred in part by its commitment to host the 2014 World Cup soccer tournament and the 2016 Olympics.

Project Objectives

Our objective is to create “blueprints” or low carbon plans for environmentally-sustainable and livable cities that we will use, with selected partner cities in China, India, and Brazil, to catalyze and help implement high-impact demonstration projects. We will then use a targeted outreach effort to spread and scale-up lessons learned to other growing cities. Our overarching strategy for replication is to leverage WRI’s existing platforms in each country. These include pioneering work in China on greenhouse gas inventories and low carbon planning, and working through EMBARQ (WRI’s Center for Sustainable Transport) on urban transport and land use issues. National networks of cities, international associations, and major conferences will also be established to provide routes for delivering knowledge to a wide variety of stakeholders in highly communicative, interactive formats.

Project Activities

This Sustainable Cities Initiative has three main activities over the course of five years (2011-2016).

These activities are taking place simultaneously, in regards to the specific needs and conditions in each country.

Blueprints for Environmentally Smarter Growth

We’ve identified key steps toward addressing climate, water, land use and mobility challenges in ways that: a) maximize economic efficiency and social benefits;
b) minimize sprawl and environmental damage; and
c) position the city to become a national and international model for sustainability.

Demonstration Projects

Moving from blueprints to action, WRI has begun to catalyze large, high-profile and integrated projects that address more than one goal. Illustrative demonstration projects include enabling a city to meet its carbon emissions-reduction targets; integrating development, transportation and pollution-reduction; and improving water quality and quantity.

Spreading Success to other Emerging Cities

WRI and its partners will pursue aggressive and targeted communications efforts to highlight the benefits of following new, smarter paths to urban growth among decision-makers in dozens of countries.

Building Energy and GHG Reporting Scheme for Enterprises: A Guangdong Strategy Study

Sarah Parsons — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:40:27 -0400

Summary: Building Energy and GHG Reporting Scheme for Enterprises: A Guangdong Strategy Study

Technical solutions for the reporting scheme are outside the scope of this paper. However, the GHG Protocol Tool for Energy Consumption, developed by the World Resources Institute, and the Guangdong GHG Information Management Platform, established by Guangdong Energy Conservation Center, provide technical means to realize the first step in the proposed three-step policy roadmap. This paper also puts forward some preliminary technical recommendations, which can assist the development of final technical solutions.

While this paper is developed specifically for China’s Guangdong Province, much of the policy framework, action steps, and technical advice could be applicable to other provinces and cities in China.

WRI’s Manish Bapna to Participate in VERGE DC Keynote Panel

James Anderson — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 14:03:31 -0500

On Wednesday, March 14, WRI’s Interim President, Manish Bapna, will be participating in a keynote panel discussion at the VERGE DC conference in Washington, D.C. hosted by Greenbiz.

The panel discussion, Cities as a Catalyst for Sustainability, will focus on how to develop smart sustainable cities by integrating emerging technologies, developing public-private partnerships, and radically improving city efficiencies.

Bapna will be joined by Daryl Dulaney, President and CEO of Siemens Industry. Mark Lee, Executive Director of SustainAbility, will moderate the discussion.

For more than a decade, WRI has been developing innovative approaches to sustainable urbanization. Recently, the Caterpillar Foundation announced a five-year, $12.5 million grant to WRI to advance the progress of environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

Please find more information about the panel below and at the VERGE DC website.

WHAT
VERGE DC Keynote Panel

WHO
Manish Bapna Interim President, World Resources Institute
Daryl Dulaney President and CEO, Siemens Industry
Moderated by Mark Lee Executive Director, SustainAbility

WHEN
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
5:25 - 5:55 p.m.

WHERE
Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel
2800 South Potomac Avenue
Arlington, VA 22202

RSVP
Registration information available here.

To set up media interviews with Manish Bapna, please contact Michael Oko, Tel. (202) 729-7684; moko@wri.org.

RELEASE: Prof. Zou Ji to Join the National Climate Research Center; Transition from WRI

Michael Oko — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:54:22 -0500

Dr. Xiaomei Tan Appointed as Deputy Director for WRI’s China Office

The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced that Prof. Zou Ji will resign as its China Country Director, a position he held for more than two years. He will become the Deputy Director of the National Center for Climate Strategy and International Cooperation of China (NCSC), a new think tank on climate research under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

“We have been honored to have Prof. Zou’s extraordinary vision and leadership to guide our work in China,” said Manish Bapna, Acting President, WRI. “As the founding director of WRI’s first overseas office, Prof. Zou’s inspired leadership has created a highly credible presence for WRI in China, expanding our programs and forging new initiatives to advance our mission. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Prof. Zou in his new position, and we wish him great success in his future endeavors.”

Under Prof. Zou’s guidance, WRI has advanced solutions for China’s sustainable and low-carbon urbanization, and Prof. Zou has become a key voice on the future of China’s cities. Using the concept of Environmentally Smart Urbanization, developed by Prof. Zou and his colleagues, WRI helped the city of Qingdao become a key demonstration project for low-carbon development. WRI also recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the NDRC to encourage further collaboration between WRI and the Chinese government.

“I am honored to have established WRI’s office in China and to have developed some far-reaching projects on low-carbon development for the country. WRI is increasingly recognized as an independent and valuable think tank, with both local and international expertise,” Prof. Zou said. “As I turn to the future, I am looking forward to new opportunities with the National Climate Research Center to further contribute to sustainable development in China.”

WRI also announced that Dr. Tan Xiaomei will become Deputy Country Director for the China office. Dr. Tan has been working with WRI for the past four years, as a Senior Associate in both the Climate and Energy program and the Institutions and Governance program.

“We are very excited Dr. Tan has agreed to take on this responsibility and expand our programmatic activities in China,” said Bapna. “Dr. Tan has expertise across a broad range of issues, and she has experience in both the United States and China, which should enable her to be highly successful in this position.”

Dr. Tan has worked for 10 years on national and international energy policies with a focus on energy technology, clean technology development, and power sector climate policy.

Dr. Tan will also serve as the Acting Country Director for the China office, as WRI launches a search for a new full-time China Country Director.

“I am delighted by this opportunity to expand WRI’s work in China and to return to my home country,” said Dr. Tan. “Under Prof Zou’s leadership, WRI has become more active on key issues related to climate, energy, water, and transportation. I am looking forward to continuing this work and collaborating with my colleagues in China to build on this foundation.”

During Prof. Zou’s tenure, WRI’s China office has:

Positioned WRI as a leading, independent research institute on sustainability in China;
Established an MOU between WRI and NDRC;
Expanded WRI’s China-based staff from three to 13 people;
Developed the concept of Environmentally Smart Urbanization;
Secured a major grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Qingdao Low-Carbon Development Plan; and
Helped secure a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to promote sustainable and livable cities in China, India and Brazil.

RELEASE: WRI Hosts Chinese Delegation Tour on Low-Carbon Development

Michael Oko — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:25:49 -0500

WRI-NDRC Sign MOU for Cooperation on Sustainable Cities

The World Resources Institute is hosting a high-level Chinese official delegation to the United States to exchange ideas and information around low-carbon development.

The week-long study tour includes a delegation of 11 Chinese officials, headed by Director General Su Wei of the Department of Climate Change from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The tour covers five U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Other government officials and representatives from the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Qingdao, who are involved in the policymaking and implementation of low-carbon urban development, also joined the tour.

“WRI is honored to be hosting this high-level visit with Chinese officials, which provides a great opportunity for a meaningful exchange on core issues of sustainable urban development,” said Manish Bapna, WRI’s Interim President. “Sustainable cities are one of the preeminent challenges for the future, and we hope that this tour will lead to further cooperation ahead.”

During the visit to Washington, WRI and NDRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help increase collaboration on sustainable development activities in China. The MOU was signed by WRI Board Vice Chair, Harriet “Hattie” Babbitt, and Director General Su Wei.

“This tour and the new MOU demonstrate the growing respect and understanding of WRI’s work in China,” said Dr. Zou Ji, WRI’s China Country Director. “WRI seeks to be a bridge between China and the U.S., helping to exchange ideas and mobilize lasting solutions to development challenges.”

The officials will have meetings with U.S. government officials, and leaders from multilateral institutions, business, academia, and foundations. Topics will focus on low-carbon development, including sub-national cooperation, carbon finance, carbon trading programs, urban planning, transport, and international climate action.

WRI has a long history of working on sustainability issues around urban development, transport, climate, and related areas. WRI recently received a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to advance environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

“WRI is committed to improving the lives of people living in urban centers around the world,” said Bapna. “This is an exciting time for our organization’s work in China, and we’re looking forward to scaling-up our activities around sustainable cities in China and other countries in the months and years to come.”

ADVISORY: WRI Hosts High-Level Delegation of Chinese Officials to Discuss Sustainable Cities

Lauren Zelin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 14:06:41 -0500

MOU Signing; Keynote address by NDRC Director General Su Wei

The World Resources Institute welcomes a delegation of high-level Chinese government officials and representatives from Caterpillar Inc. for an event on low carbon development on Wednesday, January 11, 2012. The Chinese officials are conducting a study tour to the U.S. focusing on environmentally sustainable urban development.

The delegation is led by Director General Su Wei from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), who will deliver the keynote speech. Harriet (Hattie) Babbitt, Vice Chair of WRI’s Board of Directors; Clay Thompson, Director of Global Government Affairs for Caterpillar, Inc.; and Clayton Lane, Global Lead for WRI’s Sustainable Cities Initiative, will each deliver remarks.

The event will feature the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) among WRI, NDRC, and Caterpillar Inc. for collaboration on sustainable urbanization. In December, the Caterpillar Foundation announced a five-year, $12.5 million grant to WRI to advance environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

WHAT:
MOU signing, remarks, and keynote address by DG Su Wei on “Policies, actions and prospects of addressing climate change in China”

WHO:
Su Wei, Director General of China’s Department of Climate Change, NDRC
Harriet (Hattie) Babbitt, Vice Chair of WRI’s Board of Directors; and Former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States
Clay Thompson, Director of Global Government Affairs, Caterpillar Inc.
Clayton Lane, Global Lead, Sustainable Cities Initiative, World Resources Institute

WHERE:
World Resources Institute
10 G Street NE, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20002

WHEN:
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
9:00 – 9:45 a.m. ET

NOTE: Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. The event will start promptly at 9:00 a.m.

RSVP Required to press@wri.org

PRESS RELEASE: Caterpillar Foundation Awards Major Support to World Resources Institute for Sustainable Cities Initiative

Lauren Zelin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:53:20 -0500

Five-Year Pledge of $12.5 Million Will Focus on Key Urban Centers in China, India and Brazil

The Caterpillar Foundation today announced a five-year, $12.5 million grant to the World Resources Institute (WRI) to advance the progress of environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

WRI intends to develop low-carbon city models and pathways for environmentally sustainable urbanization (ESU), and to promote the diffusion of environmentally smart and livable cities. WRI will partner with up to five urban centers to demonstrate how they can use “avoid, shift and improve” strategies to increase energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and improve water quality, urban mobility and land use.

“Sustainable urbanization is challenging, and the World Resources Institute has a proven track record of developing innovative approaches to the world’s biggest environmental and sustainability issues,” said Kevin Thieneman, Caterpillar China, India and ASEAN Country Manager. “Caterpillar is proud to support WRI’s work to create more sustainable and livable cities. It is our hope that the lessons learned in China, India and Brazil will guide the world’s urban centers toward more sustainable growth models that will generate practical solutions for managing rapid urbanization and improve the lives of millions of people.”

“WRI’s work in sustainable urbanization will go a long way toward making the great urban centers of tomorrow more sustainable and livable for all inhabitants,” said Caterpillar Brazil Country Manager Luiz Calil. “With its focus on sustainable progress, this project closely aligns with Caterpillar’s core business and will hopefully prove to be a template for more sustainable growth all over the world.”

WRI will create “blueprints”—low-carbon plans for environmentally sustainable and livable cities—to catalyze and help implement large-scale, high-impact demonstration projects. WRI will then conduct a prodigious targeted outreach effort to disseminate lessons learned to other growing cities to help them scale up and adapt key elements to their own conditions.

“Cities are incubators of innovation and are rapidly becoming the focal point for sustainable development in many countries,” said Manish Bapna, Interim President of WRI, “In the 21st century, people in urban areas will lead the pathways toward more renewable energy, improved mobility, and greater economic security. We are grateful to Caterpillar for their support to significantly expand our ability to develop sound solutions and achieve these goals.”

The ESU initiative will have three main phases:

Blueprints for Environmentally Smarter Growth: Blueprints will identify key steps toward addressing climate, water, land use and mobility challenges in ways that a) maximize economic efficiency and social benefits; b) minimize sprawl and environmental damage; and c) position the city to become a national and international model for sustainability.
Demonstration Projects: Moving from blueprints to action, WRI will catalyze large, high-profile and integrated projects that address more than one goal. Demonstration projects may include enabling a city to meet its carbon emissions-reduction targets; integrating development, transportation and pollution-reduction; and/or improving water quality and quantity.
Spreading Success to other Emerging Cities: WRI and its partners will pursue aggressive and targeted communications efforts to highlight the benefits of following new, smarter paths to urban growth among decision-makers in dozens of countries.

“Creating environmentally smart cities will demonstrate what is possible and practical,” said Professor Zou Ji, China Country Director for WRI. “With our partners, WRI aims to better equip leaders of growing cities with the training and tools to translate multiple concerns into coherent solutions and cost-effective action.”

China, India, and Brazil are among the world’s most rapidly urbanizing nations. In China, experts predict that by 2030 more than 70 percent of its people will live in cities, and that 221 cities will have at least one million residents. In India and Brazil, urban growth is explosive. Rapid urbanization poses substantial challenges. Poorly-planned, sprawling cities have the potential to undermine efforts to sustain economic growth, improve energy efficiency, curb greenhouse gas emissions, and secure clean water supplies. In all three nations, cities have the potential to lift millions of people out of poverty and become powerful engines for social progress.

WRI brings substantial experience to this project, including its ten-year EMBARQ Center for Sustainable Transport, which is well-known for its innovative programs on mobility and land use in Mexico, Brazil, India, Turkey and Peru. WRI has expertise in climate, water, energy, ecosystem services, and in pursuing solutions in collaboration with governments, business, academia and civil society.

PRESS RELEASE: New Greenhouse Gas Standards Unveiled for Corporate Value Chain and Products in China

Lauren Zelin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:02:50 -0500

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) launched two new standards today in Beijing, China that will empower businesses to better measure, manage, and report their greenhouse gas emissions. Developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) and Product Life Cycle Standards will enable companies to save money, reduce risks, and gain competitive advantage.

It is the first time for WRI and WBCSD to officially release GHG Protocol standards in China. Eight Chinese companies were involved in road testing these new standards, and other Chinese organizations were engaged in the GHG Protocol’s international standards development process.

The eight road testing companies are Baosteel Group Corporation, Lenovo China, Quanta Computer, PricewaterhouseCoopers China, Swire Beverages, Lianye Garment-making (Dongguan) Co., Ltd, Shanghai Zidan Printing Co., Ltd, Kunshan Taiying Painting Co., Ltd.

Wah Fung Group is the first Chinese company to adopt the final Product Life Cycle Standard. As a leading fabric supplier, Wah Fung Group released a report showing that its Cold Pad Batch dyeing technology achieved 13 percent carbon savings and over 50 percent water savings compared with the conventional dyeing process.

“These standards are a breakthrough for business. For the first time, companies will be able to measure and manage the full scope of emissions in their value chain and products, so they can take advantage of new opportunities as they reduce greenhouse gases,” said Manish Bapna, Interim President, WRI. “Backed by the credibility of the GHG Protocol, the new standards will help move businesses and reporting programs to one harmonized global reporting framework.”

The new standards were created in response to businesses that want to better understand and measure their climate impacts beyond their own operations. Companies that use the standards will be able to create better products and improve efficiency throughout the value chain.

“The new standards provide companies with a comprehensive view of the emissions produced when making a product and across the value chain. They will help companies make better business decisions and stimulate innovation of products and production methods,” said Björn Stigson, President, WBCSD. “In today’s world, it is necessary to understand and measure the costs for production, labor and transportation of products, which become visible and actionable through emissions.”

The Corporate Value Chain Standard reveals opportunities for companies to make more sustainable decisions about their activities and the products they produce, buy and sell. Large and small companies can look strategically at greenhouse gas emissions across their value chain, showing them where to focus limited resources to have the biggest impacts.

“The new Greenhouse Gas Protocol Corporate Value Chain Standard provides a much needed harmonized global methodology for businesses to measure corporate value chain and product greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kelly Semrau, Senior Vice President of Global Corporate Affairs, Communication and Sustainability for S.C. Johnson. “Our road test of the new Scope 3 standard provides us with key data to drive our strategic business decisions regarding greenhouse gas reductions. We encourage other businesses to similarly employ this effective method to measure, and subsequently address, greenhouse gas emissions from the entire value chain.”

The Product Life Cycle Standard enables companies to measure the greenhouse gas emissions of an individual product. Covering materials, manufacturing, use and disposal, the product standard will help companies improve existing products and design new products, and provide insights for more informed consumer choices.

“The new GHG Protocol Product Standard gives us a globally consistent approach to measure and manage our product emissions that will help us innovate and improve our products over time,” said Kevin Anton, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Alcoa. “This knowledge may bring us savings in both carbon and cost, but it is also exciting to think what this might mean for the future of customer education and purchasing. In a world where knowledge is power, the GHG Protocol Product Standard gives us and our customers the information needed to make informed decisions.”

Alcoa performed a cradle-to-grave GHG inventory of their aluminum truck wheel, with an assumed recycling rate of 95 percent. Through recycling, Alcoa could achieve a 10 percent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Already, these new standards are gaining widespread traction:

The Consumer Goods Forum, representing over 400 consumer goods companies and retailers with a combined 3 trillion dollars in sales, has recommended the new standards be used by members who choose to measure and report scope 3 and product greenhouse gas emissions;
The Sustainability Consortium has adopted the Product Life Cycle Standard as the GHG methodology used in their tools to promote product sustainability; and
The Global e-Sustainability Initiative, a consortium of leading ICT companies and other experts, are utilizing the Product Standard as the basis for developing sector guidance for ICT products and services.

The Corporate Value Chain and Product Life Cycle Standards were developed with input from business leaders, NGOs, academics, and policymakers. More than 2,300 participants from 55 countries contributed to the process, and 60 companies road tested the new standards.

“The standards were developed through a global, multi-stakeholder process making them both credible and user-friendly,” said Pankaj Bhatia, Director, GHG Protocol, WRI. “Building on current best practice and extensive input from businesses, governments, and other partners, these standards will be beneficial to businesses and other stakeholders in developing strategies to reduce emissions around the globe.”

The new standards are available on the GHG Protocol website: www.ghgprotocol.org.

New Ventures China Investor Forum: Green Growth Generating New Opportunities

Tracy Elsen — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:13:06 -0400

This piece originally appeared on the New Ventures website. It was written with New Ventures intern Kevin Short.

The 2011 New Ventures China Investor Forum showcased the potential of environmental entrepreneurship on a larger scale than any previous forum in the program’s eight years of operations in China.

Six rising environmentally-focused enterprises presented their business models to 300 forum attendees in June. The forum provided an opportunity for these entrepreneurs to connect with both regional and global investors, an often arduous task for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“It has been extremely difficult for those environmental SMEs to get investment for further development in the local market, which explains why New Ventures’ services are in great demand, ” said Tao Zhang, Chief Operating Officer of New Ventures.

A new era of partnerships

This year’s forum, held at the Wan Shou Hotel in Beijing, represented a more diverse cross-section of Chinese society than at any previous New Ventures China investor forum. In an exciting development, New Ventures partnered with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the first time New Ventures China has collaborated with a local government agency to hold such forum. Government recognition of the energy savings, efficient resource utilization, and potential for economic growth facilitated this new partnership.

New Ventures China and the Information Center of MIIT have agreed to explore the possibilities of co-establishing a online database for Chinese green SMEs to be recognized by MIIT. They will also jointly launch a media initiative to highlight the achievements of Chinese green SMEs.

Alongside these officials sat many members of Chinese civil society, members of the business sector, media personnel, and of course, investors. The global network capabilities of New Ventures were also demonstrated through the presence of New Ventures Indonesia staff.

“We expect to make the New Ventures forum into a leading platform, through which more investors will get proper understandings about the fledgling green companies, help them grow up and finally find a way for profit and environment going hand in hand,” said Walter Ge, Director of New Ventures China.

Diverse services, common challenges

From e-waste management to bioenergy conversion, the companies represented at the China Investor Forum offered a wide range of environmental services. Beijing Huakong Automation System Co. Ltd., Shanghai Honghoo Group, Qingdao United Scrap Automobile Co. Ltd., Shanghai Electric Waste Collection Co., Ltd., Beijing Visualized Energy-Saving Co., Ltd., and Xuzhou Hootech Co., Ltd. were all allotted time to present to investors.

Since its fouding in 2006, Beijing Huakong Automation System Co., Ltd has saved its clients what amounts to the energy impact of 1.5 million tons of standard coal. The unit water consumption in Xuzhou Hootech’s production method is equal to 30% of the average amount across the industry, while the unit energy consumption represents just 1% of that in the ore mining industry.

Despite the range of environmental and energy objectives pursued by the businesses, these SMEs face remarkably similar hurdles. Namely, the SMEs face a lack of financing and sustained investment, barriers to scaling up, and underdeveloped business management expertise. Too large for microfinance and too small for mainstream investment, these companies represent the “missing middle”- an essential but frequently overlooked segment of emerging economies.

New Ventures has addressed this intersection of environment and development in China since 2003, offering services to over 400 SMEs to assist them in growing to scale. Through this program, over 20 Chinese environmental entrepreneurs have received over $150 million from various investors. At June’s China Investor Forum, potential investors included China International Capital Co Ltd, CLSA Capital Partners, Beijing ZhongTinYinTai Investment Management Co, HENG RUN International Group Limited, Energy Capital, LGT Venture Philanthropy, among others.

Prospects for the future

Leveraging the successes from June’s Investor Forum, New Ventures China now looks to expand these matchmaking services and facilitate even greater levels of investment for these green SMEs. New Ventures is now considering launching an impact investment fund that directly targets SMEs in the environmental sector.

“We plan to investigate the feasibility of running such a fund in China in the next two years,” said Tao Zhang.

New Ventures China plans to hold another Investor Forum late this year in Shenzhen, a key Chinese special economic zone bordering Hong Kong, as well as continuing to explore cross-regional collaboration opportunities, matchmaking models, and public outreach.

“Environmental impact investment will become more and more important in the country simply because China is facing an increasingly urgent need to balance environmental protection and further economic development,” said Tao.