Topic: united states

WRI STATEMENT: In Berlin, Pres. Obama Calls Climate Change "The Global Threat of Our Time"

Daniel Melling — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:29:18 -0400

President Obama delivered a major speech in Berlin today, covering a range of issues, including climate change. The speech comes one day after the conclusion of the 2013 G8 summit, which included strong climate language in its Leaders’ Communique. These remarks coincide with comments from Heather Zichal, the White House energy advisor, at a press event today.

Following is a statement by Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute:

“In his speech today, President Obama reasserted that climate change is the global challenge of our time. The President made it crystal clear that the United States needs to do more to cut domestic emissions and should work toward a global climate agreement.

“The President reaffirmed that this is a top tier issue that needs to be addressed by world leaders.

“President Obama’s words echo the closing statement from the G8 summit that declared: ‘Climate change is one of the foremost challenges for our future economic growth and well-being.’

“There are clear indications that the Obama Administration is preparing to present a national strategy to respond to this crisis. WRI’s analysis finds that through ambitious actions the U.S. administration can meet its 17 percent emissions target and make even more progress in the years to come.

“With bold action, the U.S. can slow the pace of climate change, demonstrate global leadership, and create a safer and more prosperous world.”

RELEASE: WRI Names David Waskow to Lead Its International Climate Initiative

Daniel Melling — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:02:19 -0400

The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced today that David Waskow has joined the institute to lead its International Climate Initiative, within the Climate and Energy Program. Waskow will oversee the Institute’s work to advance ambitious national actions to reduce emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change. This includes working toward a strong, equitable, and effective global climate agreement within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Waskow will also lead WRI’s efforts to enhance international cooperation and catalyze national policies toward low-carbon pathways and increased climate resilience.

“David brings a breadth of knowledge and experience that will be extremely valuable in advancing international climate action,” said Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, World Resources Institute. “The next few years are a critical window to raise global ambition and cooperation on climate change. David’s insights and leadership will be a boon to our efforts to advance solutions that the world needs.”

Among these efforts is the Climate Justice Dialogue, a partnership led by WRI and the Mary Robinson Foundation – Climate Justice, which provides a forum to discuss equity and develop ideas on how to operationalize climate actions in a way that safeguards environmental integrity, protects the most vulnerable populations, and creates the basis for greater cooperation among countries.

Waskow joins WRI from Oxfam America, where as the program director for climate change he worked to advance strategies to drive investment and capacity of poor and vulnerable communities to respond to a changing climate. He also directed policy work focusing on how emissions can be reduced in equitable ways and how to build resilience to climate impacts.

Prior to Oxfam, Waskow served as the international program director for Friends of the Earth, where he initiated their work on the impacts of climate change on global poverty. In addition, he oversaw the organization’s work on trade policy and international financial institutions.

“With global emissions on the rise and climate impacts becoming more apparent, this is an important moment to make progress on the climate crisis. Looking toward an international climate agreement by 2015, there’s much work to do,” said Waskow. “I am excited to join WRI, with its reputation as one of the most respected and influential organizations in this arena, and I look forward to working with my new colleagues to help raise ambition around international climate action.”

Waskow has testified before Congress on responses to climate change and on trade issues, and is a frequent go-to source for the media on climate finance. He has graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, and an undergraduate degree from Brown University.

WRI’s Climate and Energy Program is comprised of more than 50 staff, who are dedicated to conducting and facilitating independent, non-partisan research and analysis to advance effective domestic and international actions that reduce the threat of climate change.

STATEMENT: Mayor Bloomberg Delivers a "Call to Action" on Climate Change

Michael Oko — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:01:02 -0400

Mayor Bloomberg delivered a powerful speech today highlighting the impacts of climate change and extreme weather on New York City. He laid out a plan, including $20 billion in investments, to protect New York City from rising sea levels, storm surge, and other climate-related impacts.

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute:

“As we witness extreme weather events around the globe, it’s clear that we’re facing an increasingly dangerous future. Global emissions are at a record high and we’re exposing our children to greater risks ahead.

“Today, Mayor Bloomberg laid out a bold vision and call to action. He and his city have witnessed firsthand the devastation that comes from unpredictable and extreme weather events.

“Building on the groundbreaking PlanNYC, the Mayor has a laid out steps to enhance infrastructure, retrofit buildings, and create more resilient coastlines in response to ‘super’ storms, rising seas, and other climate-related impacts. Around the world, cities and nations will need to make these kinds of investments to protect their citizens. They have much to learn from New York City.

“New York City has plans to protect itself against the impacts of climate change and to reduce its greenhouse gases, and thus attack the root causes. The United States as a whole is lacking such plans. This must change.

“It’s time for President Obama to present a national plan on climate change that will reduce the risks and protect future generations. The actions required are clear. A recent WRI report identifies the key steps the Administration can take to achieve its 17 percent target, and make even deeper cuts later on.

“As Mayor Bloomberg said, the risks of climate change ‘should compel all elected leaders to take immediate action.’

“One thing is clear: Taking action today will be far less costly than waiting for the impacts to mount later on.”

STATEMENT: IEA Report Finds "World Is Not On Track" to Meet Climate Goals

Michael Oko — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 08:59:02 -0400

The International Energy Agency released a new report today, Redrawing the Energy-Climate Map, finding that global energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2012 increased by 1.4 percent, reaching a record high of 31.6 gigatonnes. Energy-related emissions account for around two-thirds of total global greenhouse gas emissions. The report contains four specific recommendations to keep the world within 2 degrees Celsius temperature rise.

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President and CEO, World Resources Institute:

“Global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions are heading toward dangerous and unfamiliar territory. Projected temperature rise is approaching thresholds where the consequences would be truly dire. It’s not too late to prevent such an outcome, but the window to avoid dire impacts is closing quickly. These are some of the takeaways from the new report from the IEA, the autonomous organization focused on energy and economics, made up of 28 member countries.

“The common assumption is that action to reduce emissions is prohibitively expensive, but the evidence confirms that this is a flawed view. In fact, inaction is far more costly, risky and irresponsible. There are clear advantages to getting ahead and investing in low-carbon energy sources today, rather than trying to make corrections and retrofit equipment and infrastructure later on.

“The IEA’s new report offers affordable and common sense measures to rein in energy-related emissions. The core steps are to increase energy efficiency; limit emissions from coal-fired power plants; reduce leakage of methane from oil and gas production; and cut subsidies for fossil fuels. Importantly, the report finds that these steps can be achieved with no net economic cost.

“The IEA’s recommendations are consistent with WRI’s recent analysis, which finds that the U.S. Administration needs additional federal actions to reach its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

“It’s time for the Obama Administration to lay a national climate plan, including the specific steps it intends to take. Fittingly, the recent announcement by the U.S. and China to work together to reduce HFCs is a welcome step to address a potent greenhouse gas outside of the energy sector.

“As UN climate talks continue this week in Bonn, Germany, IEA’s analysis should jolt negotiators into a far greater sense of urgency to develop an ambitious and equitable climate agreement by 2015. At the same time, this agreement would not go into effect until 2020, so countries need to ramp up their ambition in the near term.

“The report confirms that further delays will gravely shift the burden to future generations. They would be the ones to endure the economic cost of retrofitting infrastructure, and moreover the societal weight of flooded cities, risks to food production, far greater water scarcity, loss of coral reefs, and other climate-related impacts.

“Our national leaders—in government, business, and civil society—have it within their power to prevent this future. It’s our collective responsibility to accelerate action on this global challenge.”

RELEASE: Cutting Food Loss and Waste Will Benefit People and the Environment, Says New Study on World Environment Day

Michael Oko — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 17:44:29 -0400

From Australia to Afghanistan, New Research Spotlights Low-Cost Actions for Delivering Major Benefits for Development, Environment and Livelihoods

One out of every four calories produced by the global agricultural system is being lost or wasted, according to new analysis. This situation poses a serious challenge to the world’s ability to reduce hunger and meet the food needs of the rapidly-expanding global population.

Released on World Environment Day (WED), which this year carries the theme “Think.Eat.Save - Reduce Your Foodprint,” the new working paper, Reducing Food Loss and Waste, shows that more than half of the food lost and wasted in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia occurs close to the fork—at the consumption stage. By contrast, in developing countries, about two-thirds of the food lost and wasted occurs close to the farm—after harvest and storage.

Reducing Food Loss and Waste was produced by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and draws on research from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The paper makes a range of recommendations, including the development of a food loss and waste protocol―a global standard for how to measure, monitor, and report food loss and waste. If what gets measured gets managed, then such a protocol could go a long way toward helping governments and companies implement targeted efforts to reduce food loss and waste.

“Beyond all the environmental benefits, reducing food loss and waste will save money for people and companies,” said Craig Hanson, Director of WRI’s People & Ecosystems Program and a co-author of the study. “The world needs urgent solutions to feed its growing population and reducing loss and waste is a critical piece toward a more sustainable food future.”

According to the study, which was released today in Mongolia, the global host of WED 2013, the world will need about 60 percent more food calories in 2050 compared to 2006 if global demand continues on its current trajectory. Halving current rates of food loss and waste, say the authors, would reduce this gap by a fifth. This would also result in major savings in water use, energy, pesticides and fertilizers, and would be a boost for global food security.

“It is an extraordinary fact that in the 21st century, close to 25 per cent of all the calories linked with growing and producing food are lost or wasted between the farm and the fork—food that could feed the hungry, food that has required energy, water and soils in a world of increasing natural resource scarcities and environmental concerns including climate change,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director.

“Yet within the challenge of food are the seeds of a more cooperative and sustainable future—in short, it is an issue that unites everyone today and generations to come. The menu of case studies and recommendations in this study provide national and community-led solutions that ally smart policies with traditional knowledge, modern science and common sense,” he added.

“Everyone—from farmers and food companies to retailers, shipping lines, packagers, hotels, restaurants and households—has a role to play, and, in doing so, can contribute to maximizing the opportunities of the Millennium Development Goals, eradicating inequalities in rich and poor countries alike, and laying the foundation of a more environmentally sustainable pathway for billions of people,” said Mr. Steiner.

From community food banks in Australia to the use of metal grain silos by farmers in Afghanistan, the WRI and UNEP study showcases simple, low-cost solutions for reducing food loss and waste that are already delivering significant environmental and economic benefits to communities around the globe. Replicating and expanding these initiatives could significantly reduce the 1.3 billion tons of food lost or discarded worldwide each year, and make major improvements to global resource efficiency.

The report shows, for example, that water used to produce lost or wasted food globally each year could fill 70 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, while the amount of cropland used to produce wasted food is equivalent to the size of Mexico. Some 28 million tons of fertilizer are used annually to grow this lost and wasted food. The inefficient use of fertilizers is linked to the growth of “dead” coastal zones around the globe and to climate change.

Separate analysis coordinated by the FAO to be published soon indicates that if food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases after the United States and China.

Case studies highlighted in the report include:

United States: To reduce portion sizes and therefore the amount of food thrown away each day in their cafeterias, some universities have discontinued the use of trays and introduced “pay by weight” schemes and other incentives. One university found that after going “trayless,” it discarded almost 13 metric tons less food than in previous years, and conserved over 100,000 litres of water annually. Financial savings amounted to US $79,000 per year.

Afghanistan: Insufficient storage can be a major source of food loss for farmers in developing countries, where structures often do not keep produce in airtight conditions. A FAO project in Afghanistan provided metal silos to 18,000 rural households. Recipients of the silos soon reported higher net incomes due to lower food losses, which decreased from 15 to 20 percent to 1 to 2 percent per year.

Sri Lanka: Introducing studier plastic crates to replace bags or sacks previously used to transport food reduced vegetable losses by weight from 30 percent to 5 percent. A similar project in the Philippines using plastic crates increased the value of a kilogram of fruit and vegetables by 16 per cent.

Australia: The non-profit organization SecondBite collects food from farmers, retailers, and other donors and distributes it to community groups in need. Last year, SecondBite reused and redirected 3,000 tons of fresh food that would otherwise have been discarded.

Nigeria: The “zeer” evaporative cooler system, developed by a teacher in Nigeria, can preserve fruit and vegetables without refrigeration. The system costs less than US $2.00 and can hold up to 12 kilograms of produce. Tomatoes and guavas, which would last around two days without storage, last up to 20 days in a zeer.

The paper contains a number of more general recommendations, including:

Developing a common global standard for measuring and reporting food loss and waste by governments and the private sector;
Setting global, national, and corporate food loss and waste reduction targets on the order of 50 percent;
Doubling investment in reducing post-harvest losses in developing countries; and
Establishing agencies and organizations in developed countries tasked with reducing food waste.

In addition, UNEP is developing a food waste prevention and reduction tool kit with FAO and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), together with experts, supermarkets, governments and other partners. The initiative will support governments, companies and cities to better assess their own levels of food waste, pinpoint areas in their businesses and communities where food is being needlessly wasted, and devise strategies to reduce this waste. The tool kit is expected to be available for widespread deployment before the end of 2013, and aims to underpin a transition to a less wasteful world.

World Environment Day
From the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities in remote rural areas, to major conferences in the fast-expanding capital Ulaanbaatar, issues around food security and sustainability are featured high on the agenda for World Environment Day (on 5 June) in the global host country Mongolia.

Events with the country’s ancient herding communities highlighted age-old techniques that have been used for centuries to preserve food and avoid waste. In the past, Mongolia’s traditional horsemen frequently relied on “borts” to sustain them over long journeys. The foodstuff consists of concentrated beef equal to the protein of an entire cow condensed and ground down to the size of a plate. This method of food preservation could produce a meal equivalent to several steaks when the protein was shaved into hot water to make soup.

In the run-up to World Environment Day, internet users have been submitting a host of traditional food-saving ideas and traditions via UNEP’s Facebook page. These include chuño from South America, which involves exposing potatoes to the freezing night air and hot daytime sun for five days, before trampling them to squeeze out any moisture. Chuño can last for several months, or even years.

Beyond Mongolia, thousands of people around the world are taking part in World Environment Day activities to highlight the need to consume and produce food more sustainably.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the capital city Sarajevo will host environmental experts in a series of events focused on engaging citizens on food waste and its environmental impact.

In China, Shanghai’s International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES) hundreds of students will debate and discuss the theme of “Food, Health and Sustainable Development.”

UNEP’s Geneva-based Regional Office for Europe is running a competition called “Love Your Leftovers,” where people can submit a recipe that they use to clean out the fridge. The competition will be judged by a top chef at the famous Cafe de la Paix in central Paris.

About World Environment Day (WED)
WED aims to be the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. WED activities take place year round but climax on 5 June. WED celebrations began in 1972 and have grown to become the one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action. The WED 2013 theme is in support on the Think.Eat.Save campaign. For more information on activities in the host country Mongolia, and on hundreds of other global events, visit the WED site at: www.unep.org/wed/

About the Think.Eat.Save. Reduce Your Foodprint campaign
The campaign harnesses the expertise of organizations such as FAO, WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme), Feeding the 5,000 and other partners, including national governments, who have considerable experience targeting and changing wasteful practices. It aims to accelerate action and provide a global vision and information-sharing portal for the many initiatives currently underway around the world that aim to reduce food waste and food loss. Visit: www.thinkeatsave.org More examples of traditional techniques to preserve food and reduce waste are available here.

UNEP’s Resource Efficiency website is available here.

Notes to Editors: The new working paper Reducing Food Loss and Waste, is available at: www.wri.org and www.unep.org.

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Read a blog post on the new paper, here.

STATEMENT: High-Level Panel Report on the Post-2015 Development Agenda

Michael Oko — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:24:21 -0400

The High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda today released its recommendations to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Following is a statement by Manish Bapna, Managing Director, World Resources Institute:

“The panel’s recommendations represent a major breakthrough that puts sustainability at the center of the development agenda. In a profound shift, the panel recognizes that reducing poverty is inextricably linked with how we treat our natural environment. Indeed, if this agenda is acted upon, we can realize a global vision of eradicating poverty, improving prosperity and protecting the planet.

“Significantly, the recommendations reflect that the goals should speak to all countries. Developed countries have a major role to play in addressing poverty and sustainability issues both within their borders and in supporting developing countries. The panel further recognizes that achieving this agenda will require participation from all sectors: government, business, science, civil society and the general public.

“The next big step is to shape these aspirations into concrete actions backed by strong targets. Following on the success of the MDGs, these goals should be refined, without being weakened, and then embraced by all countries.

“The members of the panel should be commended for putting forward a bold and refreshing agenda. Their recommendations reflect the vital and interconnected nature of these global challenges and the opportunity that all people share to create a more equitable and sustainable planet.”

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Read a blog post by Manish on what to look for in the report.

The U.S. Contribution to Fast-Start Finance: FY12 Update

Sarah Parsons — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:06:17 -0400

Summary

As part of the international climate negotiations, developed country governments committed to provide developing countries with “new and additional resources, including forestry and investments through international institutions, approaching $30 billion in the period 2010-2012 with balanced allocation between adaptation and mitigation.” This fact sheet considers U.S. efforts to provide “fast-start finance” (FSF) over the full three-year period, drawing primarily from program data presented in the State Department’s report series, “Meeting the Fast Start Commitment.” The fact sheet is part of a series of analyses on FSF contributions, and updates a May 2012 working paper quantifying total U.S. contributions to the global FSF commitment.

Over the FSF period, the United States has reported roughly $7.5 billion, or about 20% of the global self-reported total flows of FSF. Notable attributes of the U.S. FSF contribution include:

The levels of finance fluctuated over the three-year period, with the largest volume in FY11. This is related to variations in spending on the part of key agencies such as the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
Over the three-year period, a significant share of the U.S. portfolio supported clean energy in Asia. OPIC and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) played key roles in administering finance, and finance was channeled via a combination of grants and loans, guarantees, and insurance.

Transparency has improved in FY12 reporting, but there is room for further improvement. In addition to implementing the new international reporting requirements adopted at Doha, the following actions would help support verification of aggregate figures, as well as coordination and accountability:

Publishing a detailed, disaggregated, annual list of projects and programs;
Using the Foreign Assistance Dashboard as a platform for sharing information;
Aligning reporting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) with reporting to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD); and
Continuing to work with other countries and multilateral institutions to strengthen and harmonize reporting systems.

Clearing the Air: Reducing Upstream Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Natural Gas Systems

Sarah Parsons — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:48:29 -0400

Key Findings

Fugitive methane emissions from natural gas systems represent a significant source of global warming pollution in the U.S. Reductions in methane emissions are urgently needed as part of the broader effort to slow the rate of global temperature rise.
Cutting methane leakage rates from natural gas systems to less than 1 percent of total production would ensure that the climate impacts of natural gas are lower than coal or diesel fuel over any time horizon. This goal can be achieved by reducing emissions by one-half to two-thirds below current levels through the widespread use of proven, cost-effective technologies.
Fugitive methane emissions occur at every stage of the natural gas life cycle; however, the total amount of leakage is unclear. More comprehensive and current direct emissions measurements are needed from this regionally diverse and rapidly expanding energy sector.
Recent standards from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will substantially reduce leakage from natural gas systems, but to help slow the rate of global warming and improve air quality, further action by states and EPA should directly address fugitive methane from new and existing wells and equipment.
Federal rules building on existing Clean Air Act (CAA) authorities could provide an appropriate framework for reducing upstream methane emissions. This approach accounts for input by affected industries, while allowing flexibility for states to implement rules according to unique local circumstances.

ADVISORY: New Study and Discussion on Reducing Methane Emissions from Natural Gas

Michael Oko — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:19:50 -0400

WRI to release new working paper, “Clearing the Air: Reducing Upstream Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Natural Gas Systems.”

Download the paper, here.
Read a blog post on the paper, here.

The rapid expansion of unconventional natural gas has reshaped the U.S. energy picture through increased production and reduced price. The shale gas boom has also ignited vigorous debates around its environmental impacts. WRI’s new study, “Clearing the Air: Reducing Upstream Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Natural Gas Systems,” looks to clarify what is known about methane leakage, what progress has been made to reduce emissions, and what further steps can be taken.

The discussion will feature representatives from Shell, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Environmental Defense Fund, and WRI, and will be moderated by Keith Johnson, an environmental reporter for the Wall Street Journal.

The event will take place at WRI’s office on Thursday, April 4, at 9:00 a.m.

A continental breakfast will be served.

WHAT
Release of new study & discussion on methane emissions from U.S. natural gas systems

WHO
James Bradbury, Senior Associate and lead author, WRI, presenter

Will Allison, Director, Air Pollution Control Division Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, panelist

Mark Brownstein, Associate Vice President & Chief Counsel, U.S. Energy and Climate Program, Environmental Defense Fund, panelist

Fiji George, Onshore Science, Policy & Regulatory Advisor, Shell Exploration & Production Company, panelist

Michael Obeiter, Senior Associate and co-author, World Resources Institute, panelist

Keith Johnson, Staff Reporter, Wall Street Journal, moderator

WHERE
World Resources Institute
10 G St NE, 8th Floor
Washington, DC
(Red Line Metro)

CALL-IN
Go to: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/join/821281274 Or
Dial +1 (213) 493-0602
Access Code: 821-281-274
Meeting ID: 821-281-274

WHEN
Thursday, April 4

9:00 – 10:30 a.m.

RSVP required to press@wri.org (please indicate the event in your response)

Fact Sheet: 2012, A Year of Record-Breaking Extreme Weather and Climate

Sarah Parsons — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:13:20 -0500

Summary

The United States experienced its hottest year on record in 2012.

On a global scale, not only did last year mark the 36th consecutive year the annual global temperature was above average, but each successive decade in the last 50 years has been the warmest on record. Additionally, the recent draft National Climate Assessment states that it is “virtually certain” that global temperatures will continue to warm throughout the remainder of the century, and the longer we delay reducing greenhouse gas emissions the greater the magnitude of warming will occur. In a warmer world, the trend of increasing extreme weather and climate events is expected to continue – 2011 and 2012 each experienced more extreme weather and climate events costing over $1 billion each than any other year in recorded history.

The 8-inch rise in average global sea level over the last century has intensified the impacts of storm surge. This was exemplified during Hurricane Sandy, where record high water levels and abnormally warm ocean temperatures amplified the storm’s impact along the coast of the Northeast United States. State officials in New York and New Jersey estimated aggregate losses of nearly $80 billion from Sandy, shattering the aggregate $55 billion in losses caused by weather and climate disasters in 2011 – a year when a record 14 extreme weather and climate events caused at least $1 billion in losses each.

Download the full fact sheet for more figures relating to temperature, Hurricane Sandy, wildfires, drought, sea level rise, and melting ice.

STATEMENT: Florida Hosts Town Hall on National Climate Report

Michael Oko — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:01:09 -0500

The U.S. Global Change Research Program is hosting a town hall this week to inform communities about the draft National Climate Assessment (NCA) report, along with local and regional efforts to respond to the impacts of climate change. The Southeast Regional Town Hall is part of the roll out of the NCA and will take place in Tampa, Florida, on February 19, 2013.

Florida faces extensive threats from climate change. According to the draft NCA, the challenges include:

Florida is home to roughly $500 billion of the more than $1 trillion of property and structures in the country at risk of inundation from a sea-level rise of 2 feet (above the current sea level).
Tourism attractions in Florida, like the Everglades and Florida Keys, are threatened by climate change impacts from sea-level rise and are estimated to lose $9 billion by 2025 and $40 billion in revenue by 2050.
Salt water intrusion into freshwater supplies will be accelerated by sea-level rise, making the porous aquifers in Florida particularly vulnerable. Already, officials in Hallandale Beach, FL have been forced to abandon 6 of their 8 drinking water wells.
Cumulative costs of responding to sea-level rise and flooding events to the national economy could reach $325 billion by 2100, with Florida incurring $130 billion of the total (or 40% of the aggregate national cost.)

Following is a statement by Christina DeConcini, Director of Legislative Affairs, World Resources Institute:

“With its flat landscape and porous foundation, Florida is one of the most vulnerable places to sea-level rise in the world. The draft National Climate Assessment report adds to a growing body of scientific evidence that climate change is occurring and is already causing adverse impacts. The report underscores that the climate crisis will continue to build unless action is taken by the U.S. government to address climate change. State and national officials should be doing more to reduce the greenhouse gases that cause climate change and plan how to respond to its impacts. Doing so will benefit people and the economy in Florida and across the nation.”

Find out more about sea-level rise impacts on Florida in WRI’s fact sheet.

Aqueduct Metadata Document: Colorado River Basin Study

Sarah Parsons — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:16:28 -0500

Summary

Prior to the creation of the global Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, indicators were developed and tested in a number of river basins worldwide. The results of the Colorado River Basin Study helped inform and shape the global Aqueduct Water Risk Framework. The Colorado River Basin study contains 12 indicators of water quantity, water variability, water quality, public awareness of water issues, access to water, and ecosystem vulnerability.

STATEMENT: WRI Response to the State of the Union

Michael Oko — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 22:01:05 -0500

In his State of the Union address, President Obama presented his priorities for his second term, including addressing the threat of climate change.

New analysis by the World Resources Institute has identified four essential steps the Obama Administration can take to reach its national target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute:

“President Obama made it clear that climate change is one of the great challenges of our generation. It’s a national priority that is essential for the country’s economic future and its global competitiveness. He announced that we ‘must do more to combat climate change.’ If the president puts these words into action, citizens of the United States will be better off, as will citizens around the world.

“The President declared that he will direct his Administration to cut pollution, prepare the country for the consequences of climate change, and shift to more sustainable energy– these policies will be good for people and the economy.

“The President also called on Congress to engage on this issue. This is important. While the President can and should act, the cost would be lower and the benefits greater with market-based legislation that would effectively put a price on carbon.

“Analysis by the World Resources Institute shows that the Administration can make significant progress in reducing emissions. It can start by enacting standards for existing power plants, which represent the largest portion of U.S. emissions. The U.S. can also make progress by cutting emissions of hydrofluorocarbons, tackling methane from natural gas systems, and enhancing energy efficiency.

“By reaching its emissions target, the U.S. can signal that it’s serious about tackling climate change at home while enhancing its credibility on the global stage. With more droughts, wildfires, and extreme weather events taking their toll around the globe, the world desperately needs more action. And, it needs the United States to be a leader on climate change.

“The Obama Administration has the tools. Now is the time to use them.”

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Read an Op-ed by Andrew Steer in the Hill about how the Administration can reduce U.S. emissions.

Read more about WRI’s new report on U.S. emissions, “Can the U.S. Get There From Here?”

RELEASE: New Report Presents Pathway for U.S. to Reach 17 Percent Emissions Target

Michael Oko — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:10:44 -0500

Analysis finds U.S. is currently not on track to reach its 17% target, but has the tools to get there <!–break–>

New analysis by the World Resources Institute finds that the United States is currently not on track to reach its stated goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 (below 2005 levels), but it has the tools to get there. The new report, “Can the U.S. Get There from Here?” explores specific steps the Administration and states can take to reduce U.S. emissions, without Congressional action.

“President Obama has put tackling climate change high on his agenda. Our analysis shows that with strong leadership and ambitious action the Administration can make a significant dent in U.S. emissions,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute. “Meeting the 17 percent target would signal that the U.S. is serious about climate change at home and would enhance U.S. leadership on the international stage.”

The analysis finds that the Administration has the opportunity to move forward in four key areas:

Implementing strong standards for carbon dioxide pollution from existing power plants;
Reducing non-energy sources of emissions, including hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are commonly found in refrigerators and air conditioners;
Limiting methane emissions from natural gas production; and
Increasing energy efficiency from industry and home appliances.

“The Administration has multiple ways to move forward with smart policies to reduce U.S. emissions. The best opportunity is to enact new standards for existing power plants, which represent one-third of all U.S. emissions,” said Nicholas Bianco, Senior Associate, WRI, and the lead author of the report. “The Administration has the ability to put the U.S. on track to meet its commitments, and can do so in a cost-effective and efficient manner.”

The report also finds that states can take meaningful action and can use their authority to supplement federal actions. Twenty-nine U.S. states have renewable energy standards and 20 have energy efficiency standards. Some states are moving forward with ambitious climate policies. For example, California just launched a cap-and-trade program that will cover 85 percent of the state’s emissions. California also has a target to produce 33 percent of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. On the East Coast, nine states have capped emissions from the power sector through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).

While meeting the 17 percent target is achievable, scientific authorities have found that it will take deeper reductions to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Reaching the longer-term goals will likely take additional action from Congress. In the meantime, there is much more the Administration can do to reduce U.S. emissions.

“In meeting its goal, the U.S. can join the global community in taking on the climate crisis. Reducing emissions will benefit U.S. citizens and encourage other countries to make greater reductions,” said Dr. Steer. “It’s clear that the longer the U.S. waits, the harder – and more expensive – it will be. The Administration has the tools. We look forward to seeing what steps they take to shift the country to a low-carbon pathway.”

NOTE: The full report can be found here.

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Can the U.S. Get There from Here? Using Existing Federal Laws and State Action to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Sarah Parsons — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 16:51:17 -0500

Summary

U.S. greenhouse gas emissions are expected to rise unless additional policy actions are taken. This report identifies a suite of policies that the Administration can pursue that do not require new legislation by the U.S. Congress. If pursued with “go-getter” level ambition, those policies can reduce U.S. emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels in 2020.

Key Findings

Without new action by the U.S. Administration, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions will increase over time. The United States will fail to make the deep emissions reductions needed in coming decades, and will not meet its international commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.
The U.S. EPA should immediately pursue “go-getter” emissions reductions from power plants and natural gas systems using its authority under the Clean Air Act. These two sectors represent two of the top opportunities for substantial GHG reductions between now and 2035.
The U.S. Administration should pursue hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) reductions through both the Montreal Protocol process and under its independent Clean Air Act authority. Eliminating HFCs represents the biggest opportunity for GHG emissions reductions behind power plants.
U.S. states should complement federal actions to reduce emissions through state energy efficiency, renewables, transportation, and other actions. States can augment federal reductions.
New federal legislation will eventually be needed, because even go-getter action by federal and state governments will probably fail to achieve the more than 80 percent GHG emissions reductions necessary to fend off the most deleterious impacts of climate change.

This chart shows potential reductions under existing federal authorities and state action through 2035.

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Presentation

Can The U.S. Get There From Here? from World Resources Institute (WRI)