Topic: south america

RELEASE: 14 Latin American and Caribbean Countries Adopt an Ambitious Plan of Action to Improve Access Rights in the Region

Lauren Zelin — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 17:17:15 -0400

Fourteen Latin American and Caribbean countries adopted an ambitious Plan of Action to improve access rights in the region, including access to information, public participation, and access to justice. The plan, which was approved at a meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico, on April 16-17, 2013, seeks to implement the Latin American and Caribbean Declaration on Principle 10 that was signed at the Rio +20 Conference in June 2012, under which countries agreed to work towards a regional instrument to improve access rights.

The meeting began with Colombia and Honduras signing on to the LAC Declaration, a major accomplishment for all parties. The 14 countries that have now signed on include: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

“The new Plan of Action shows political will to transform environmental justice and transparency in the region,” said Carole Excell, Senior Associate at the World Resources Institute and The Access Initiative. “It sets the pace and the agenda to tackle the challenges of negotiating a regional instrument to ensure access rights across Latin America and the Caribbean.”

Under the new 2013-2014 Plan of Action, the LAC countries have committed to:

Promote the Principle 10 Declaration and incorporate new signatories into the process;
Strengthen and highlight the progress made on rights of access to information, participation, and justice;
Promote active participation of civil society at the national level; and
Develop working groups to deliberate capacity-building and cooperation efforts, and determine the nature and scope of the regional instrument.

Ambassador Jose Balmaceda of Chile noted that the Plan of Action “is a strong political signal to the international community that we are responding in a responsible way to this commitment [to Principle 10] … It is the first time that government representatives from 14 countries and civil society sat down to debate – with transparency and trust – relevant issues for the future of the region. This is a testament to maturity in the region. We have been able to reach consensus on the Plan of Action that will allow us to move ahead on national processes and regional efforts. I am sure that this result will motivate other nations in the region to join the process.”

The Plan of Action includes a number of innovative provisions, including procedures for public participation in the regional process and its working groups. It will create opportunities for close South-to-South cooperation on rights to promote transparency, public participation, and access to justice, as well as a focus on increased support for effective implementation at the national level.

“We hope at the end of 2014 we can count on the development of an instrument on Principle 10 that establishes concrete actions to guarantee effective and informed participation to all citizens and communities of our region,” said Daniel Barragan, Ecuadorian Center for Environmental Law (Centro Ecuatoriane de Derecho Ambinental Ambiental), an environmental law NGO. “Soon we can have a voice and be a part of the decision making on the environment and natural resources.”

In addition to adopting the Plan of Action, members elected co-chairs to run the working groups. Costa Rica and Brazil were mandated to design the regional instrument on Principle 10 and Jamaica and Columbia were given the role to facilitate work on cooperation and capacity building.

Coming Soon: Global Forest Watch 2.0

James Anderson — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 08:03:32 -0500

Welcome to the home of Global Forest Watch 2.0, a powerful near real-time forest monitoring system that unites satellite technology, data sharing, and human networks around the world to fight deforestation.

GFW 2.0 is currently under development, and will launch in late 2013.

Read more below, and email gfw2@wri.org to participate in the pilot testing period or be notified when GFW 2.0 launches. Please note that as we prepare for the launch, the original Global Forest Watch website has been redirected to this page.

Watch a Short Preview of Global Forest Watch 2.0 at the UN Forum on Forests 10, in Istanbul.

Watch the full version here

Speakers:

Zulkifli Hasan, Minister of Forestry, Indonesia
Kerri-Ann Jones, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General, United Nations
Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson, Global Environment Facility
Tim Christophersen, Senior Program Officer, Forests and Climate Change, UNEP
Nigel Sizer, Director, Global Forests Initiative, World Resources Institute

Photo by David Gilbert

WHY FORESTS, WHY NOW?

Forests provide food jobs, raw materials, climate benefits and more. But without clear, up-to-date information, governments, companies and communities lack the tools to monitor and manage these resources.

We can track a company’s financial information daily, but information about forests is often years out of date.

Deforestation continues today in part because by the time satellite images are available, analyzed, and shared, the forest clearing is long done. The illegal loggers have moved on; cattle are already grazing amidst stumps; the oil palm plantation has been established. We simply find out too late.

New technologies can overcome these challenges

Fortunately, a convergence of technologies and human networks offers the ability to address these challenges for the first time:

Advances in satellite and remote sensing technology, including the launch of NASA’s Landsat 8 in early 2013, and new private systems, enable higher spatial resolution analysis and much more rapid updates of information. This has enabled the development of near-real-time forest cover change detection.
Brazilian partner IMAZON, is making its Amazon Alert System available through GFW 2.0, and also the DETER system which is innovating in detection of forest degradation. Brazil has seen a remarkable drop in deforestation in the Amazon of almost 80 percent partly due to improved linked to more effective use of satellite imagery.
Cloud computing and open source software can now be used to rapidly process and interpret large volumes of satellite data at low cost by utilizing clusters of servers scattered around the world. Google Earth Engine’s team is partnered with Global Forest Watch 2.0 to optimize easy access to cloud computing-based forest cover information.
High speed internet connectivity enables sending data and forest maps processed in North America, Europe, or Singapore to laptops and mobile phones in Jakarta, Kinshasa, Lima, Vladivostok, and other corners of the globe.
Smartphones are more common than ever and can be used by anyone in the field to download maps and satellite images, as well as upload GPS coordinates and photographs from the ground.
Crowdsourcing using simple web interfaces can empower thousands if not millions of people to gather and share information, participate in forest monitoring, and hold decision-makers accountable. • Social media outlets are creating a flat, networked world in which information travels fast, communities self-organize, and people get mobilized.

ABOUT GLOBAL FOREST WATCH 2.0

These enhanced technologies and social movements are the foundation for Global Forest Watch 2.0. GFW 2.0 will unite a near-real-time deforestation alert system, complementary satellite imagery and monitoring systems, WRI’s data-rich collection of maps, mobile technology, and a networked world to create never-before-possible transparency for faraway forests.

The platform is currently under development, and will be launched in late 2013.

This powerful new platform will enable responsible companies, NGOs, the media, and progressive government leaders to hold those responsible accountable for forest management.

GFW 2.0 can be useful to multiple groups of users involved with the sustainable management of forests:

Buyers of sustainable commodities. GFW 2.0 will enable buyers of sustainably sourced commodities―such as certified timber, palm oil, soya, and beef―to confirm adherence to or violations of supplier commitments to “no deforestation,” “no clearing of high conservation value forest,” and related criteria.
Suppliers of sustainable commodities. GFW 2.0 will help suppliers of sustainable commodities prove to buyers, investors, governments, and NGOs that their commodities are adhering to best forest management practices, national laws, criteria of the relevant commodity roundtables, or investor lending conditions.
Governments. GFW 2.0 is designed to help progressive elements in governments better enforce sustainable forest management and forest protection laws. GFW 2.0 is also designed to be a trusted, independent, and user-friendly way to help investors in REDD+ and other forest conservation projects monitor performance and hold countries accountable to their commitments on greenhouse gas emission reductions and forest conservation.
Conservation and community organizations. GFW 2.0 will enable NGOs dedicated to forest conservation, indigenous rights, and forest communities to identify deforestation hotspots as they arise and quickly mobilize action to curtail further clearing.
The media. GFW 2.0 will enable local, national, and international media to ring the alarm bell on deforestation hotspots around the globe at a pace never-before-possible, and thereby put pressure on governments, companies, and others to curtail forest conversion and illegal logging in time

Applying new technology

GFW 2.0 combines satellites, new algorithms, cloud computing, mobile phone technologies, and WRI databases to connect images, maps, photos, and data with forest clearing alerts ultimately within two weeks of significant deforestation occurring.

Because GFW 2.0 will be powered by Google Earth Engine and Earth Builder, it will bring to target users a seamless experience of the best technology offered by WRI, Google, and their partners, as Bloomberg does for the world’s vast, complex array of financial information.

Mobilizing human networks

GFW 2.0 will mobilize networks of people to ensure sustainable management of forests and greater forest conservation. Global Forest Watch “anchor” NGOs in each priority country or region, will actively use and contribute content in an open-source, network model.

These groups will include ScanEx and its non-profit affiliate Transparent World in Russia, Imazon in Brazil and their Amazon-wide network of partners across the seven neighboring countries, the Observatoire Satellital des Forêts d’Afrique Centrale (OSFAC) which covers the Central Africa region. More partners in Canada, China, Europe, and the United States are joining every day.

Watch a Sneak Peek of GFW 2.0 presented at Rio+20

Video streaming by Ustream

Speakers:

Carlos Souza Jr., Senior Researcher, IMAZON
Charles Barber, Forest Division Chief, Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science, U.S. Department of State
Rebecca Moore, Google
Nigel Sizer, Director, Global Forest Initiative, World Resources Institute

Watch UNEP’s press conference featuring GFW 2.0 at COP18 in Doha

Speakers:

Mr. Heru Prasetyo, Deputy I, Presidential Delivery Unit on Development Monitoring and Oversight, Government of Indonesia
Tim Christophersen, Senior Programme Officer, Forests and Climate Change, UNEP
Jane Feehan, Natural Resources Specialist, European Investment Bank
Nigel Sizer, Director, Global Forest Initiative, World Resources Institute

Watch a Sneak Peek of Global Forest Watch 2.0 at the U.S. Pavilion, COP18 in Doha

Video streaming by Ustream

Speakers:

Nigel Sizer, Director, Forests Initiative, World Resources Institute
Nirarta “Koni” Samadhi, Head of REDD+ Task Force Working Group on Moratorium Monitoring, Presidential Work Unit on Monitoring and Development Oversight (UKP4), Government of Indonesia
Per Fredrik Ilsaas Pharo, Director, International Climate and Forest Initiative, Norwegian Ministry of the Environment, Government of Norway
Tim Christophersen, Senior Program Officer, Forests and Climate Change, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Read more about WRI’s forest work here.

COP 18: Doha

Kevin Lustig — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:09:59 -0400

WRI Experts at COP 18

WRI Events at COP 18

COP 18 Commentary

From November 26 to December 7, 2012, the United Nations will host the 18th Conference of the Parties (COP) in Qatar.

WRI experts will be in attendance at this latest meeting under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) to help inform the talks. Here, you can find a variety of materials from the World Resources Institute that shed light on key areas of international climate policy.

WRI Resources for COP 18

Open Climate Network Analysis

Kevin Lustig — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:16:37 -0400

Use the list to the right to explore available analysis from the Open Climate Network »

Parceria viabiliza inclusão de serviços ecossistêmicos nos planos de negócios das empresas

James Anderson — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:27:43 -0400

Ver texto em Português OR Read text in English here

Um grupo de empresas líderes brasileiras deu início hoje a uma parceria para incorporar serviços ecossistêmicos em suas estratégias de negócios. A Parceria Empresarial pelos Serviços Ecossistêmicos (PESE) representa um grande esforço para incluir a biodiversidade e os serviços ecossistêmicos na estratégia de negócios das empresas e melhorar o desempenho corporativo no Brasil, país sede da Conferência das Nações Unidas sobre Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Rio+20), no próximo mês.

A ideia é desenvolver estratégias que aliem o desempenho empresarial à gestão sustentável dos ecossistemas. Empresas líderes, como Anglo American, Grupo André Maggi, PepsiCo, Vale, Votorantim e Wal-Mart, estão entre as primeiras companhias participantes desta iniciativa. A parceria é coordenada pelo Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CEBDS), Centro de Estudos em Sustentabilidade da Fundação Getúlio Vargas (GVces) e World Resources Institute (WRI), com apoio da Agência dos Estados Unidos para o Desenvolvimento Internacional (USAID).

“A indústria depende dos serviços ecossistêmicos, como produção de alimentos, água doce e limpa, um clima estável, e proteção contra riscos naturais como enchentes, entre outros benefícios,” explicou Craig Hanson, diretor do Programa de Pessoas e Ecossistemas do WRI. “A PESE irá capacitar as companhias brasileiras a gerenciar proativamente riscos e oportunidades nos negócios, decorrentes de suas dependências e impactos sobre os serviços ecossistêmicos.”

A parceria irá impulsionar novas soluções de negócios em meio à larga degradação dos ecossistemas através da aplicação local da Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR), ou Revisão Corporativa dos Serviços Ecossistêmicos, metodologia líder de avaliação de serviços ecossistêmicos, desenvolvida pelo WRI, em cooperação com o World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) e o Meridian Institute. Aplicando a ESR, cada empresa parceira da PESE vai desenvolver estratégias para melhor competir e ter sucesso em um mundo que cada vez mais esbarra nos limites naturais dos ecossistemas.

“As companhias que já utilizam a ESR têm sido capazes de descobrir novas estratégias rentáveis enquanto protegem e restauram os ecossistemas. Nosso objetivo é replicar esse sucesso no Brasil,” disse Marina Grossi, presidente do CEBDS (Conselho Empresarial Brasileiro para o Desenvolvimento Sustentável).

Um exemplo de uma companhia que registrou resultados positivos a partir do gerenciamento consciente dos escossistemas em que opera é a Mondi, maior companhia europeia de papel e celulose. A Mondi conduziu a ESR em três plantações de papel na África do Sul, em 2008. A ESR ressaltou estratégias que a companhia poderia implementar para aumentar o acesso à água doce, melhorando as bacias hidrográficas regionais, estreitando relações com a comunidade local e reduzindo custos operacionais.

Aproximadamente 300 empresas no mundo já implementaram a ESR, desde 2008. Conforme essa metodologia ganha força no Brasil, WRI, CEBDS e GVces promoverão assistência técnica e consultoria às empresas parceiras, com o objetivo de assegurar a qualidade e eficiência na aplicação da ESR.

Os parceiros também têm como objetivo criar uma rede de empresas ativas na gestão de serviços ecossistêmicos no Brasil, para comunicar resultados, contribuir com estudos de casos e intensificar as estratégias de sucesso. “Assim como a chegada do GHG Protocol há cinco anos, o lançamento da PESE hoje representa um passo adicional na gestão de serviços ecossistêmicos no ambiente empresarial brasileiro” explicou Mario Monzoni, coordenador do GVces.

O evento de lançamento da PESE aconteceu no dia 10 de maio de 2012, das 17h às 18h, no Jardim Botânico no Rio de Janeiro – RJ.

Para saber mais sobre a PESE, acesse o site http://insights.wri.org/pese

A realização da PESE é possibilitada pelo apoio generoso do povo norte-americano, por meio da Agência dos Estados Unidos para o Desenvolvimento Internacional (USAID). Seu conteúdo é de responsabilidade do WRI, GVces e CEBDS, e não reflete necessariamente a posição da USAID ou do Governo dos Estados Unidos.

Contact (in English)
World Resources Institute
James Anderson; Janderson@wri.org; +1 (202) 729 7600

Contato (em português)
GWA Comunicação Integrada
Kelly Souza; kelly.souza@gwacom.com; (11) 6620-2234

Contato (CEBDS)
In Press Porter Novelli
Tatiana Wolff; tatiana.wolff@inpresspni.com.br; (21) 3723-8095
Suzana Ribeiro; suzana.ribeiro@inpresspni.com.br; (21) 3723-8117

ADVISORY: Press Teleconference on Decision Making in a Changing Climate

Michael Oko — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:34:36 -0400

Global Partners to Launch Major New Report on Climate Adaptation

In the face of extreme weather events and other environmental changes related to climate change, international partners are releasing: Decision Making in a Changing Climate, the latest edition of the World Resources Report. The report, by the World Resources Institute, UNDP, UNEP and the World Bank, focuses on climate change adaptation and decisions by national leaders with a focus on developing countries. The report will be launched via a press teleconference on Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. ET.

From massive droughts in the Horn of Africa to record rainfall in the United States to wildfires in Brazil demonstrate, the world is witnessing the types of challenges national leaders face in adapting to climate change. According to global insurance company, Munich Re, there were more than 950 natural disasters in 2010, 90 percent of which were weather-related, costing a total of at least $130 billion.

The report draws on real-world case studies from Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Indonesia, Mali, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Rwanda, South Africa, and Vietnam.

The press call is open to international media and will feature remarks and a two-way Q&A session with media.

WHAT
Launch of the World Resources Report 2010-2011: Decision Making in a Changing Climate

WHO
Manish Bapna, Interim President, World Resources Institute
Olav Kjørven, Director of the Bureau for Development Policy, UNDP
Andrew Steer, Special Envoy for Climate Change, World Bank Group (from South Africa)
Kaveh Zahedi, Coordinator, Climate Change Program, UNEP

WHEN
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
9:00 a.m. ET
Note: Media should call-in 5-10 minutes prior to the start time

WHERE
To participate, media should dial:
United States: (888) 942-9261
International: + (415) 228-4959
Conference code: WRR

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

Measurement and Performance Tracking in Developing Countries

Samah Elsayed — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:31:09 -0400

Developing countries face the challenge of meeting development goals while at the same time reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to address climate change. For these efforts to succeed, effective systems are needed to manage greenhouse gases and related emissions reduction activities.

To that end, the World Resources Institute (WRI) is working through the Measurement and Performance Tracking (MAPT) project to build national capacities in developing countries to measure GHG emissions and track performance toward low-carbon development goals. Lessons learned are also being shared with international audiences in order to replicate successes and inform the design of relevant rules within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

WRI is partnering with a broad range of relevant stakeholders within the six MAPT countries, including government agencies, business, and civil society organizations. WRI’s engagement within each country is prioritized according to national capacity needs, which have been identified through scoping assessments conducted with in-country partners.

MAPT is a four-year project funded primarily by the International Climate Initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and being carried out in partnership with key stakeholders in Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, South Africa, and Thailand.

For more information on the MAPT project contact the project manager, Kelly Levin at KLevin@wri.org.

To learn more about the MAPT project visit:
Tools and Outputs
Countries

You can also read more about the individual components that make up the work:
Institutions
National GHG Emissions Inventories
Mitigation Accounting
Civil Society Policy Implementation
Industry
Forestry and Land Use
International

Low-Carbon Development in Emerging Economies

Kevin Lustig — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:25:58 -0400

Today’s major emerging economies — countries such as Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, and South Africa — face the challenge of increasing economic development while also overcoming serious barriers to energy access and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. These countries recognize the need for a shift to low-carbon climate-resilient development, but seek solutions that do not compromise growth.

It is possible to meet this challenge while addressing climate change. WRI’s vision is that these countries make a clear link between low-carbon growth and long-term prosperity, and support policies and incentives that advance national development priorities while significantly reducing GHGs. If successful, these countries would redefine the conventional growth paradigm, and offer innovative solutions that set the world firmly on a low-carbon and climate-resilient path.

Use the links below to explore WRI’s work on emerging economies:

WRI’s work by country:

(Click on a highlighted country for publications and other resources)

WRI’s Jonathan Lash to Brief Journalists on Environmental “Stories to Watch” for 2010

Paul Mackie — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:42:50 -0500

WHAT: For the seventh straight year, Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute, will hold a briefing for journalists to preview key environmental issues to watch this year.

WHEN: Thursday, January 7, 2010
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. EST
Presentation and Q-and-A Session
(Continental Breakfast will be served at 9 a.m.)

WHERE: National Press Club
First Amendment Room
529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20045
(Metro: Red, Orange and Blue Lines to Metro Center)

WHO: Jonathan Lash, president, World Resources Institute

WHY: Will the Copenhagen Accord be implemented and, if so, how? With the help of the “London Challenge” and other initiatives, how much is the long-neglected potential for forest restoration beginning to change? Are SEC laws relating to climate change likely to be enforced due to the financial crisis? What options do the EPA and Congress have for reducing CO2, and who will provide federal leadership? What environmental and political factors will come into play as China focuses on implementing its 40 percent to 45 percent target to reduce carbon intensity? What progress is Congress making on a bill to limit Chesapeake Bay pollution?

Jonathan Lash has a strong record of working closely with CEOs of major corporations, members of Congress and the White House, and leaders from countries worldwide. He is a unique and trusted voice from the environmental NGO community for these leaders, and journalists can benefit from his insight for their future stories on issues ranging from climate and business action to water and forests.

Rolling Stone called him a “climate warrior and hero,” recognizing him for bridging the divide between industry and environmental leaders. He was named one of the world’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Finance by Treasury & Risk Management magazine, and was the only leader of a non-profit environmental organization to make the list.

A former co-chair of President Clinton’s Council on Sustainable Development and secretary of natural resources in Vermont, Lash currently serves on the advisory board of Generation Investment Management, on the GE Ecomagination Advisory Council, and as a leader of the United States Climate Action Partnership.

RSVP: Paul Mackie, WRI director of media relations, +1(202) 729-7684, pmackie@wri.org
Jessica Forres, WRI media officer, +1(202) 729-7684, jforres@wri.org

Save the Date for WRI's Environmental Stories to Watch 2010 Press Briefing

Paul Mackie — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:58:54 -0500

Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute (WRI), will brief journalists on January 7 at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. on upcoming environmental issues in 2010, including climate, business action, water, forests and more.

Look for a full media advisory with more details, including Webcast information, to be sent the week of the event.

Please RSVP: Paul Mackie, WRI director of media relations, +1(202) 729-7684, pmackie@wri.org or Jessica Forres, WRI media officer, +1(202) 729-7736, jforres@wri.org

Transcripts, slidedecks and Webcasts from previous years

WRI’s Lash to Brief Press on Copenhagen’s Policy Implications for U.S. and Other Key Countries

Paul Mackie — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:05:39 -0500

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

WHAT: Please join the World Resources Institute (WRI) for a policy briefing for journalists on Wednesday that will summarize progress by the U.S. and other key countries, as well as business leaders, during the United Nations climate change conference (COP15).

WHEN: Wednesday, December 16, 2009 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. (Copenhagen time)

WHERE: Bella Center; Hall H; Asger Jorn room; Copenhagen, Denmark

WHO: Jonathan Lash, president, WRI

WHY: Details on progress made so far in Copenhagen will be outlined by Jonathan Lash, a co-founder of the United States Climate Action Partnership. Other WRI experts will also be on hand to answer questions on progress made at the conference regarding topics such as finance, forests, adaptation, and the latest public statements from world leaders.

The briefing will also be Webcast live and archived.

RSVP: Paul Mackie, WRI director of media relations, +1(202) 729-7684, pmackie@wri.org

MEDIA ADVISORY: CTS-Brasil, Challenge Bibendum Unite Latin American Mayors to Advance Sustainable Urban Transport

Paul Mackie — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:24:02 -0500

WHAT: The 2009 Sustainable Mobility Convention in Urban Renewal, hosted by the Center for Sustainable Transport in Brazil (CTS-Brasil), a member of the World Resources Institute’s EMBARQ Network, and Challenge Bibendum, an initiative sponsored by Michelin. The two-day event will gather mayors and transport officials from the 120 biggest cities in Latin America to discuss innovative initiatives for urban renewal and sustainable transport. For more info, go here.

WHEN: Wednesday, November 25 and Thursday, November 26, 2009

WHERE: Sofitel Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Av. Atlântica, 4240, Copacabana, 22070-002, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Phone: (+55) 21 25251232

WHO: Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, president of Brazil, will present at the Opening Ceremony, along with the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, and the mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes. The Convention will also attract leaders like Jaime Lerner, former mayor of Curitiba, Brazil, who conceived and implemented the first bus rapid transit system in the world, and Enrique Peñalosa, former mayor of Bogotá, Colombia, who greatly improved mobility and accessibility in the capital.

WHY: Participants will discuss alternatives for a more equitable and sustainable use of road space, opportunities for integrating the use of private and public transportation, and best practices of non-motorized transport in the urban context.

RSVP: Rejane Fernandes, CTS-Brasil communications and institutional relations coordinator +55 (51) 3312-6324, rfernandes@ctsbrasil.org

MEDIA ADVISORY: WRI Press Briefing on What to Expect at Copenhagen

Paul Mackie — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:24:01 -0500

WHAT: Please join the World Resources Institute (WRI) for a journalist-only policy briefing this Friday that will preview the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7-18.

WHEN: Friday, November 20, 2009
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm: Expert Briefings and Question & Answer Session
4:30 pm – 5:30 pm: Happy Hour Reception

WHERE: World Resources Institute, 10 G Street, NE, 8th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002 (Metro: Red Line to Union Station)

WHO: Jonathan Lash, president, World Resources Institute,
Jennifer Morgan, director, WRI Climate and Energy Program

WHY: Details on possible outcomes in Copenhagen will be outlined, including WRI expert perspectives on provisions for finance, forests, and adaptation – taking into account the latest public statements from leaders of the U.S., China, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and country environment ministries. WRI Climate and Energy program Director Jennifer Morgan will also release a new report, Foundations for a Low Carbon Future: Essential Elements of a Copenhagen Agreement.

RSVP: Paul Mackie, WRI director of media relations, +1(202) 729-7684, pmackie@wri.org

SOCIAL MEDIA: Twitter hashtag #wrinews

RSVP by Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Testimony Before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Getting to Yes on Climate Change

Maggie Barron — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:44:48 -0400

TESTIMONY OF JONATHAN LASH
PRESIDENT, WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE

HEARING BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
“LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON S. 1733, CLEAN ENERGY JOBS AND AMERICAN POWER ACT”

Good afternoon and thank you for inviting me to testify today regarding the pending legislation, action of other countries to address climate change, and the implications of their action for the United States.

I am Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute. WRI is a non-profit, non-partisan environmental think tank that goes beyond research to provide practical solutions to the world’s most urgent environment and development challenges. We work in partnership with scientists, businesses, governments, and non-governmental organizations in more than seventy countries to provide information, tools and analysis to address problems like climate change, and the degradation of ecosystems and their capacity to provide for human well-being.

I have a single message to deliver today: The time is ripe for Congress to enact climate legislation to reduce emissions, establish energy security, and create new jobs in clean energy. Other nations are moving; the outcome depends on us.

We need global action to solve this global problem. Those who have worried that the United States might act alone need worry no more. The worry should be that without us, the rising global effort will falter. The worry should be that if we hesitate, we will miss the opportunity to lead the coming clean energy revolution.

With other nations acting, U.S. action now can make the critical difference.

Other countries across the globe are moving to take action to confront global warming. This has transformed the debate over this issue. The time is ripe for the United States to act and it is in our own interest to act promptly. In a nutshell, there are three reasons for this:

Action by other countries increases opportunities for the United States if we are prepared to seize these opportunities.
Steps by other countries help ensure that the United States will not be disadvantaged by taking action itself.
Action by the United States is essential to cement an agreement under which all countries commit to continue and increase the steps they are taking.

In order to take action, we need a better understanding of what we are facing. We need to understand the opportunities. We need to put aside old myths. We need to focus on the real problems and recognize the solutions to those problems. And we need to get busy so we do not miss this opportunity.

A changed landscape

As illustrated by Figure 1, almost 80 percent of global emissions are produced by fifteen countries (counting the European Union as a single country). A majority of these are developing countries, which, until recently, said they would not take action on emissions without clear action by wealthy countries. At the same time, all countries have recognized that the poorest would need assistance in deploying clean energy and preserving forests and also in adapting to minimize the damage from changes in the climate that are no longer avoidable. What has changed is that in the last couple of years, and even in the last few months, without waiting for rich nations to act, countries such as China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa are stepping forward with significant proposals and actions.

As explained below, China provides an important example among developing nations, but China is not alone. Mexico has pledged to halve its greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, employing a “cap-and-trade” policy like the one under consideration in the U.S. Congress. South Africa has presented a detailed plan to peak its national emissions by 2020. India has defined eight national missions in efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture and ecosystems and is developing strategies in these areas. Recently, the Indian government announced it will offer new legislative proposals to tighten fuel efficiency standards and pursue other clean energy targets, and there have been indications of increased willingness to subject its actions to review. Deforestation accounts for about two thirds of Brazil’s greenhouse gas emissions. Brazil has said it would reduce its deforestation rate 70 percent from recent levels by 2017.

Among developed countries, a new government recently came to power in Japan, transforming that country from a laggard to a leader with an ambitious proposal to reduce emissions 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 if other major countries take ambitious action. The European Union position is that it will reduce its emissions by 20 percent regardless and by 30 percent if other developed countries take sufficient action. And Australia, heavily dependent on coal for consumption and exports, has said that it will cut its emissions by 25 percent below year 2000 levels if others take on similar actions.

The ball is now in our court, and it is in our interest to act. In December, the nations of the world will meet in Copenhagen, Denmark to try to reach agreement on plans to confront climate change. In order to reap the benefits of an agreement, we need to bring something credible to the table. That something is what this committee and this Congress write into legislation.

Let me explain what is at stake by focusing on China. China is a country taking action and looking at China helps us understand the problems, solutions, and opportunities before us.

The case of China

Some people have worried that action by the United States on climate change could put us at a competitive disadvantage if countries like China do not also take action and produce at lower cost. In fact, China is taking action, which can help assure that there is a level playing field. As I will explain, they are doing this because it is in their own interest, which should give us confidence they will continue. Instead of more delay, we should get an agreement that helps further to ensure that Chinese action on climate will continue and increase. But there is more. Not only should we lock in a commitment; we should work with China to reap the benefits of the new economic future emerging in the worldwide shift to clean energy.

Here are the facts. In 2005, realizing its growth in energy consumption was unsustainable for energy and climate security reasons, China launched a plan to reduce energy intensity 20 percent from 2005 levels by 2010. This may be the largest greenhouse gas mitigation program of any country. China also plans an increase in renewable energy to 10 percent by 2010. In 2007, China was second in the world in funds invested in renewable energy.

China, like the United States, is a major user of coal. However, China is closing inefficient coal plants, deploying state-of-the-art or better technology, and exploring carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. These efforts can help improve coal technology and bring down the costs. U.S. – China collaboration on development of CCS and other coal technologies is already underway and opens vast opportunities.

At the Major Economies Forum in July, China and India for the first time agreed at the international level to a declaration to take action to meaningfully reduce emissions below business as usual, peaking as soon as possible. Also, they recognized the scientific view that temperatures should not exceed 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

In the first-ever speech by a Chinese President to the UN General Assembly in September, 2009, President Hu Jintao said China will reduce its carbon intensity by “a notable margin” by 2020.

Why are they doing this? “All politics is local.”

China’s aggressive action to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions is not an act of global charity. China’s leadership realizes they cannot maintain growth and reduce poverty without conservation of resources. Pollution is choking off growth and producing social unrest. Adverse impacts from climate change are projected to undermine agricultural productivity and cause flooding in south China and along the coasts.

Qi Ye, deputy director of the China Sustainable Energy Program in Beijing says you have to “address the global issue in terms of local need” because people act on what they care about. Similar sentiments can be heard in other developing countries. In describing India’s new initiatives on clean energy, the Indian environmental minister said recently, “I want to be aggressive, because, frankly, we are a country that is climate dependent” because of rising seas and monsoons. “We may not have caused the problem, but we have to be part of the solution.”

How do we know they’re doing what they say? “Trust but verify.”

Self interest in taking action to confront climate change affords us some confidence that countries like China will follow through. Still, challenges remain. Reliable data are not always available and standards of enforcement, governance and transparency are variable. This is one of the reasons it is in our own interest to establish an international climate agreement. A key element in the negotiations is creation of a system for measuring, reporting, and verifying actions to give confidence that promises are being kept and action taken.

Just as President Reagan suggested to Soviet leader Gorbachev in signing the nuclear arms reduction treaty and quoting the Russian proverb “trust but verify,” trust is fine, but real confidence depends on verification.

Verification of China’s action to reduce emissions will be feasible. China participates in peer review and verification already under international agreements like the WTO and the Montreal Protocol to address ozone. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has worked with China in successful efforts to improve its control of sulfur dioxide emissions. China has already begun collecting and verifying energy data. Moreover, the United States could invest in satellite tracking as an additional way to help check up on whether China is meeting its commitments.

China and the United States – solving problems, seizing opportunities.

Some people have worried that China would steal American jobs by competing using dirty production processes. The reality is China is pulling ahead of us by being innovative and clean. If doubts remain, a global climate agreement can allay them by ensuring action by all that will help level the playing field. As a fallback, the House-passed climate bill protects energy-intensive U.S. industry by providing free allowances to comply with cap-and-trade, in the form of output-based rebates. When the rebates phase out a decade from now, the president is authorized to impose border duties if action by China and other countries has not done enough to level the playing field.

In September 2009, The Wall Street Journal said that a group of Western firms published a report anticipating a $500 billion to $1 trillion market annually in China for clean technology. In August and September, America’s third largest coal fired electric utility, Duke Energy Corp., announced agreements to explore clean energy and carbon capture projects with Chinese companies. In July, the U.S. and Chinese governments signed an MOU for joint research collaboration.

The opportunities are there in the vast Chinese and global markets and in collaboration with the Chinese and others in the private and public sectors. But to take advantage of the opportunities, the United States will have to get its act together to promote clean energy. We risk falling behind if we don’t move forward. Climate legislation is key because, by putting a price on carbon, it shifts investment into clean energy. The pending legislation also contains important new financial support for clean energy development, clean technology exports, and carbon capture and storage technology. Additionally, it creates economic opportunities in international carbon trading.

Getting it in writing – U.S. legislation and a global agreement.

Now what we need is a global agreement, confirming and strengthening the new trajectory of China, India and others. To realize the benefits of a global agreement, the United States needs to take action – better yet, take action and take the lead – to make the global agreement possible.

Both warming and the emissions that cause it are global. The economy, trade, and competition are global. A global agreement provides a basis on which countries can act with some confidence that others will do so as well. It can address issues of verification, competitiveness, and fairness, and it can create new opportunities for collaboration on clean energy.

In order to get that global agreement, Congress needs to take action on climate legislation so our negotiators can go to the negotiating table with what the United States will do – what emissions reductions we will achieve and what assistance we will provide to help less developed countries shift to clean energy and adapt to climate change.

U.S. negotiators have made clear that they will not commit the United States to greenhouse gas reductions and other critical points without a clear expression of political will by Congress. At the same time, other countries have expressed understandable reluctance to complete an agreement without a commitment from the United States. Thus, until Congress acts on U.S. legislation, the world cannot reach final agreement.

Only if all nations come forward with what they propose to do is agreement possible. The question is no longer whether others will act. They are acting. The question is whether we will act. The point is no longer that global warming cannot be addressed without those other countries. The point is that it cannot be addressed without this country and that we cannot gain the benefits of leadership unless we enact climate legislation.

Then we can not only avert the threat of dangerous global warming; we can reap the benefits of new jobs, economic growth, and energy security in the age of clean energy.

The United States has led the world through great economic and social changes and has thrived by doing so. This is an occasion and an issue on which the world again needs that leadership.

Additional Resources

Comparative Analysis of National Climate Change Strategies in Developing Countries (PDF, 631 Kb). This matrix helps policymakers compare the National Climate Change plans of five developing countries: India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa.

Small Companies, Big Impacts

Maggie Barron — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:37:18 -0400

The New Ventures directors answer questions about what small, sustainable companies can do to boost local economies and protect the environment.

One company supplies solar lanterns to communities without electricity. Another refurbishes discarded copy machines and resells them to companies that couldn’t otherwise afford them. Another turns coffee waste into ethanol. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the engines of local economies. They drive innovation, spur equitable growth, create jobs, and supply poor communities with better products and services. But many small entrepreneurs have trouble bringing their ideas to fruition, and most will fail within the first few years. For sustainable SMEs – those that manufacture and market environmentally friendly products and serve low income communities – the challenges can be particularly daunting.

WRI created New Ventures to help sustainable SMEs build their capacity, learn key management skills, and connect with investors. Working in six of the worlds’ emerging economies – Brazil, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, and Mexico – New Ventures helps these countries develop their economies while protecting their environment.

I recently sat down with the six New Ventures country directors at their annual meeting in Washington, DC and asked them to explain why these small companies can have such a big impact:

What challenges do small and medium enterprises (SMEs) face?

Sanjoy Sanyal, India: In the developing world, SMEs lack one very critical resource: credit and financial resources to grow. They may also have access challenges, such as access to markets, access to the right kind of talent, but fundamentally the lack of access to credit and financial resources can be a debilitating obstacle.

Diyanto Imam, Indonesia: There’s also the challenge of capacity building. In terms of technical knowledge, these people know what they are doing. They know how to develop efficient machines, they know how to create a formula for an organic pesticide or herbicide. But many of them don’t know how to run a company, they don’t know how to develop a balance sheet, or they don’t even know what a balance sheet is.

Diyanto Imam

They don’t have the business skills to begin with, and for green SMEs in particular, they also need to educate their customers about their products. Most people in Indonesia don’t really differentiate between green products and conventional products. They equate green products with a premium price and don’t understand the other benefits.

Andre Carvalho, Brazil: In Brazil, it’s very difficult to attract investment. Many companies don’t know how to market themselves. They don’t know what “green” means exactly, or they’re green and they don’t even know it. These companies need investment, they need resources, they need networking opportunities, and they need media attention.

Why is it so important to help SMEs?

Sanjoy Sanyal, India: In developed countries like the US or in Europe, SMEs contribute a substantial percentage of the gross domestic product. So vibrant SMEs, when they’re well managed, have the ability to radically reshape a country’s economics. At the same time they have these challenges. So it’s really fertile ground for intervention.

Diana Gaviria, Colombia: It’s not only important to help SMEs, it’s important to help green SMEs. In many ways, in our country, SMEs are the motor of the economy, and by having green SMEs that are successful, we’re promoting more sustainable societies and showing the world in general that having a sustainable business model is something not only viable but that can also promote economic development.

Can helping SMEs also help the poor?

Andre Carvalho, Brazil: Yes, definitely. SMEs can work more directly with smaller suppliers than big companies can. The majority of suppliers to big companies have to be big themselves in order to keep up. If we help SMEs develop, they can act as suppliers to big companies and also develop relationships with smaller and local suppliers and bring more business to them. The business model is more inclusive.

Andre Carvalho

Diyanto Imam, Indonesia: They provide employment, which is particularly good for Indonesia because for the last thirty years, the center of economic activity has been in the capital in Jakarta. 70% of the money circulates in Jakarta, and that’s not good for the economy. So SMEs can really help develop the economies of smaller cities.

Sanjoy Sanyal, India: Most of our SMEs have base-of-the-pyramid strategies, where they either provide services to poor communities or low-cost products. They do help the poor, not necessarily because they are small, but because of the nature of the business they do.

Sanjoy Sanyal

The type of companies we work with are the ones that sell solar lanterns, or energy efficient cooking stoves for poorer people, poorer women in particular. These products help bolster local economies in both a socially and environmentally constructive way.

What does New Ventures do to help?

Weijia Ye, China: We help sustainable SMEs grow by getting them the right type of funding. We work with them to develop their business plans and help them network with a range of mentors whom they could not access by themselves.

Rodrigo Villar, Mexico: We are also trying to convince people that being an entrepreneur is better than just having a regular job. We don’t really have any entrepreneurs in Mexico. There is a negative connotation to what “businessman” means there; usually it makes people think of rich men who have stolen money. So no one wants to be an entrepreneur. Everyone wants to get a university degree and then work for a big company. And when you talk about environmental entrepreneurs, it’s even harder. We have to convince people to go into environmental areas and industries, because they can make a profit and help their society develop.

Diana Gaviria

Diana Gaviria, Colombia: One of the most important things we do is act as an honest broker and help these companies get to investors and institutions that can aid them in their process of acceleration. We’re trying to promote a climate where individuals of high net worth can invest in companies rather than just big institutions that come in and do all these very demanding due diligences and long processes for riskier business.

What are some examples of the companies in the New Ventures portfolio?

Sanjoy Sanyal, India: One company that comes to mind is called Sumaya HMX Systems. They make energy efficient air conditioning systems. India and large parts of the developing world are hot and tropical, and air conditioning is by now a mandatory requirement for most workplaces, but at the same time they consume loads of energy, and are a big source of carbon emissions. This company uses a technology that allows adaptive cooling – a more efficient cooling system – which brings the temperature to only a couple of degrees above what you’d expect in a conventional air conditioning system. It’s still comfortable, but it obviates a lot of the energy usage and carbon emissions in more conventional AC systems. It’s a great technology; it’s very useful and appropriate for large parts of both the developing world and the developed world. I think New Ventures’ intervention in this company was at a very interesting point. We were able to get the company a corporate investor, which took on a simple majority stake in this company, and helped the innovation reach a very large audience because of their marketing and technical service operation.

Diana Gaviria, Colombia: In Colombia we work with a man who had his own water treatment company that mainly served affluent neighborhoods. He wanted more out of his business, and so he investigated technologies and came up with one that would provide water to communities that currently don’t have any access to water at a very low cost, much less than what people were already having to pay. When he first came to us we weren’t sure if his proposal was viable. He wanted the communities to manage the whole operation, so he not only wanted to sell to them but he wanted them to be involved in the management of the business. We had many discussions with him and finally we were convinced. And so with the help of students from the Cornell MBA program and business mentors, we put together a viable business model, where he is able to produce portable water treatment plants that can be run and operated in local communities.

Rodrigo Villar

Rodrigo Villar, Mexico: We work with a company called Biofabrica Siglo XXI. They came to us four years ago. The owner of this company was an agronomist, he didn’t have any experience with business, and he was using this technology to change chemical fertilizer into biological fertilizers. So we helped him with the business plan, and now, four years later, this company is worth $7 million, and over 200,000 hectares are using his bio-fertilizers instead of the chemical ones, and he was able to drop the price of his product too, so he continues to get new clients.

How is the economic crisis impacting your country?

Weijia Ye, China: It’s different for different industries. In general it’s hard to say “Now it’s ending.” I would be pretty cautious and wait another half year or year. This crisis is so different from previous ones because no one can predict it. Some of them are doing pretty well, but it doesn’t mean it’s the end of the crisis. I think the current financial crisis is sending a very strong, clear signal that there is something fundamentally wrong with this current regime of the market economy.

Rodrigo Villar, Mexico: Between the economy, the H1N1 flu scare, and the drug problems, it’s been a tough year for us. But a recession can be a good time for entrepreneurs. Companies are growing. If they can make it work now, they’ll grow even more as the economy recovers.

Can green companies be competitive in the current economy?

Sanjoy Sanyal, India: These are early days. But I think there clearly is an understanding that yes, green companies can be competitive. A lot of it is coming from the fact that, while the US is still struggling with its economy, it is still clearly signaling to the world that businesses need to develop a more sustainable model. So whether it’s Walmart or a Cisco, people are saying that we need to incorporate energy efficiency and climate into our business thinking. Another thing the US is signaling to the world, which I think emerging economies are picking up on, is the fact that consumers are willing to vote with their wallets that they would like to spend more on goods and services that have a clearly professed environmentally positive, or at least an environmentally neutral effect.

Andre Carvalho, Brazil: Six years ago the community of investors in Brazil thought that sustainable business was only something very small, and that it couldn’t be scaled up. But New Ventures has been showing them that there are a lot of opportunities, and showcasing successful fair trade models that are part of a new history that’s being written right now. We are showing the mainstream that there are other ways to think about community development.

Weijia Ye

Weijia Ye, China: We want our SMEs not only to be producing green products, but also to have strong values. I believe that the future of the world depends on all companies becoming sustainable. There’s a call for a new generation of enterprises, which should be different from Henry Ford’s generation. Because at the time, if you look at the management of these original industries, they were quite brutal. We’re at the stage where we should not be doing the same things as we did before. We are ready to develop new models.

What motivates you in your work at New Ventures?

Diyanto Imam, Indonesia: You get to meet these great individuals with ideas, with fire in the belly. They have amazing passion. I like to meet with these entrepreneurs simply because they are passionate about what they do. They have this belief that they can change the environment and affect the people around them in a good way. The spirit is there. In Indonesia, life is tough. But these people see opportunities.

Weijia Ye, China: My wish is for the next generations of big companies to be fundamentally different from current versions. They should not be developing Corporate Social Responsibility plans only when they become big. They should have these plans in their DNA from the very beginning. It should be incorporated into their way of doing business. These small companies we work with have the right core values now, and when they grow they will be part of the next generation of business.