Topic: china

Environmental and Social Policies in Overseas Investments: Progress and Challenges in China

Sarah Parsons — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:57:41 -0400

Summary

Like other countries that invest overseas, China—through the projects it finances and executes—can bring great benefit to the countries and communities in which it invests (“host countries”). However, investments can pose challenges and risks to host and investor countries. Effectively tailored environmental and social policies can identify and mitigate not only unanticipated environmental and social harm, but also some of the investment risks that can undermine the long-term financial success of a project.

Even in the midst of the 2008–09 global financial crisis, China’s outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) continued to grow.1 Between 2008 and 2009, China’s OFDI flows grew nearly 8 percent, while total world OFDI flows during the same period decreased nearly 40 percent (Unctad Stat 2012). In both 2009 and 2010, the Export-Import Bank of China and the China Development Bank together lent more than the World Bank did to developing countries (Dyer, Anderlini and Sender 2011).

Environmental and Social Policies in Overseas Investments: Progress and Challenges for China examines trends in China’s overseas investments and considers how social and environmental policies can reduce investment risks and enhance the positive impacts of China’s OFDI. We focus on three major forces in China’s OFDI: the central government, financial institutions, and centrally owned state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Although a variety of institutions are involved in overseas investments, the majority of Chinese OFDI originates from centrally owned SOEs, and its OFDI growth is fueled largely by the strong lending capacity of its financial institutions, especially the China Development Bank and the Export Import Bank of China. Aid, trade, and other types of financial interest that may be associated with overseas economic interests are not addressed here, nor are overseas investments by collectively or privately owned companies.

As China continues to expand overseas investments, understanding and managing the environmental and social impact of these investments in host countries can help it build mutually beneficial relation-ships with host countries. Already, methods to address environmental and social issues in overseas investments are emerging in China. Chinese regulatory authorities are creating guidelines in their areas of jurisdiction, and individual financial institutions are developing and refining their own policies. International experience with environmental and social risk mitigation offers a useful context for Chinese investors and policymakers to consider as they continue to develop these overseas investment policies.

Moving forward, China faces several challenges, not the least of which is a lack of understanding of the regulatory and legal environment in host countries. Attention to host countries’ regulatory and legal environments must be ratcheted up if investment risks are to be reduced. Supervisory challenges and coordination among ministries should also be prioritized. Finally, even though governments, financial institutions, and corporations have produced multiple guidelines and policies to guide more sustainable overseas investments, implementation remains a major challenge. Sufficient resources should be directed toward implementation to overcome barriers such as cost, coordination of resources, and time.

While these challenges are real, China’s rapid economic growth and global presence also create opportunities that offer insight for a global audience. China can shape the direction and return of its OFDI to maximize positive impact and achieve “win-win” relationships with host countries. As an experienced recipient of OFDI, China can now apply those lessons as it invests abroad. In addition, China can step into facilitator and leadership roles in the international agenda of promoting sustainable cross-border investment, especially in developing countries.

This issue brief is the first in a series of WRI publications by the International Financial Flows and the Environment (IFFE) project that examine the role of environmental and social policies in overseas investments. Future publications will look at the “business case” for adopting stronger environmental and social policies, and will include case studies of overseas investments from China and other countries.

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

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

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

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

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

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

LISTEN TO THE RECORDING:

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

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

WHEN:
Friday, March 1, 2013

TIME:
9:00 a.m. EST

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

ACCESS CODE: “WRI”

RSVP to lzelin@wri.org

Aqueduct Metadata Document: Yellow River Basin Study

Sarah Parsons — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:43:16 -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 Yellow River Basin Study helped inform and shape the global Aqueduct Water Risk Framework. The Yellow River Basin study contains 14 indicators of water quantity, water variability, water quality, public awareness of water issues, access to water, and ecosystem vulnerability.

Aqueduct Metadata Document: Yangtze River Basin Study

Sarah Parsons — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:33:33 -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 Yangtze River Basin Study helped inform and shape the global Aqueduct Water Risk Framework. The Yangtze River Basin study contains 14 indicators of water quantity, water variability, water quality, public awareness of water issues, access to water, and ecosystem vulnerability.

RELEASE: New Mapping Tool Provides Unprecedented Ability to Assess Water Risk

Lauren Zelin — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:08:10 -0500

Aqueduct provides companies with comprehensive, high-resolution picture of water risks worldwide.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) today launched a new online tool that maps water risk worldwide based on the most current, highest resolution data available. Companies, investors, and governments can use the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas to see how water stress will affect operations locally and globally, and help prioritize investments that will increase water security.

The online tool was developed by WRI, working with founding members of the Aqueduct Alliance, GE and Goldman Sachs, as well as Skoll Global Threats Fund, Shell, Bloomberg, Talisman Energy, Dow, United Technologies (UTC), DuPont, John Deere, Veolia Water, and the Dutch and Swedish governments.

The Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas is a customizable global map, based on 12 indicators of physical, regulatory, and reputational risk. In a user-friendly way, companies can now evaluate how water stress, flood occurrence, access to water, drought, and other issues may affect operations. Additionally, the global map can be tailored specifically for nine water-intense industry sectors - from oil and gas, to agriculture, to chemicals.

“Recent history is littered with companies that failed to anticipate emerging threats. Water scarcity is one such threat. Thankfully, forward-thinking business leaders are starting to get it. They understand that water risk is one of the top issues that they face,” said Andrew Steer, President, World Resources Institute. “This new platform will provide companies with comprehensive, high-resolution tools to measure water risk. It gives them an unprecedented ability to understand and better manage these risks.”

Companies have already been using earlier versions of the Aqueduct tool to understand how their operations and supply chains may be exposed to water risk. For example:

McDonalds has asked 353 of its global suppliers’ facilities to use Aqueduct to assess their local water risk;
Procter & Gamble, Owens-Corning, and AU Optronics have used Aqueduct to understand how local water supply, quality, and other risk factors may affect their global facilities, and to prioritize water efficiency and other investments;
Bank of America Merrill Lynch used Aqueduct to inform investors about water risks and opportunities in a recently released research report; and
Companies used Aqueduct to disclose and report on external water risk in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s (CDP) 2012 Global Water Report.

“Aqueduct’s global water risk map provides an innovative tool and important step forward in understanding critical water issues,” said Kyung-Ah Park, Head of the Environmental Markets Group at Goldman Sachs. “Assessing risk is challenging, and even more so with complex issues like water. Aqueduct provides a much more complete picture of the water issues affecting business globally than we’ve had before.”

Through the Atlas, users can plot the locations that matter most to them – from facilities, to suppliers, to potential new markets or proposed power plants – and compare those locations’ potential exposure to water stress and risk. They can also review maps of individual indicators, such as seasonal variability, which may be highly important to their operations.

“GE knows first-hand that water scarcity is a major challenge in many parts of the world,” said Heiner Markhoff, President and CEO of GE Water. “We’re very pleased that Aqueduct’s new global water risk maps will enhance understanding of these risks in ways that enable society to address them more effectively.”

The release of the global Water Risk Atlas is the culmination of a three-year effort by WRI to create a peer-reviewed and robust methodology for mapping complex water security around the world.

“Aqueduct’s global water risk mapping information is a valuable tool for understanding and addressing the pressing global threat of water security,” said Sylvia Lee, Water Manager, Skoll Global Threats Fund. “We understand that water is not just an environmental issue, but a real and substantial risk to communities, economies, and businesses. The new global water risk maps make it easier than ever to research and understand where in the world these risks are greatest, and where action is most needed.”

On Thursday January 31, WRI is hosting a public webinar to showcase the new Aqueduct water risk mapping tool – see information below.

On February 8, water experts from leading companies will participate in the “Water: Emerging Risks and Opportunities Summit” co-hosted by GE Power & Water, Goldman Sachs, and WRI at Goldman Sachs headquarters in New York City. For more information, contact Kevin Smith from Goldman Sachs at kevin.m.smith@gs.com.

EDITOR’S NOTE

Aqueduct is holding a webinar at 11:00AM ET on Thursday January 31 to introduce the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas. To register, visit http://www.wri.org/event/2013/01/webinar-wris-aqueduct-global-water-risk-mapping-tool.

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

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

Executive Summary

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

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

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

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

This Guide is designed to:

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

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

ADVISORY: WRI's Stories to Watch 2013

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

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

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

A continental breakfast will be served.

WHAT
World Resources Institute’s Stories to Watch 2013

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

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

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

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

Access code: “WRI”

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

Use #STW2013 on Twitter.

RSVP required to press@wri.org

Dr. Lailai Li Appointed as Director of WRI China

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Li will assume her office in February 2013.

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

Emerging Actors in Development Finance with Potential Social and Environmental Risks: China & Brazil

Christine Potochny — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:00:24 -0500

WRI’s work on emerging actors in development finance is led by the International Financial Flows and the Environment (IFFE) team.

The goal of this research is to improve the environmental, social, and climate change policies that govern emerging actors’ investments, and to ensure that local communities and civil society organizations impacted by the investments are able to engage with “emerging actors” more effectively. This preliminary research focuses on Chinese and Brazilian overseas investments and begins to look at the growth drivers and geographic trends of those investments.

A Changing Global Landscape

The landscape of development finance is rapidly changing. In the last decade, major emerging economies such as China and Brazil have been fueling a growing trend of South-South flows by increasingly channeling their overseas investments to other developing countries.

By taking this new approach, China and Brazil are surfacing as major international investors, their activities driven by financial institutions such as:

the Export-Import Bank of China (China ExIm),
the China Development Bank (CDB), and
the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES).

Other commercial banks and state-owned and private enterprises also have roles to play in this process. These “emerging actors” finance and invest in major initiatives designed to open new markets and to forge strategic relationships.

Many of these investments comprise small and medium size projects developed by private SMEs. Others constitute large-scale, high impact projects requiring access to and management of natural resources. The projects are reshaping the relationship between investors and recipient countries, as well as posing new opportunities for environmental and social sustainability initiatives.

Research Focus

Our work focuses on exploring questions such as:

How are Chinese and Brazilian overseas investments impacting development finance and the environment?
What unique characteristics do China and Brazil display in their approach to environmental and social sustainability?
What opportunities can be created for both investor and host countries?
How should the environmental and social risks of increasing OFDI be managed?

Strategy: Three Elements

Investor Country (China & Brazil Strategy)	Engage governmental organizations to develop environmental and social guidelines to govern overseas investments.
	Engage companies and financial institutions to develop and implement environmental and social risk management policies.
	Build the capacity of local civil society organizations to promote stronger environmental and social guidelines.
International Strategy	Study on coherence of international trade and financial treaties and multiple environmental agreements.
International Strategy	Enhance the role of emerging actors in international and bilateral investment standard setting.
Host Country Strategy	Work with host country governments, business partners of emerging economy investements and local civil society organizations to facilitate stronger environmental and social performance among foreign companies.

Building on WRI’s record of independent research, our experience in convening a wide range of local and international stakeholders, and our close partnerships with organizations in China, Brazil, and multiple host countries in Africa and Asia, as well as international organizations, the International Financial Flows and the Environment (IFFE) supports efforts by investors, host countries, and international actors to move towards environmentally and socially sustainable development that benefits all parties.

A Closer Look at China’s Overseas Investment

China is surfacing as a major international investor through nationally owned financial institutions such as the Export-Import Bank of China and the China Development Bank.

These Chinese “emerging actors” are financing major initiatives to acquire natural resources, open markets, and forge strategic political ties. They are increasingly financing large-scale, high impact projects beyond their borders — such as hydropower plants and gas pipelines — which may pose new challenges for environmental and social sustainability.

How do we ensure that Chinese investments abroad align with sustainability objectives by observing high environmental and social standards?

The following presentation - Emerging Actors in Development Finance: A Closer Look at China’s Overseas Investment - begins to look at the growth drivers and geographic trends of Chinese overseas investments.

This collection of figures and charts is based on preliminary research conducted by a team of Chinese scholars and compiled and edited by Bruce Jenkins, WRI consultant, and Xiaomei Tan, WRI Senior Associate. The scoping research concluded in April 2011 and includes data from various sources that are updated frequently. Tao Hu, WRI Senior Associate and Yingzhen Zhao, WRI Research Assistant continued this research, revised and updated the slide deck in August 2012. The data is circulated to stimulate timely discussion and critical feedback and to influence ongoing debate on emerging issues. WRI will continue to update the data as our research moves forward.

A Closer Look at Brazil’s Overseas Investment

From 2001 to 2011, Brazil’s per capita GDP more than tripled. At the heart of this domestic economic boom is the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES).

How do we ensure that Brazil’s investments abroad align with sustainability objectives by observing high social and environmental standards?

This presentation - Emerging Actors in Development Finance: A Closer Look at Brazil’s Growth, Influence, and the Role of BNDES - begins to look at growth drivers and trends of Brazil’s overseas investments.

Credits: Roland Widmer, Athena Ronquillo-Ballesteros, Catarina Freitas, Tao Hu and Yingzhen Zhao of WRI’s International Financial Flows and the Environment Project (IFFE) and Xiaomei Tan of WRI China. An earlier version of this slide deck was prepared with the help of Bruce Jenkins, Kirk Herbertson, Alisa Zomer and Catarina Freitas.

Shale Gas

Kevin Lustig — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 18:10:56 -0500

WRI is providing insight into this issue by:

Creating guidance on how to define the life cycle of shale gas projects, in order to better assess their impacts
Studying how shale gas development in China affects the energy picture in the U.S. and internationally
Taking a detailed look at how we produce and consume energy in U.S. states and regions
Assessing the risk to water resources posed by shale gas development

Shale gas is a game-changer for global energy supply. It is already transforming the U.S. energy outlook (see figure below), and is expected to deliver over 40% of domestic gas production by 2025. Opinion is bitterly divided, however, over the environmental risks and benefits of this abundant new source of energy – so much so, that the different sides struggle to agree even on basic facts. The debate is raging over two key issues – on-the-ground impacts to water, air, communities, land use, wildlife, and habitats; and the broader energy and global warming implications of developing shale gas.

Upcoming Event
April 4, 2013
Launch of a new WRI working paper Clearing the Air: Reducing Upstream Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Natural Gas Systems

Delivering on the Clean Energy Economy: The Role of Policy in Developing Successful Domestic Solar and Wind Industries

Sarah Parsons — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:57:39 -0500

Executive Summary

Data Explorer Tool

The release of this paper is accompanied by the launch of an interactive Data Explorer Tool, which enables users to view, chart, and compare underlying data from our research.

Users can explore data for a specific country–or see how that country stacks up against others–in terms of correlating select “benefits” (manufacturing, domestic installations, and jobs) with changes in key national policies. In addition to pulling out raw data, the tool allows users to uncover the stories inside the numbers: For example, how does the growth in wind manufacturing capacity in China compare to the U.S. over the past 10 years? And what key policies were introduced in both countries over that period?

The renewable energy industry is expanding to meet the needs of a large and growing global market for clean and secure energy. This growth is likely to continue, with electricity production from non-hydro renewable energy sources expected to grow more than eight-fold from 2009 to 2035, if countries implement their existing commitments, and draw nearly US$3 trillion in investment. In this globalized industry, no single country has a monopoly on the supply chain or the opportunities to benefit from this expansion.

Competition is fierce and the industry is changing rapidly. Energy—and electricity in particular—is a highly policy dependent market, strongly shaped by regulation, incentives, and public goals. There are a number of different factors that drive policymakers to consider the development of domestic renewable energy industries including energy security, environmental considerations, providing more universal access to energy, and as an economic development opportunity. Now, many policymakers are weighing how to take advantage of improvements in the renewable energy global supply chains that include lower costs, higher quality equipment, and improved performance to deliver domestic energy more cheaply, while still nurturing and protecting domestic industries that create highly visible “green jobs.”

These two goals—creating robust and growing domestic industries and delivering affordable domestic energy—are both central to business-as-usual economic development. Doing both in the context of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental impacts delivers on the promise of green growth in the energy sector. In nearly every country, it is politically very difficult to pursue one of these goals to the exclusion of the other. There is little political patience with using public resources to support a highly import-dependent clean energy deployment strategy, while raising energy costs, including to support domestic manufacturing or subsidize technologies, is equally politically challenging.

The renewable energy industry seems to offer opportunities to meet energy and economic development goals, but is there evidence that this promise has come to fruition? If there is, how did policymakers help deliver those results for their countries? This paper focuses on solar PV and wind industries in China, Germany, India, Japan, and the United States and provides a historical cross-country analysis, drawing from individual country cases, which aims to:

Determine which policies have been introduced to support the broader value chain—research and development(R&D), manufacturing, installation, and power generation—of the solar PV and wind industries in each country;
Track the trends in industry development in terms of size, installed capacity, jobs created (where available), and equipment prices (where available); and
Analyze how countries are finding success in both creating a healthy domestic industry and delivering low-cost, domestic clean energy.

This working paper emerges from a collaboration of five leading research institutions: World Resources Institute(WRI), Institute for Global Environmental Strategies(IGES), Öko Institut, Renmin University of China, and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), based in the target countries. Researchers at each institution reviewed and gathered information from domestic and international data sources to create a richly nuanced but still comparable review of the development of these industries.

The assessment attempts to uncover in particular how policymakers have cultivated successes. Countries have pursued a range of policies to accomplish these goals and there is now sufficient history in the solar PV and wind industries to begin to draw conclusions about whether countries have met their goals and what policy steps have been effective along the way.

ADVISORY: Press Teleconference on Doha Climate Talks

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

Full audio recording of WRI’s press call below:

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

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

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

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

WHO
Dr. Andrew Steer, President, WRI

Jennifer Morgan, Director, Climate and Energy Program, WRI

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

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

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

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

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

Access code: WRI

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

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

The full audio of the press call is available below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHEN
Friday, October 12, 2012

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

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

Access Code: WRI

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

Sustainable Cities Initiative

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

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

The Challenges of Rapid Urbanization

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

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

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

Project Objectives

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

Project Activities

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

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

Blueprints for Environmentally Smarter Growth

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

Demonstration Projects

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

Spreading Success to other Emerging Cities

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

WRI Annual Report 2011-2012

Sarah Parsons — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:20:00 -0400