The cities and communities responsible for consuming and setting clean energy targets have historically had little influence on their wholesale electricity markets’ policies and operations. That may change with the emerging PJM Cities and Communities Coalition, a growing coalition dedicated to removing and preventing barriers to decarbonization in the PJM territory.
Cities are stuck with a lot of dead trees every year, which often go to waste. Reforestation hubs are a new model that can help cities find new uses from urban wood, which can save cities money, create new jobs, address long-term public health goals and mitigate climate change.
Even in the face of COVID-19, we cannot lose sight of another urgent and looming challenge: climate change. That’s why leading businesses are in support of enacting policies in the short term in order to lay a foundation for bolder action in the long term.
Mike Zakrzewski, a farmer in O'Neill, Nebraska, hosts wind turbines on his land. His story highlights one of the many ways that farmers across the United States can benefit from clean electricity.
The task of decarbonizing the U.S. economy is too big for any one level of government to tackle alone. The “new climate federalism” model proposes a framework for the federal, state and local governments to work together to address climate change.
Recognizing that addressing climate change in the U.S. will require action at all levels of government, WRI convened thought leaders among current and former U.S. federal, state, and local government officials in a dialogue to explore these topics. This paper sets out the context and findings of the dialogue discussions, and proposes a working federalism framework to delineate roles within a future federal climate policy.
California's decision to require that all new passenger cars and trucks sold in the state to be emissions free by 2035 takes the fight against climate change to the next level.
Dan Lashof, Director of WRI United States, reflects on the wildfires in the Western United States — and why now is the time for national action on climate change.
Devashree Saha testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change on opportunities for the United States to achieve an equitable, low-carbon economy.
The Business Roundtable (BRT), an association of chief executive officers from more than 200 leading companies - representing every sector of the economy - issued a call for ambitious action on climate change. In “Addressing Climate Change: Principles and Policies,” BRT calls on the federal government, including Congress, to enact climate policies in line with the US commitment to the Paris Agreement. Following is a statement from Dr. Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute:
Through sector-by-sector evaluation of key trends and drivers, a new report from America's Pledge finds that, despite the unprecedented public health and economic crisis, bottom-up climate action is proving resilient.
A global consortium of universities, cities, community organizations and World Resources Institute launched an initiative to build cities’ capacities to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The consortium, a Global Commission on Adaptation initiative, will partner with an initial cohort of 15 universities from 18 time zones to implement urban resilience projects in cities.
A new report from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on climate-related financial and market risks calls for a carbon price and climate stress testing, along with other recommendations.
For years, city governments in the United States have taken the lead on committing to climate action. More recently, many cities have also stepped up to addressing the related issue of structural racism. Will these ambitious goals translate into ambitious action?
As the most powerful trade organization on Earth, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce prides itself on its many members. But does it truly represent their interests? When it comes to climate change and congressional campaigns, the answer is an indisputable no.
COVID-19 has hit the U.S. oil and gas industry hard. Rather than bailing out corporations, the government should prioritize workers and communities.
In the United States, over four-fifths of states are debunking the myth that slashing greenhouse gas emissions comes at the expense of economic growth.
As U.S. cities and counties transition to clean energy for their own operations and communities, many are finding that stakeholders and policies beyond their jurisdictions affect their ability to purchase clean energy. By removing regulatory and legislative obstacles, local governments are creating new pathways to access affordable, clean energy.
Supporting sustainable forestry, reducing deforestation and reimagining an iconic New York City landmark are central to our Brooklyn Bridge Forest proposal.
The plan, the means, the platform and the microphone: Los Angeles has what it takes to be the leading light when it comes to building back better after COVID-19.