WRI Insights

Pennsylvania is generating more electricity than it has in the past, but the good news is that it’s doing so while emitting less carbon dioxide pollution. **In fact, [new WRI analysis](http://www.wri.org/publication/power-sector-opportunities-reducing-carbon-dioxide-emissions-pennsylvania) finds that Pennsylvania can reduce its CO2 emissions 21 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 just by complying with current policies and taking advantage of existing infrastructure.** Achieving these reductions will allow Pennsylvania to meet moderately ambitious EPA power plant emissions standards, which are due to be finalized in 2015.

Last month, China’s State Council announced a new action plan to combat air pollution, which included a prohibition of new coal-fired power plants in the three most important metropolitan areas around Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou (known as the [“key-three city clusters”](http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2013-09/12/content_2486773.htm)). But while the plan sounds like progress, will it actually slow down China’s new coal construction? A bit of analysis suggests that it may take more action to really curb China’s appetite for coal.

Over the next two decades, India’s urban population is expected to double to more than 600 million people. Urban centers [will soon comprise](http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-01-09/news/28427585_1_urban-population-cities-demographic-dividend) 40 percent of the country’s population and 70 percent of new employment. Today, India faces a choice: It could either continue to build increasingly sprawling and inefficient cities or embrace well-designed and people-focused models.

Innovative farmers are beginning to demonstrate how agroforestry and other relatively simple practices can significantly boost food production in Africa’s drylands. In fact, [according to a new WRI working paper](http://www.wri.org/publication/improving-land-and-water-management), improving land and water management on just 25 percent of sub-Saharan Africa’s 300 million hectares of prime cropland would result in an additional 22 million tons of food. This strategy could go a long way towards sustainably feeding Africa—and the world.

While leaders in Washington, D.C. grapple with a potential national economic crisis, in Florida, mayors and citizens are taking action—on climate change and sea-level rise, that is. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) will host its second annual [Sea Level Rise Summit](http://www.ces.fau.edu/SLR2013/) this week, bringing together national and international experts to discuss the impacts of sea-level rise and storm surge on local and national economies.

Securing clean water is becoming increasingly difficult in the United States. Infrastructure like dams and treatment plants [are aging](http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/drinking-water/), water demand [is increasing](http://www.drinktap.org/home/water-information/conservation/water-use-statistics.aspx), and more frequent extreme weather events like wildfires and flooding are [driving up the cost](http://efc.web.unc.edu/2012/10/23/rates-flood-rising-water-bills/?doing_wp_cron=1371055436.2617371082305908203125) of water management. It’s a complex problem, but one of the potential solutions is decidedly low-tech: Invest in nature.

Under the new leadership of Dr. Jim Yong Kim, the World Bank Group continues to reinvent itself to meet the challenges of global development. That reinvention will continue this Saturday, when the Board of Governors is expected to endorse [a new strategy](http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/DEVCOMMEXT/0,,pagePK:64000837~piPK:64001152~theSitePK:277473~contentMDK:23470472,00.html) for the institution. If properly implemented across the Group, the strategy could help boost the institution’s contribution to equitable and sustainable development. Two areas of focus will be especially important, including how the Group handles its work on climate change and selects its investments.

You may notice that WRI.org is sporting a bold, new look today. That’s right—we’ve redesigned our website! We hope this much-needed redesign will better display our wealth of research products and resources, as well as improve the user experience. Read on for more information about why we redesigned WRI.org—and how the new website will benefit you!

*For further reading, see our op-ed in the [Jakarta Post](http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/10/10/asean-leaders-can-act-reduce-fires-haze.html).* Less than four months ago, millions of people across Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia were choking on the [worst air pollution](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323566804578552814001080862.html) ever recorded in Southeast Asia as hundreds of fires burned across Sumatra. The fires caused serious damage, eliciting a [public health emergency](http://zeenews.india.com/news/south-asia/malaysia-faces-upsurge-in-haze-related-health-complications_857430.html), closing schools and harming tourism and other [businesses](http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324577904578558413711997252.html). This week the Sultan of Brunei is hosting many of Asia’s heads of state for the [23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit](http://asean-summit-2013.tumblr.com/). Preventing new fires and haze are high on the agenda. Key decisions and actions are urgently needed from the presidents and prime ministers this week.

Communities across the world continue to experience weather-induced food shortages due to drought, floods, devastating wildfires, and other climate change impacts. This week, the Board of the [Green Climate Fund (GCF)](http://www.gcfund.net/)[is meeting](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/10/5-areas-action-set-green-climate-fund-ambitious-path) to discuss how the GCF will receive and disburse money through various financial inputs and instruments.