WRI Insights

With [today’s announcement](http://www.wri.org/news/2013/06/statement-president-obama-announce-action-climate-change) of a national climate action plan, President Obama is pushing forward to tackle the urgent challenge of climate change. This is the most comprehensive climate plan by a U.S. president to date. If fully and swiftly implemented, the Obama Administration can truly reset the climate agenda for this country.

When it comes to renewable energy, the Philippines is one of the world’s more ambitious countries. The country set out to triple its share of renewable energy by 2030 based on 2010 levels. The Philippines has one of Asia’s highest electricity rates, in part due to high costs of importing fossil fuels. Enhancing the country’s energy security and keeping power costs down have been the main drivers for setting renewable energy goals.

Hari Jumat yang lalu, [World Resources Institute](http://wri.org/) (WRI) mempublikasikan data detil terkait lokasi peringatan titik api di Sumatera yang telah menyebabkan kabut asap yang sangat mengganggu dan berpotensi beracun di wilayah Indonesia, Singapura, dan Malaysia. Pemerintah ketiga negara, perusahaan-perusahaan, maupun media semua berlomba untuk mencari data untuk memahami penyebab dan lokasi sebaran titik api, serta memutuskan siapa yang seharusnya bertanggung jawab.

Last Friday, the [World Resources Institute](http://www.wri.org/) (WRI) published detailed data on the location of forest and land fires on Sumatra, which have spread a noxious and harmful haze across Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, and caused widespread public concern. Governments from all three nations, many companies, and news outlets are seeking data to help understand the origin and spread of the fires, and determine who should be held accountable.

Penduduk di,Singapura, sebagian dari Indonesia dan Malaysia sedang mengalami kabut asap yang menganggu aktivitas sehari-hari akibat kebakaran hutan. Tingkat kualitas udara di [Singapura ](http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/06/20/singapore-air-pollution-index-hits-record-high/)telah jatuh ke tingkat terburuk yang pernah tercatat di pulau tersebut sedangkan bandara di Indonesia dan beberapa sekolah di Malaysia harus ditutup. Hampir semua kebakaran yang terjadi baru-baru ini (12-20 Juni) berasal dari titik api di Sumatera.

People in Indonesia, Singapore, and parts of Malaysia are currently suffering from debilitating levels of haze resulting from forest fires. Air quality levels in Singapore have deteriorated to the [worst levels](http://blogs.wsj.com/searealtime/2013/06/20/singapore-air-pollution-index-hits-record-high/) ever recorded on the island, while local airports in Indonesia and some schools in Malaysia have had to close. Almost all of the recent fires (June 12-20) have occurred in Sumatra, an island in western Indonesia.

The world’s two largest greenhouse gas emitters—the United States and China—have been forging a growing bond in combating climate change. Just last week, President Obama and President Xi made a [landmark agreement ](http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/08/united-states-and-china-agree-work-together-phase-down-hfcs)to work towards reducing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a potent greenhouse gas. And both the United States and China [are leading ](http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/reports/whos-winning-the-clean-energy-race-2012-edition-85899468949)global investment and development of clean energy. The United States invested $30.4 billion and added 16.9 GW of wind and solar capacity in 2012. China invested $58.4 billion and added 19.2 GW in [capacity](http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/reports/whos-winning-the-clean-energy-race-2012-edition-85899468949).

Worldwide, one out of every five people lacks access to [modern electricity](http://www.se4all.org/our-vision_our-objectives_universal-energy). Affordability, quality of service, and social and environmental impacts pose great challenges in providing people with the power they need for lighting, cooking, and other activities. Good governance involving open and inclusive practices is essential to overcoming these pressing obstacles.

Climate change impacts are already being felt [in the United States](http://pdf.wri.org/connection_between_climate_change_and_extreme_weather.pdf) and [around the world](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/01/look-back-2012-year-extreme-weather-events). The latest [International Energy Agency (IEA) report](http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/pressreleases/2013/june/name,38773,en.html) confirms that energy-related carbon dioxide emissions hit an all-time high last year.

Another season of extreme weather events is upon us. A [severe storm](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/13/illinois-derecho-chicago-2013-midwest_n_3432748.html), with winds up to 70 miles per hour, whipped its way from Illinois to Washington, D.C. Meanwhile, Colorado is experiencing one of its [worst wildfires](http://kdvr.com/2013/06/13/sheriff-at-least-92-homes-total-loss-by-black-forest-fire-5-damaged/) in history—the Black Forest Fire has burned 15,700 acres, displaced more than 38,000 people, and impacted 13,000 homes. These events are reminders of what the world will look like as our climate system moves into increasingly dangerous and unfamiliar territory.