WRI Insights

This piece explores how advances in technology can curb illegal logging, written in honor of the first [International Day of Forests](http://www.fao.org/forestry/international-day-of-forests/en/). It [originally appeared](http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/saving-forests-technology-illegal-logging) on The Guardian's Sustainable Business Blog.

At the 2009 U.N. climate change conference in Copenhagen, developed nations [committed to provide](http://www.wri.org/stories/2009/12/reflections-copenhagen-accord-and-way-forward) a collective $100 billion per year by 2020 to help developing countries mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change’s impacts. Recently, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) [released](http://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx?DataSetCode=CRS1) some surprising new data on this pledge. The figures indicate that developed nations’ recent climate finance contributions have fallen rather than risen toward the level of their 2020 commitment.

As the world continues to feel the effects of drought, sea level rise, and [more volatile weather](http://insights.wri.org/news/2012/09/timeline-extreme-weather-events-2012), it’s clear that adaptation efforts have never been more imperative. These initiatives are critically important in order to protect communities—especially in impoverished places—from the worsening impacts of climate change.

As the old adage suggests, it is important to see the forests for more than just the trees. While an estimated 500 million people [depend directly](http://www.forestpeoples.org/sites/fpp/files/publication/2012/05/forest-peoples-numbers-across-world-final.pdf) on forests for their livelihoods, the entire world depends on them for food, water, clean air, and vital medicines. Forests also absorb carbon dioxide, making them critical to curbing climate change.

America is blessed with abundant energy sources, from an array of traditional fuels and natural gas to solar, wind, and other [renewable resources](http://insights.wri.org/news/2012/02/2012-breakthrough-renewable-energy). But as the pressure on these resources grows, the United States [must have a plan](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/02/new-report-identifies-pathways-us-administration-reduce-emissions) to ensure a stronger and more sustainable future. In today’s world, any smart and effective energy strategy must take into account the [risks of climate change](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/02/how-climate-change-impacts-america%E2%80%99s-energy-infrastructure).

This is Part Two of a five-part blog series, [Aligning Profit and Environmental Sustainability](/blog-tags/8691). Each installment explores solutions to help businesses [overcome barriers](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/03/4-barriers-overcome-achieving-corporate-environmental-sustainability) that prevent them from integrating environmental sustainability into their everyday operations. Look for [these posts](/blog-tags/8691) every Thursday for the next four weeks.

In January, Brian Richter, director of freshwater strategies at The Nature Conservancy, [spelled out four water resolutions](http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/01/02/four-water-resolutions-for-a-sustainable-planet/) through a thought-provoking series of blog posts. One of those resolutions was to better understand and communicate the differences between water use and water consumption. This is a particularly important issue, as there has been a [lot of discussion lately](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/01/5-sobering-realities-about-global-water-security-0) about water scarcity, water stress, and the risks associated with them.

Research shows that developing countries [will need about $531 billion](http://www.wri.org/publication/mobilizing-climate-investment) of additional investments in clean energy technologies each year in order to limit global temperature rise to 2° C above pre-industrial levels, thus preventing climate change’s worst impacts. While developed countries [have pledged](http://www.wri.org/climate-finance) to provide $100 billion of climate finance per year, this amount is well below what’s needed to help developing nations mitigate and adapt to climate change.

This is Part One of a five-part blog series, [“Aligning Profit and Environmental Sustainability.”](/blog-tags/8691) Each installment will offer solutions for businesses to better integrate environmental sustainability into their everyday operations. Look for these posts every Thursday for the next four weeks.

After a year of extreme weather events and recent studies outlining climate change’s impacts, it’s become increasingly clear that we must understand what emissions reduction pathways are necessary to avoid these risks.