WRI Insights

On June 2, President Obama will unveil the latest—and likely greatest—emissions reduction policy since he announced his Climate Action Plan last year: new rules to limit carbon dioxide pollution from existing power plants. With power plants accounting for around one-third of U.S. emissions, these rules will address the country’s single-largest source of greenhouse gas pollution. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions on what these standards are designed to achieve, the impact they will have, and why they’re so important. This blog highlights some of the most important aspects of these crucial actions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will soon unveil its first-ever emissions standards for existing power plants. These rules represent the most significant component of the U.S. [Climate Action Plan](http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/president27sclimateactionplan.pdf)—and moreover, they’re an essential step for overcoming the climate change challenge.

O GHG Protocol (sigla para [Protocolo de Gases de Efeito Estufa em inglês](http://www.ghgprotocol.org/agriculture-guidance) lançou novas diretrizes para auxiliar empresas agropecuárias a mensurarem e [gerenciarem suas emissões de GEE na agricultura e na pecuária](http://www.ghgprotocol.org/agriculture-guidance). São as primeiras diretrizes internacionais para o setor e irão ajudar nos esforços de mitigar seu impacto ambiental. Mas o que são exatamente estas emissões agropecuárias e por que é importante reduzi-las? Baseados no que há de mais recente em termos de pesquisa e de dados, aqui está tudo o que você precisa saber sobre a pegada de carbono na agropecuária.

The [Greenhouse Gas Protocol](http://www.ghgprotocol.org/) launched [a new guidance](http://www.ghgprotocol.org/agriculture-guidance) this week to help agricultural companies measure and manage their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from crop and livestock production. But what exactly are agricultural emissions, and why is it important to manage them? Drawing on the latest research and data, here is everything you need to know about agriculture’s climate footprint.

Os produtores brasileiros estão entre os principais fornecedores globais de carne, soja, cana de açúcar, arroz e café, entre outros. Mas estão também entre os principais produtores de Gases de Efeito Estufa (GEE). Read this blog in English, [here](http://www.wri.org/blog/2014/05/new-tool-low-carbon-agriculture-brazil).

Brazil’s farms are [major, global producers](http://www.brazil.org.za/agriculture.html#.U4Xz_PlSYS4) of beef, soybeans, sugarcane, coffee, rice, and more. Yet they’re also major producers of greenhouse gas emissions. Two new resources aim to reduce the emissions intensity of Brazil’s agricultural sector. The guidance offers an emissions accounting framework for all companies with agricultural operations—whether they produce animals or plants for food, fiber, biofuels, drugs, or other purposes. The calculation tool drills down into specific practices and emissions-intensive subsectors like soy, corn, cotton, wheat, rice, sugar cane, and cattle.

Almost half of the world’s original forests have been cleared or degraded. So naturally, most people think of the “forest restoration” movement as an effort to re-plant these lost trees. But it’s time to see restoration as more than just the trees.

As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepares to release [greenhouse gas standards](https://archive.epa.gov/epa/cleanpowerplan/carbon-pollution-standards-new-modified-and-reconstructed-power-plants-regulatory.html) for existing power plants on June 2, state officials are weighing options on the best ways to cut carbon dioxide emissions. We have shown how some states may be able to comply with [these standards](http://www.wri.org/power-sector-opportunities-reducing-carbon-dioxide-emissions).

Arkansas has already taken steps to reduce its near-term power sector CO2 emissions by implementing energy efficiency policies. And the state has the opportunity to go even further. **In fact, new WRI analysis finds that Arkansas can reduce its CO2 emissions 39 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 by implementing new clean energy strategies and taking advantage of existing infrastructure.** Achieving these reductions will allow Arkansas to meet moderately ambitious EPA power plant emissions standards, which are due to be finalized in 2015.

WRI’s six-part blog series, Mobilizing Clean Energy Finance, highlights individual developing countries’ experiences in scaling up investments in clean energy and explores the role climate finance plays in addressing investment barriers. The cases draw on WRI’s recent report, [Mobilizing Climate Investment](http://www.wri.org/publication/mobilizing-climate-investment). South Africa’s experiences with wind energy provide an [important case study](http://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/uploads/WRI_Report_4c_MCI_Annex2_SouthAfrica_online.pdf) for policy makers pursuing renewable energy deployment in other countries.