WRI Insights

The next few years will be critical when it comes to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. Under the UNFCCC, countries around the world committed to produce an international climate action agreement. This agreement will be finalized at the annual Conference of the Parties, meeting in Paris in 2015 (COP 21). How UNFCCC negotiations progress between now and then will in part determine whether the world curbs climate change—or feels its worsening effects. I caught up with Jennifer Morgan, director of WRI’s Climate and Energy programs, to discuss what’s at stake and what steps are needed between now and 2015 to ensure a strong, international climate action plan.

A [new report](http://www.unep.org/emissionsgapreport2013/) from the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) shows that the world is still not taking enough action to avoid dangerous levels of climate change. Assuming countries deliver on the pledges they have made to reduce their respective emissions, the *[Emissions Gap Report](http://www.unep.org/emissionsgapreport2013/)* finds that global GHG emissions in 2020 will still be 18 to 27 percent above where they need to be if warming is likely [to be limited to 2 degrees Celsius](http://www.wri.org/blog/world%E2%80%99s-carbon-budget-be-spent-three-decades) above pre-industrial levels. This gap puts the world in a dangerous position of experiencing increased sea level rise, forest fires, and other serious impacts--unless we take action now.

U.S. public financing for overseas coal-fired power is likely coming to an end. That’s the clear signal from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s [announcement](http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/international/development-banks/Documents/CoalGuidance_2013.pdf) earlier this week. At institutions like the World Bank, where the United States is the largest shareholder, this decision holds real significance.

A new [interactive map from WRI’s Aqueduct project](http://wri.org/applications/maps/agriculturemap) reveals that more than 25 percent of the world’s agriculture is grown in areas of high water stress. This figure doubles when looking at irrigated cropland, which produces [40 percent of global food supply](http://www.unwater.org/statistics_sec.html). This analysis highlights the tension between water availability and agricultural production. Finding a balance between these two critical resources will be essential—especially as the global population expands.

A groundbreaking book, *The Human Quest: Prospering within Planetary Boundaries,* delivers a powerful message: Preserving nature isn’t just about protecting the world’s remaining beauty. It’s a fundamental part of ensuring economic development and human well-being.

The world of open data [welcomed a new platform](http://www.wri.org/blog/new-one-stop-shop-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data) this summer—WRI’s [Climate Analysis Indicators Tool](http://www.wri.org/project/cait), or CAIT 2.0. The platform offers free online access to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and other climate data, enabling researchers, policymakers, media, and others to download, visualize, and share data for analysis and communications on climate change. Today we’re pleased to roll out the [next iteration of CAIT 2.0](http://www.wri.org/project/cait), featuring improved functionality and other upgrades. Check out [a screencast](https://vimeo.com/77816905) of how CAIT 2.0 works, or read on to learn about some of the benefits visitors can expect to find.

A recent incident at Lumber Liquidators highlights how [alleged ties to illegally harvested woods](http://blogs.wsj.com/corporate-intelligence/2013/10/09/heres-the-report-that-may-have-prompted-the-lumber-liquidators-raid/) can negatively impact business. Moreover, it shows that the U.S. Lacey Act—which bans trafficking of illegally sourced wood and paper products—is [continuing to crack down](http://www.wri.org/blog/gibson-guitar-logging-bust-demonstrates-lacey-act%E2%80%99s-effectiveness) on suspected illicit activity. It’s important that companies take note—and [take action](http://www.wri.org/our-work/project/forest-legality-alliance).

Parties to the UNFCCC established the Adaptation Fund in 2008[^1] to help developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change. The Fund has gradually evolved since then, and it’s about to embark on its newest development: a safeguard policy to ensure that its investments do not have unintended negative consequences for people or the environment. The move represents potential progress in the effort to promote climate justice and adaptation. The Adaptation Fund holds a small but important share of global climate finance, distributing [more than US$ 180 million](https://www.adaptation-fund.org/About) to adaptation activities spanning 28 countries. An Environmental and Social Policy—which the Board [recently released a draft](https://www.adaptation-fund.org/page/call-public-comments-proposed-environmental-and-social-policy) of—can help ensure that that these funds do not support projects that generate unintended environmental or social impacts.

A year after [its inaugural meeting](/blog/whats-next-green-climate-fund), the Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) left its [fifth meeting in Paris](/blog/5-areas-action-set-green-climate-fund-ambitious-path) earlier this month with a collective sense of urgency. The GCF is expected to become the main vehicle for disbursing climate finance to developing nations, so the decisions made at this most recent meeting significantly impact the future of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Encouragingly, Board members stepped up to the important task before them, making progress across several key issues. Their decisions made it clear: The GCF’s inception phase (referred to officially as "the interim period") is over—the focus now is on funding it and launching its operations.