WRI Insights

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.

Much like recent extreme weather events [in Europe](http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/12/world/europe/europe-flood) and the [United States](http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/13/18932265-two-killed-as-colorado-wildfires-destroy-360-homes-force-evacuations-in-colorado-springs?lite), this month’s [intersessional](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/06/building-momentum-2-ways-make-progress-bonn-climate-talks) in Bonn, Germany could be described as volatile. But despite some “stormy” discussions, rays of light could still be seen in some areas.

Canada’s Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, took a significant step toward promoting transparency and reducing global poverty. He [announced](http://business.financialpost.com/2013/06/12/mining-oil-and-gas-companies-to-face-tougher-rules-on-disclosing-payments-overseas/?__lsa=74d7-daa6) yesterday that Canada will implement mandatory reporting requirements for Canadian extractive companies operating both in-country and abroad.

How are we going to deliver climate finance at a sufficient scale to help developing countries mitigate and adapt to climate change? Parties to the UNFCCC--including those at [this month’s intersessional in Bonn](http://www.wri.org/blog/2013/06/building-momentum-2-ways-make-progress-bonn-climate-talks)--are struggling to agree on the answer to this question. The UNFCCC established a [Standing Committee on Climate Finance](http://unfccc.int/cooperation_and_support/financial_mechanism/items/6054.php) to take stock of global progress towards this goal, while a work program on [Long-Term Finance](http://unfccc.int/cooperation_support/financial_mechanism/long-term_finance/items/6814.php) will continue this year.

When President Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping meet in California this week, they will be seeking to build trust and chart a course for improved relations. While tensions abound over various issues, clean energy and climate is one area where cooperation can work.