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September 2005, Volume 1, Number 1


Northeast states are evaluating their emissions of heat-trapping gases and considering caps on power plant emissions. (www.rggi.org)  The GHG Protocol Initiative team at WRI recently helped draft the prototype design for establishing a business emissions accounting program needed by the states. (www.ghgprotocol.org)
Poor can sustainably build wealth on nature


The world's rural poor depend on fisheries, forests and farms for their wealth, and they have a tangible interest in sustainably managing their natural resources. Yet bad policies have often prevented them from doing so.

Initiatives in countries including Namibia, Fiji and India demonstrate ways to give the poor the legal, financial, and management capacity to use nature without depleting the fragile resource base they share with the world.

For more information and case studies see World Resources 2005. Photo credit: IFAD/F.Mattioli.

Map changes Russian oil plans


The most precise information ever made available on hundreds of strict nature reserves, national parks, and federal wildlife refuges in Russia has caused an oil company to abandon plans to drill in a disputed area. (more here)

Green transit for hazy city


Just weeks after its debut, the new green bus rapid transit system in Mexico City is winning fans. Sixty-two percent of metro passengers and 60 percent of bus passengers are in favor of the bus rapid transit system. Al Gore says he likes it. Mexico City may be turning the corner. (embarq.wri.org)


Governments and others should have an easier time balancing the potential benefits and costs of agricultural biotechnology thanks to new work on its social and economic impacts, topics that have previously received scant attention from researchers. Public participation is a key recommendation.


More and more companies of all sizes are staking their reputations -- and their profits -- on delivering goods and services to some of the poorest people in the world. It's a market known as "bottom on the pyramid" or "base of the pyramid." Hundreds of entrepreneurs, financiers and others gathered in Sao Paulo, Brazil and Mexico City, Mexico in late August to share success stories. (nextbillion.net)
Former Vice President Al Gore joins WRI Board


Former president of Brazil Fernando Henrique Cardoso; former vice president of the United States Al Gore; finance minister for Nigeria Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and former head of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Lee Thomas have all been chosen to help steer WRI. (more here) 

World Resources 2005


Partner organizations World Resources Institute, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the World Bank joined together to produce this report just in time for consideration by heads of state meeting in September to discuss progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. For more information, see World Resources 2005.
Spanish version of World Resources 2002-2004 Released


Acting British Ambassador Vijay Rangarajan opened the release event in Mexico City attended by government representatives of El Salvador, Mexico, Chile, and Bolivia, and Access Initiative partners from 11 countries. (more here)


WRI Digest is published monthly by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and sent to subscribers who have opted in. WRI is an independent non-profit organization with a staff of more than 100 scientists, economists, policy experts, business analysts, statistical analysts, mapmakers, and communicators working to protect the Earth and improve people's lives.

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