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WRI Digest
January 2006, Volume 2, Number 1
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The Year Ahead
In December, Jonathan Lash, President of the World Resources Institute, made his annual predictions of environmental trends for the coming year. Highlights include increasing world anger at U.S. isolationism on climate negotiations; a more active role of China facing environmental problems at home; increased U.S. debate on subsidies to reduce soil erosion, control water pollution, and cut greenhouse gas emissions; increasing aggressiveness of statements from the scientific community; and China's entrance into the U.S. market for low-cost and high-mileage cars. He also assessed the accuracy of his earlier predictions for 2005. (audio here) (slideshow here) (press release here) | |
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Seven States Cap Emissions
On December 20, 2005, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was signed into action by seven states, namely Delaware, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, and Vermont, and will take effect January 1, 2009. RGGI is a "cap and trade" program that sets a fixed limit on CO2 emissions, and makes the right to emit the gas a tradable commodity. (more here)
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Goldman Sachs Announces Environmental Policy
WRI's Financial Flows team worked with Goldman Sachs to develop their internal parameters and public commitments regarding the environment, including a call for a national policy to limit GHG emissions in the U.S.; reducing the impact of their own operations; developing innovative, climate-friendly markets and investments; and integrating environmental and social criteria into fundamental equity research, business selection, and risk management. (more here) | |
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The Access Initiative Launched in Sri Lanka
A coalition of civil society organizations recently launched The Access Initiative (TAI) in Sri Lanka and provided training in TAI methods to participants from four countries. Sri Lanka's Minister of Urban Development and Water Supply lauded the efforts to increase public access to information, participation and justice. (more here) | |
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New Website Focuses on Mexico
The Mexico Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Program recently launched a new website to serve as a source of both Spanish- and English-language information exchange and guidance for participants, as well as interested outside parties. Beginning in 2006, GHG inventories of some participating companies will also be publicly posted on the site. (more here) | |
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WRI to assist Midwest Greenhouse Gas Registry
The Greenhouse Gase (GHG) Protocol team at WRI has been selected to assist the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium (LADCO) in the development of a Regional Midwest GHG Registry. WRI will help build a framework for the registry by developing an options paper, program specifications, guidance protocols, and calculation tools. (more here) | |
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WHO Releases MA Health Synthesis
The World Health Organization recently released the sixth synthesis report from the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, entitled Ecosystems and Human Well-Being: Health Synthesis. The report states that pressures on ecosystems could have unpredictable and potentially severe future impacts on health. Regions facing the greatest present-day risks include sub-Saharan Africa, Central Asia, parts of Latin America, and certain areas in South and Southeast Asia. (more here) | |
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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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