WRI Digest
June 2006, Volume 2, Number 6

$8 Billion from IADB to Build Economic Opportunity for the Majority
June 13 - The recent Building Opportunity for the Majority conference hosted by the Inter-American Development Bank brought together top government officials, business executives, leading academics and key civil society leaders to discuss the best ways for the majority of people in Latin America and the Caribbean to benefit from economic growth. During the event, WRI released a map, Market of the Majority, documenting the size and scope of the "base of the pyramid" market in 20 Latin American countries. The map represents a fraction of a larger dataset to be published as a book later this year. Supporting the front line data are detailed analysis of key sectors including housing, water, energy, health, telecom, and financial services, and an analysis of the so-called "BOP penalty." WRI President Jonathan Lash also spoke at the event, along with other luminaries such as former president Bill Clinton and Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto. Conference sessions featured case studies of innovative initiatives to improve the living standards of low-income people. WRI's NextBillion web site and blog covered the events, which were developed in conjunction with WRI and modeled loosely on the Eradicating Poverty conference hosted by WRI in 2004. (NextBillion blog) (IADB website)

Taxing Carbon to Finance Tax Reform
June 5 - A new WRI issue brief addresses the potential of a 'carbon tax' in the United States to simultaneously support federal tax reform, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and promote sound energy policies. Applying such a levy to as few as 2,000 entities would cover 82 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. A carbon tax could be incorporated into a number of revenue-neutral tax reform packages, with the proceeds supporting reductions in inefficient existing taxes on productive labor and investment. By encouraging a less carbon-intensive economy, a carbon tax could also help improve the nation's long-term energy security. (more)

Corporate Climate Investments Highlighted, Analysis Tool Released By World Resources Institute
June 6 - WRI released six new case studies on how Johnson & Johnson, Staples, United Technologies Corporation and other major companies reduce energy costs, cut greenhouse gas emissions and save money as part of the Climate Northeast project. WRI also released to the public the Carbon Value Analysis Tool (CVAT), a Microsoft Excel-based program which allows energy managers to compare the emissions and financial impacts of a range of energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects. The CVAT is designed to be especially useful for multinational corporations with greenhouse gas reduction targets or with facilities that operate under carbon-limiting government mandates, such as those throughout Europe. Additional case studies will be added in coming months. (more)

Investing in Solutions to Climate Change
June 15 - Citigroup Investment Research and WRI's Capital Markets Research Team have released a new report entitled, Investing in Solutions to Climate Change. The report argues that the United States is moving towards carbon constraints and highlights investment opportunities in companies that are commercializing low-carbon technologies that help their customers reduce GHG emissions and exposure to climate risk. The report also reviews 12 North American firms covered by Citigroup Investment Research analysts likely to profit from their key climate technologies. (request the report)

Upcoming Events
June 15-27, Bali: Meeting on results of WRI's Institutional Choice and Commodity Chain research projects
June 19-23, Bali: Eleventh Biennial Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property
June 25-27, Dallas: The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International Conference
July 16-18, Portland: Sustainability and Public Transportation Workshop
July 24-27, Sao Paulo: Clean Air Initiative in Latin American Cities for 2006

Music and Arts Festival Aims to Clear the Air
June 18 - The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Tennessee emphasized what its 80,000 attendees could do to mitigate climate change, including the purchase of renewable wind energy credits. WRI worked with several artists to record public service announcements about climate to begin running soon on MTV and the EarthTrends website, and also briefed artists about climate change. (press release)

Hot Climate, Cool Commerce
June 21 - Though most people associate climate change with industrial polluters, office buildings offer a wide range of people the opportunity to contribute to reducing the emission of heat-trapping gases. Office workers and office managers interested in making a difference now have a tool to guide their assessment and action: Hot Climate, Cool Commerce: A Service Sector Guide to Greenhouse Gas Management. Case studies in the report detail how service-sector companies have put programs in place to measure and manage their emissions and achieve energy savings. Among the companies profiled are Citigroup, General Electric, IKEA and Staples. Every company contributes to climate change through its electricity consumption for office lighting, cooling, computers, building equipment, and appliances, as well as fuel use for heating, business travel, and the distribution of products and materials. In the United States, electricity and heat (46 percent) and transportation (31 percent) are the two largest sources of carbon dioxide. Reducing energy use and managing greenhouse gas emissions can also help build corporate value through competitive positioning, improved shareholder relations, and human-resource management advantages. (more)

New on EarthTrends
Nine new feature articles have just been added to the EarthTrends website. The articles, including their associated graphics, have been taken directly from The Wealth of the Poor: Managing Ecosystems to Fight Poverty, the 2005 edition of the World Resources publication series. This report discusses the particular importance of natural resources to the 1.1 billion people currently living in extreme poverty and provides detailed analysis of how the sustainable use of ecosystem goods and services can aid and empower poor communities. The features selected for inclusion on EarthTrends succinctly highlight some of the most important issues related to the broad themes of poverty, governance, and resource management. (more)

WRI In the News
Hong Kong Magazine May 19*
New York Times May 26*
PBS June 1*
Financial Times May 30*
Grist.com June 1
Salon.com June 2
Jamaica Observer June 7
Inter Press Service June 7*
Wall Street Journal Asia June 13*
Foreign Policy June 12*
*subscription may be required to access

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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