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WRI Digest
September 2006, Volume 2, Number 9
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 Maps Provide New Tools to Manage Northern Forest Frontier
September 13 - WRI and its partners in Global Forest Watch released three sets of electronic maps, to provide leaders of government, business and environment groups the most advanced tools available to manage the world's final frontier of untouched northern forests in Alaska, Canada, and Russia. A research consortium of non-governmental organizations examined thousands of satellite images and other data, searching for signs of human influence. The results were verified in the field and with photographs from low-flying aircraft. Mapping Undisturbed Landscapes in Alaska: Overview Report documents the considerable extent of the forest landscape remaining essentially untouched in that state -- in contrast to most of the lower 48 U.S. states that have experienced significant transformations. Canada's Large Intact Forest Landscapes (2006 update) presents the results of a multiyear project to map Canada's large, intact forest landscapes and analyze their distribution and level of protection. Mapping High Conservation Value Forests of Primorsky Kray, Russian Far East maps less disturbed forest tracts, floodplain and bottomland ecosystems of intact river basins, naturally rare and unique forest communities, and rare and endangered plant species habitats -- to aid regional conservation strategies. (more) Image credit: © iStockphoto.com \ constantgardener | |
New Board Members for WRI
September 18 - Four new members officially joined the World Resources Institute's Board of Directors. Reflecting experience in corporate leadership, international development, and diplomacy, the new members include Harriet Babbitt, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization of American States; Antony Burgmans, chairman, Unilever NV and PLC; Jim Owens, chairman and CEO, Caterpillar Inc.; and Alison Sander, globalization advisor, Boston Consulting Group. (more)
Upcoming Events
Sept. 19 - 20, Singapore: International Monetary Fund/World Bank Annual Meetings
Sept. 22 - 24, Boston: Fourth Annual AltWheels Transportation Festival
Sept. 29, Washington, DC: Workshop on Carbon Capture & Storage Liability: Issues & Options
Oct. 16-18, Mexico City, Mexico: 2nd International Congress of Sustainable Transport
Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, Auburn, Alabama: 3rd Annual GIS Symposium and Workshops | |
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California Plans Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Curbs
August 31 - The State of California in the United States is moving to implement mandatory caps on greenhouse gas emissions for energy-intensive industries, further distancing itself from all other U.S. states and the federal government by creating the most stringent controls on carbon dioxide emissions in the country. The announced plan calls for a 25 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2020 and possible establishment of controls on the largest industrial sectors, including utilities, oil refineries, and cement plants. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, recently met UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and agreed to work towards trading greenhouse gas emissions between the European Union and California. (more) | |
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Disaster Mitigation by Ecosystem Services
September 6 - A recent report from the World Conservation Union (IUCN) makes clear that the preservation and wise management of ecosystems can reduce the effects of extreme natural events on people. Ecosystems, Livelihoods and Disasters: An Integrated Approach to Disaster Risk Management argues that recognizing the value of ecosystem goods and services could reduce the initial impact of these events and have large benefits for affected communities in the aftermath, particularly poor populations at high risk. (more) Image Credit: Jack Goldfarb | |
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US and other Greenhouse Gas Emitters
Bipartisan Plan on Climate Change
September 18 - Former Vice President of the United States and WRI Board Member Al Gore announced a bipartisan plan for the United States to address climate change. (transcript) | |
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For Whom the BELL Teaches
August 23 - The newest set of Business-Environment Learning and Leadership (BELL) teaching cases explores sustainability-related business challenges and captures business decisions that identify environmental challenges as business development opportunities. Case studies include Alpha Motors Ltd., Molten Metal Technology, St. Charles Medical Center, Nike, and Esprit. (newest case studies) (all BELL case studies) (all teaching notes)
Major Forest Governance Initiative Launched
September 16 - Ministers and senior parliamentarians from the UK, Japan, Indonesia, and Cameroon, along with business and civil society organisations, have come together to form an innovative new international initiative on forest governance: The G8 Illegal Logging Dialogue. (more) | |
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Environmental Commitment by World Bank Bears Watching
September 14 - On the eve of the World Bank's annual meetings, WRI released a policy paper that outlines concerns about the Bank's recent merger of its environment and infrastructure units. The policy note explores the overwhelming evidence that protecting the environment is both compatible with the World Bank's development objectives and essential to achieving them. (more) | |
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Millennium Challenge Corporation Changes Criteria
September 11 - Two new benchmarks -- or indicators -- used by the Millennium Challenge Corporation in its evaluation of country candidates for development grants will measure progress toward adopting policies to protect the environment and to making land ownership more accessible to the poor. WRI was one of the nongovernmental organizations consulted on the development of these additional criteria. (article) (press release)
Details on Cameroon Access Launch
Detailed reports from the recent launch of The Access Initiative in Cameroon have been posted to the web. (more here) | |
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EarthTrends Launches Podcasts
As part of a new outreach effort, the EarthTrends team has launched the first of at least six mixed-media podcasts, which attempt to broadcast climate-change messages to a wide audience. The podcasts, produced at WRI, are a collaboration of WRI, StopGlobalWarming.org, and the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival. (more here) (what's a podcast?)
Zogby Poll Results on Global Warming
August 22 - Poll results suggest that 72 percent of likely voters in the United States agree with the statement: "Addressing global warming by requiring major industries to reduce green house gas emissions can improve the environment without harming the economy." The poll also highlighted some differences between members of different political parties in the United States. (more here) | |
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Just Pour Water and Add
Leave it to the private sector to propose addressing water shortages by addressing the process of water evaporation itself. Brazil-based Lótus Química Ambiental (LQA) has developed a powder that forms an ultra-fine microfilm on the surface of water reservoirs, reducing water evaporation by up to 50 percent. Backed by certification from the Brazilian International Institute of Ecology that LQA’s powder is inert, non-toxic and does not impede the normal function or activities of water reservoirs, the company plans on US$5.5 million in sales after just six years. In Brazil alone, the potential market for the evaporation retardant, based upon available water reservoirs, is estimated at US$6 billion a year. (more here)
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EarthTrends Update - Water Scarcity
September 1 - Water scarcity, whether due to physical, social, or infrastructural reasons, poses significant challenges. The 1.1 billion people without safe drinking water and 2.6 billion people who lack sanitation are at particular risk for poor health. Globally, nearly 6000 children under the age of five die every day from diarrhea-related diseases. Water scarcity issues also have relevance for food production, business, and livelihoods; globally, 70 percent of all water withdrawals are for agricultural purposes and 20 percent are for industrial purposes. (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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