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MEDIA ADVISORY: Head of German Federal Environmental Agency and President of ...

September 3, 2010

The German Embassy and the World Resources Institute will be hosting an event to discuss policies for Germany and the United States to move to a low-carbon future, as part of the German government’s “Transatlantic Climate Bridge” initiative. The German government recently released a report showing that the country can transition to 100 percent renewable electricity by 2050, while maintaining its industrial base and benefiting its economy. The event will feature Jochen Flasbarth, president of the German Federal Environment Agency (Germany’s equivalent of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, also known as UBA), who will discuss Germany’s transition to renewable electricity. Jonathan Lash, president of the World Resources Institute, will discuss issues related to reducing carbon emissions in the United States and internationally. The event is open to the press and members of the community. WHAT:
Press event hosted by the German Embassy and World Resources Institute on transitioning to a low-carbon future WHEN:
Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. WHERE:
World Resources Institute 10 G Street NE Suite 800, Washington, DC 20002 (Metro: Red Line to Union Station) WHO:
Jochen Flasbarth, president, German Federal Environment Agency
Jonathan Lash, president, World Resources Institute
Ana Unruh-Cohen, deputy staff director, U.S. House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming RSVP: Kevin Lustig, +1(202) 729-7879, klustig@wri.org

Department of Energy Selects WRI and Partners for US-China CCS Project

September 2, 2010

The Department of Energy announced today the selection of the West Virginia University, the World Resources Institute, the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and other partners to implement the US-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC), which will focus on advancing Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). Throughout this program, WRI, WVU, LLNL and the consortia members will work together to rapidly implement the development, demonstration and commercialization of CCS, with the goal of helping the United States and China transition to a low-carbon economy. Following is a statement by Jennifer Morgan, director of WRI’s climate and energy program: “Collaborative action on clean energy technology research and development will enable results beyond what China and the United States could achieve alone. The coal challenge is global and its solutions must be global too. Cooperation between the two largest emitters is an important step for moving forward on solving the climate change challenge.” Following are links to additional information about WRI’s work with China and CCS: WRI Report on CCS in China Ensuring Safe Carbon Capture and Storage in China A First Hand View of China’s Carbon Capture and Storage Actions Can the U.S. and China Cooperate on Coal?

Expanding the Market for Clean Energy in Rural India

September 1, 2010

SBA Hydro is just one of the many companies starting to bring clean energy to India’s rural poor. This post is the first of a series by WRI and CDF-IFMR on the market for clean energy for the base of the pyramid in India. Just over a year ago, I was sipping tea at a roadside stall near the village of Thatulkod, in Himachal Pradesh, India. This small farming community lay far from the tourist trail in the Kullu valley, almost a hundred kilometers from the nearest town. I listened to Subhash Chand, a local apple farmer talk about the quality of electricity in his village: Most houses have electrical connections, but what is the use? We have power for a few hours a day. Even when there is electricity, it is barely enough to operate one or two light bulbs. We cannot rely on it. Over more cups of tea, other villagers told their stories – a college student trying to study under the dim light of a kerosene lantern, a small hotel that relied on an expensive diesel generator because of the frequent power outages, and farmers who had no alternative but to use conventional fuels like kerosene, diesel and firewood for their energy needs. In addition to exposing these households to dangerous toxins and pollutants such as carbon monoxide, these fuel sources also contributed to pollution and environmental degradation. Not only did they suffer from the poor quality of electricity, but the residents of Thatulkod were also beginning to raise concerns about changes in the climate – many farmers complained about the warmer winters negatively affecting their apple harvests in recent years.

Villagers from Thatulkod. Photo credit: Saurabh Lall

These stories repeat across thousands of Indian villages with little or no access to electricity. According to analysis from our forthcoming report, India’s energy shortage is most acutely felt by its rural poor – the 114 million households that spend less than US$75 on goods and services per month (known as ‘Base of the Pyramid.’) About 40 percent of India’s rural households do not have access to electricity, and more than 85 percent must depend on “dirty” kerosene for lighting and firewood for cooking. The people of Thatulkod are more fortunate than many of these households – over the next year, a company called SBA Hydro will construct a small hydro-electric power plant nearby, which will supply sustainably generated electricity to Thatulkod and several neighboring villages. These power plants are constructed along the run of the river and range in size from 100 kW to 1000 kW –sufficient to generate electricity for local needs with minimal impact on the environment. SBA Hydro currently operates two similar power plants near the towns of Sainj and Raskat in Himachal Pradesh which supply electricity to over 2500 rural households.

SBA Hydro founder S.K. Sharma (right) reviews plans for a new 100KW micro hydro plant. Photo credit: Saurabh Lall

As India struggles to provide cleaner and more reliable sources of energy to its rural poor, a growing number of innovative small companies, like SBA Hydro, are selling clean energy products and services directly to India’s rural ‘Base of the Pyramid’ (BoP) population. These new technologies include solar-based home electricity systems and lanterns, energy efficient cookstoves and decentralized electricity services generated from micro hydro and biomass gasifiers. However, most of these companies remain small and face considerable challenges penetrating the market because of poor rural distribution and retail networks. In late 2008, India’s Centre for Development Finance at the Institute for Financial Management and Research (CDF-IFMR) and my team at the World Resources Institute’s New Ventures Program recognized the immense potential of this market and began analyzing the investment outlook for the clean energy industry serving India’s rural poor. To ensure we captured successful practices from other parts of the world, we also looked at clean energy companies serving rural markets in other countries that could provide valuable lessons to their Indian counterparts.

SBA Hydro’s other power plant in nearby Sainj provides 1MW of renewable energy. Photo credit: Saurabh Lall

Together with colleagues from CDF-IFMR, we conducted field research with 15 clean energy companies (11 Indian and 4 global), across seventeen cities and twenty-six small towns and villages in India and four other countries: Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, and Kenya. We interviewed company staff, including executives, middle managers, and field staff, as well as their distribution, retail and financial partners and also organized forty focus groups made up of more than 240 rural BoP users, and nonusers, of clean energy products and services. The result is our forthcoming report Power to the People: Investing in Clean Energy for the Base of the Pyramid in India. The report analyzes the challenges as well as the market opportunities to help investors – both in India and abroad – better understand the enormous potential of this market. Despite the barriers companies face, the report details significant opportunities for growth in the BoP market. The next few posts will dive deeper into our methodology, the sectors we profiled as well as consumer insights gained from our focus group discussions with BoP users. We believe that increased, patient capital can greatly expand the reach of companies like SBA Hydro, and provide clean energy solutions for the villagers in Thatulkod, and beyond, in a profitable and sustainable manner. Santosh Singh is a Senior Researcher and Sreyamsa Bairiganjan is a Researcher in CDF-IFMR’s Rural Market Insight Group.

WRI’s Jennifer Morgan Responds to InterAgency Council Review of the IPCC

August 30, 2010

The InterAcademy Council (IAC) released a report today detailing its findings on the processes and procedures of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The report, “Climate Change Assessments: Review of the Processes and Procedures of the IPCC,” found that the IPCC has been “successful overall,” but it needs to continue to adapt to “changing conditions in order to continue serving society well in the future.” Following is a statement by Jennifer Morgan, WRI’s program director for climate and energy, in response to these findings: “Importantly, this review found no evidence that alters the fundamental conclusions of the IPCC that climate change is occurring and it is ‘very likely’ caused by human activity. These conclusions have been recently reaffirmed by several leading scientific authorities, including the National Academy of Sciences. “The recommendations of the IAC will help bolster confidence in the IPCC – which is comprised of thousands of the world’s leading climate scientists – and will ensure that the IPCC continues to be a leading source of scientific information on climate change. “Around the world, we are witnessing the types of events consistent with climate models — from wildfires in Russia to massive flooding in Pakistan— that will become even more frequent if we do not take action to reduce climate change. The world must now focus on the serious business of finding practical solutions to the climate crisis.”

WRI Joins Céline Cousteau to Talk About Coral Reefs

August 30, 2010

Nestled amid the concrete and steel of midtown Manhattan, the Ana Tzarev Gallery was recently abuzz with talk of a completely different kind of ecosystem: coral reefs. On August 18th, Céline Cousteau hosted 75 guests for a reception and fundraiser for Ocean Inspiration, a tribute to Jacques Cousteau’s 100th birthday.

Céline Cousteau and her brother Fabien Cousteau. Photo credit: Sara Stathas.

Céline, the granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, was joined by Lauretta Burke, the leader of WRI’s Reefs at Risk project. Lauretta previewed her upcoming comprehensive report on the health of the world’s coral reefs, and highlighted some of the risks that reefs face, including overfishing, coastal development and now, global warming and ocean acidification.

WRI’s Lauretta Burke addressed the rising threats to the world’s coral reefs. Photo credit: Sara Stathas.

Guests also learned more about the upcoming Ocean Inspiration, an occasion organized by Céline Cousteau to celebrate, recognize, and reward achievements of ocean advocacy in any and all its forms. The two-day event on October 9 and 10 will include an evening gala celebration and free public forum. A portion of the proceeds will support WRI’s Rescuing Reefs at Risk Initiative. “It’s so great to be working with Céline,” says Burke. “She’s a sincere environmentalist who cares about the natural environment and people’s relationships with nature.” The evening included special ocean-centric cocktails concocted by mixologist Jonathan Pogash, the Cocktail Guru, and both a silent and live auction. The highlight was a trip to the Galapagos aboard a National Geographic boat led by Lindblad Expeditions.

The Ana Tzarev Gallery. Photo credit: Sara Stathas.

Guests included Wolcott Henry of the Henry Foundation, Caryn Feinberg of Global Infrastructure Partners, Caleb McClennen of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and Mark Fabry, of the Philanthropic Capital Group. We were also joined by Anisa Costa and Fernanda Kellogg of the Tiffany Foundation, a supporter of WRI’s reefs work and a leader in the global effort against using coral in jewelry. Early next year WRI will publish Reefs at Risk Revisited, a global report on the health of the world’s coral reefs, documenting the growing range and volume of threats to their survival. An update of our influential 1998 analysis, Reefs at Risk: a Map-Based Indicator of Threats to the World’s Coral Reefs, the new report will employ the most recent high-resolution data to provide a detailed examination of human pressures on coral reefs (including from climate change), implications for reef condition, and projections of associated socioeconomic impacts in coastal communities.

Minding the Sustainability GAAP

August 26, 2010

Limited transparency around corporate sustainability risks can lead to investments that are bad for the environment, and investors’ bottom lines. Yesterday BP abandoned its hope of bidding on a potentially lucrative exploration license in Greenland. The implication is that its tarnished reputation is undermining its ability to compete for projects. Across the Atlantic, the Tennessee Valley Authority has lost nearly $50 million in power generation during this summer’s heatwave, because the Tennessee river is too hot for the nuclear plants’ cooling towers to function. What do these two stories have in common? They are both examples of how environmental degradation can hit home for companies. The global environmental crisis, including climate change, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation, isn’t just a problem for “greens.” It also creates significant financial risks for companies and their investors. Environmental Risks Alter Balance Sheets Such risks vary from sector to sector but include: potential liability for environmental accidents; the physical impacts of climate change on supply chains; and growing water scarcity in many parts of the world. BP’s recent crisis generated by the mammoth Gulf of Mexico oil spill is an extreme example of environmental risk. It turned the company’s anticipated net income of $5.6 billion for the second quarter of 2010 into a record $17.1 billion loss. But in a resource-constrained and warming world, there are many other risks that may significantly alter the balance sheet. For example, research suggests that consumer goods companies could face a loss of earnings if they do not respond to environmental pressures in their supply chains, including physical climate change impacts and public policy responses to them. Specifically, the World Resources Institute (WRI) report Rattling the Supply Chains indicates that such businesses could face a 13-31 percent reduction in earnings before interest and taxes as soon as 2013, rising to 19-47 percent in 2018. Certain sectors will be heavily impacted by specific risks in vulnerable countries or regions. For example, 79% of planned new power plant capacity in India will be built in water scarce or stressed areas. Since thermal and hydroelectric power plants depend heavily on water for cooling and energy generation, uncertain water supply creates significant risks for domestic power companies. A Gap in Financial Accounting Standards Worldwide, current financial accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles (known as GAAP) fail explicitly to address such risks, which often derive from unsustainable business strategies. They can also miss the opportunities that such challenges create. Superior environmental performance by corporations can translate into lower costs from improved energy and resource efficiency and higher revenues from product innovation and enhanced brand recognition. General Electric’s Ecomagination™ product line is one compelling case in point.

Current financial accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles fail explicitly to address environmental risks, which often derive from unsustainable business strategies.

Corporate sustainability reports can help fill information gaps on some risks. But sustainability reporting standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative, remain largely voluntary, and as a result, their uptake is limited. Another recent WRI report Undisclosed Risk, for example, found that developing markets have particularly lagged behind in producing corporate sustainability reports. What’s more, stand alone reports all but guarantee that sustainability remains at the periphery rather than the mainstream of financial and investment decisions. A 2008 KPMG International Survey of Corporate Social Responsibility, for example, found that only three percent of annual financial reports had corporate responsibility information fully integrated into them. The failure to integrate sustainability as a strategic business issue in annual financial reports means that businesses and investors continue to make investments that are bad for the environment, society and ultimately their own bottom line. As a result, environmental trends continue on a downward trajectory, creating even greater risks for companies, especially those that have not embraced sustainable business strategies. The Movement for Integrated Reporting A solution may finally be on its way. A coalition of businesses, regulators, accountants, securities exchanges and not-for-profit groups recently launched an International Integrated Reporting Committee initiative to “create a globally accepted framework for accounting for sustainability.” Jointly convened by HRH Prince Charles’s UK-based Accounting for Sustainability Project and the Global Reporting Initiative, the committee includes participants from the International Accounting Standards Board, U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board, International Organisation of Securities Commissions, the Big Four auditors - Price Waterhouse Coopers, Deloitte, Ernst & Young and KPMG - and NGOs including the World Resources Institute. The committee intends to present a framework, which brings together financial, environmental, social and governance information in a single “integrated” reporting format, at the G20 intergovernmental summit in France in 2011. The G20 already backs the formation of a single set of reporting standards, and G20 support for broader rules will be crucial to their introduction. Moving sustainability from the periphery to mainstream investment is an essential next step in preparing the corporate sector to deal with environmental risks. The move won’t be easy. But given worsening environmental trends and the fact that today’s investment decisions will either sustain or degrade the earth’s environment, integrated reporting is both sorely needed and long overdue. Linnea Laestadius is an intern with the Office of the Vice President for Science and Research at WRI. She is a PhD student in Health and Public Policy and a CLF Farming the Future Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

New Interactive Atlas Will Help Central African Republic Manage Forests

August 20, 2010

CAR government and people will now be able to track and monitor the country’s forests and logging concessions. En Français Landlocked between its African neighbors, the Central African Republic (CAR) relies heavily on its forested southwestern corner to support national and local economies. The CAR’s forest sector represents 10 percent of the country’s GDP – the highest percentage of any forested Congo Basin nation, including Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition to supplying valuable wood products on the international market, the forests and the ecosystem services they provide serve as the lifeblood for local populations.

The CD-ROM Atlas and report provide an accurate picture of activities in the <abbr title="Central African Republic">CAR</abbr>’s forest sector. <a href="/publication/interactive-forest-atlas-central-african-republic">View the Report.</a>

The CD-ROM Atlas and report provide an accurate picture of activities in the CAR’s forest sector. View the Report.

In recognition of the parallel economic and environmental benefits of its forests, the CAR has been working with the international community over the past 15 years to implement sustainable, socially responsible forest management policies. In 1997, the CAR became the first Congo Basin nation to allocate industrial forest logging permits that mandated improved logging methods and management plans. At present, 75 percent of the country’s industrial logging sites are operating under such plans, which have been approved by the Ministry of Water, Forests, Hunting and Fishing (MEFCP). In spite of these regulatory improvements, the CAR still faces challenges in the day-to-day monitoring of its forest sector. Due to insufficient forest data and technical capacity at the national level – particularly with regards to satellite monitoring and mapping capabilities - it has been difficult for the CAR government to ensure that logging operations are, in fact, in compliance with CAR’s forest management policies and international wood legality regulations. Without accurate forest sector information, officials are unable to effectively discern “legality” from “illegality” or, more broadly, make sound resource use decisions. Without access to credible information on timber operations, civil society is unable to monitor the adherence to policy or the respect of community rights.

The Dzanga-Ndoki National Park is adjacent to the <abbr title="Central African Republic">CAR</abbr>’s logging areas.

The Dzanga-Ndoki National Park is adjacent to the CAR’s logging areas.

To fill this data gap, WRI signed an agreement in 2007 with the MEFCP to strengthen the government’s mapping and geo-spatial forest monitoring capacity, integrate forest sector data, and disseminate information to all relevant actors working in the forest industry. The principle product of this collaboration is the Interactive Forest Atlas. Through a collection of interactive maps and data sets, the CD-ROM Atlas and accompanying report provide the CAR government and the public with an accurate presentation of activities occurring within the CAR forest sector. Designed in a user-friendly format, the Atlas will serve as a platform to help all stakeholders – from government agencies and private companies to NGOs and forest communities – enforce regulations and defend their rights.

Emmanuel Bizot (Minister of Water, Forests, Hunting, and Fishing), Pierre Methot (WRI) and Paul Doko (WRI) at the official launch of the Atlas in Bangui, <abbr title="Central African Republic">CAR</abbr>.

Emmanuel Bizot (Minister of Water, Forests, Hunting, and Fishing), Pierre Methot (WRI) and Paul Doko (WRI) at the official launch of the Atlas in Bangui, CAR.

Future versions of the CAR Interactive Forest Atlas will build upon this premier version, which is based on data collected through December 2009. Through these updates, as well as through continuous trainings for forest sector stakeholders on how to use the Atlas, WRI and MECFP aim to place forest information securely into public hands and make transparent, sustainable forest management the status quo. This will benefit not only the CAR government, but also the local communities dependent upon forest resources for their fragile livelihoods.

<a href="/map/land-use-classification-and-logging-concessions-central-african-republic">Land Use Classification and Logging Concessions in the Central African Republic</a>

Land Use Classification and Logging Concessions in the Central African Republic

The Interactive Forest Atlas of the Central African Republic project received generous support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Un atlas interactif aidera la République Centrafricaine à mieux gérer ses forêts Le gouvernement centrafricain et ses citoyens peuvent maintenant suivre et surveiller les forêts du pays et les concessions forestières. Enclavé entre ses voisins africains, la République centrafricaine (RCA) dépend largement de son espace forestier au sud-ouest du pays pour soutenir les économies nationales et locales. Le secteur forestier de la RCA représente 10 pourcent du PIB - le plus haut pourcentage de tous les pays forestiers du Bassin du Congo, y compris le Cameroun et la République démocratique du Congo. En plus de fournir des produits de bois précieux sur le marché international, les forêts et les services écosystémiques qu’elles sont la principale source de revenu des populations riveraines. Depuis 15 ans, la RCA s’efforce, avec l’appui de la communauté internationale, de mettre en œuvre des politiques de gestion forestière durables et socialement responsables, en reconnaissance des services économiques et environnementaux fournis par les forêts. En 1997, la RCA est devenue le premier pays du bassin du Congo à allouer des permis d’exploitation forestière industrielle requérant de méthodes d’exploitation durables et des plans de gestion. Aujourd’hui, 75 pourcent des sites d’exploitation forestière industrielle du pays opèrent dans le cadre de ces plans, qui ont été approuvés par le Ministère des Eaux, Forêts, Chasse et Pêche (MEFCP). Malgré ces avancées réglementaires, la RCA reste confrontée à des défis importants en matière de suivi de son secteur forestier. Le manque de données sur l’évolution du couvert forestier d’une part, les capacités techniques insuffisantes au niveau national d’autre part (notamment dans le cadre de la surveillance satellitaire et de la cartographie) ont limité la capacité du gouvernement centrafricain vérifier que les opérations d’exploitation forestière respectent les lois et règlements nationaux . Faute d’information précise, les gestionnaires forestiers sont incapables de discerner de manière efficace la «légalité» de «l’illégalité» ou, plus largement, de prendre de bonnes décisions sur l’utilisation des ressources. De même, la société civile ne peut pas surveiller le respect de la politique ou le respect des droits communautaires sans accès à une information crédible sur l’exploitation forestière. Pour combler ces lacunes, WRI a signé un accord de collaboration en 2007 avec la MEFCP pour renforcer les capacités du gouvernement en matière de cartographie et de surveillance géo-spatiale des forêts. L’accord incluse également l’intégration des données du secteur forestier, et la diffusion des informations à tous les acteurs travaillant dans l’industrie forestière. Le résultat tangible de cette collaboration est l’Atlas Interactif Forestier. L’Atlas fournit sous forme de CD-ROM un ensemble de cartes interactives et de données, ainsi qu’un rapport d’analyse, afin de fournir au gouvernement centrafricain et au grand public une représentation exacte des activités se déroulant dans le secteur forestier en RCA. Créé dans un format convivial, l’Atlas servira de plateforme intégrée permettant à toutes les parties prenantes - organismes gouvernementaux, entreprises privées, ONG, et communautés forestières - de mieux faire respecter les règlements et de défendre les droits des populations. Les versions futures de l’Atlas Interactif Forestier de la RCA mettront à jour cette première version, qui est basée sur des données recueillies jusqu’en Décembre 2009. Ces mises à jour, ainsi que les formations continues sur l’utilisation de l’Atlas proposées par le WRI et le MECFP à tous les acteurs du secteur forestier, mettront à la disposition du public des données récentes et fiables sur le couvert forestier pour une gestion durable et transparente. Cela...

Preparing for REDD in the Republic of Congo

August 18, 2010

A new WRI project will quantify forest degradation and associated greenhouse gas emissions in the forests of the Republic of Congo. The Republic of Congo is part of the larger Congo Basin region, which contains one quarter of the world’s tropical forests. Protecting the region’s forests has become a crucial part of the international effort to combat global warming. Yet the Republic of Congo, like other countries in the Congo Basin, is still putting the systems in place to implement an effective strategy to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (known as REDD) and to participate in future programs that incentivize reduction in emissions from these sources. To support this effort, WRI is spearheading an innovative new project entitled Quantifying Forest Degradation and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Forests of the Republic of Congo. Planned project activities will: Quantify greenhouse gas emissions from the country’s forests, Develop new methods to measure and monitor forest degradation, Build in-country forest monitoring capacity, and Ensure that spatial data sets are transparent and publically available. WRI will coordinate these project activities with stakeholders from the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Forest Economy and Environment (MDDEFE) in the Republic of Congo, in a process facilitated by the country’s National REDD Coordination Committee (CN-REDD). The CN-REDD will ensure that the project is fully coordinated with the Republic of Congo’s climate change preparedness strategy. The Forests of the Republic of Congo Spanning 22.5 million hectares (ha), the forests of Republic of Congo cover two-thirds of the country. They provide significant ecosystem services to local communities such as fuel wood, timber, non-timber forest products, water purification, and cultural and religious values. In addition, these forests help regulate the climate by sequestering significant quantities of carbon, thereby supporting efforts to mitigate global climate change.

Forests of the Congo Basin

Historically deforestation rates in the Republic of Congo have been very low. The 2008 State of the Forests report for Central Africa estimates the annual net deforestation rate in Republic of Congo at 0.03%, driven primarily by small-holder agriculture and urban settlement. Forest degradation, though harder to quantify, is estimated to be a more significant driver of forest change in the country, and the Congo Basin in general. Degradation, while yet to be defined by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), occurs as a result of activities such as shifting cultivation, fuel wood collection, selective logging, and the construction of roads for commercial logging or mining activities. A recent study estimates carbon emissions from degradation may be three times greater than those from deforestation in sub-Saharan Africa. Although historical rates of deforestation and degradation have been relatively low, underlying factors such as population growth, poor rural populations, and lack of alternative sources of energy for low income people are expected to exacerbate forest cover loss in the future. Furthermore, lessons from Latin America and Southeast Asia suggest that commercial farming may gradually replace subsistence agriculture as an important agent of forest cover loss in the Congo basin. The map below illustrates the land cover and status of logging concessions in the Republic of Congo.

Logging Concessions and Protected Areas in the Republic of Congo. <a href="/map/logging-concessions-and-protected-areas-republic-congo">View Larger Size.</a>

Logging Concessions and Protected Areas in the Republic of Congo. View Larger Size.

REDD: An Opportunity for Forest Conservation REDD - or reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation – is a proposed framework to incentivize reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The range of possible activities that will fall under the framework is still under discussion, and a REDD+ framework is proposed which includes a wider range of forest activities such as enhancing carbon stocks in forests and sustainable forest management.

Population growth, poor rural populations, and lack of alternative sources of energy for low income people are expected to exacerbate forest cover loss in the Congo Basin in the future. Photo credit: WRI

Whether designed as REDD or REDD+, the framework could provide compensation to governments, communities, companies or individuals who have taken actions to reduce emissions from forest loss below an established reference level. The effective implementation of a REDD strategy in the Republic of Congo can help protect carbon- and biodiversity-rich tropical rainforests while promoting local prosperity. However, countries in the Congo Basin region are currently not well-poised to employ these mechanisms and benefit from these emerging opportunities for several reasons, which the project will address: Countrywide data on forest cover change is not gathered in a systematic fashion, and methods and systems for detecting forest degradation (the dominant form of land use change in the region) are absent. As a result, there is no country-specific information on forest carbon stocks and flows. There is a lack of technical capacity to gather and utilize information on forest carbon. The government of Republic of Congo has not incorporated forest carbon data in their land-use policy decisions. The nation has not yet developed systems to transparently share data on forests and forest carbon or mechanisms to facilitate broad-based civil society participation in REDD decision-making. Developing Capacity in the Republic of Congo WRI’s new project will address these challenges by providing data, methods and assistance in developing national forest carbon accounting strategies and reference forest carbon emission levels. The initiative aims to develop Republic of Congo’s capacity to meet future UNFCCC technical requirements for measuring, reporting and verifying information on forest change and associated GHG emissions. Main project activities include: Quantifying forest carbon emissions from land use change, including tree cover change and forest degradation, using the most up-to-date methodologies and following IPCC Good Practice Guidance. These analyses will include an update of forest cover change from 2005-2010 and add missing years going back to the 1990s. Testing a variety of novel methods for measuring and monitoring fine-scale degradation – e.g. from selective logging - and calculate associated GHG emissions through field work. Additionally, the project will evaluate these pilot technologies to determine the most appropriate options balancing accuracy, cost and ease-of-use. Developing the capacity of the Observatoire Satellital des Forêts d’Afrique Centrale (OSFAC) as a regional center of excellence in forest monitoring and carbon accounting. OSFAC will be trained by WRI and partners on remote sensing and the carbon accounting methodologies for monitoring changes in forest extent, quality, and carbon emissions. Working closely with the government’s National REDD coordination committee to ensure integration with policy and coordination with other REDD initiatives in the country. This engagement includes a series of policy workshops with decision-makers in government ministries on how methods for monitoring and measuring forest loss/degradation and associated GHG emissions underpin REDD+ policies. Ensuring that the information, spatial datasets, and maps developed through this project will be transparently produced and publically available. Additionally, the project will encourage participation of civil society, academic institutions, and local communities through a series of training events on the drivers of deforestation and degradation, costs and benefits of alternative policies, and lessons learned from other countries. Project Partners and Collaborators WRI will collaborate with the f...

NEWS RELEASE: Companies Complete Road Testing of New Global Greenhouse Gas A...

August 17, 2010

More than 60 companies have completed the road testing of new global standards designed to help measure the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of their products and supply chains. Developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the two new GHG Protocol standards –the Product Lifecycle Accounting and Reporting Standard and the Scope 3 (Corporate Value Chain) Accounting and Reporting Standard – provide methods to account for emissions associated with individual products across their life-cycles and of corporations across their value chains. The 62 companies from multiple sectors and 17 countries started road testing the standards in January. In June, they submitted written feedback on their usability along with final GHG inventory reports. A summary of the feedback is posted on the GHG Protocol website. “The road testing experience illustrates how developing rules around measurement, reporting, and verification involves complex technical and policy decisions that need real-world feedback to ensure the right balance is achieved between rigor and ease of use while keeping in view the capacity of both experienced and new users,” said Jennifer Morgan, director of WRI’s Climate and Energy Program. “The GHG Protocol approach to develop international standards provides us a model on how we might want to pursue the development of rules on tracking emissions at the country-level as well.” The companies that road tested the Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard reported they had little difficulty completing an inventory in conformance with the requirements and found the guidance provided in the draft helpful. “We’re really looking forward to having a standard that can be used globally, for communication across a broad range of stakeholders,” said Robert ter Kuile, senior manager of energy and climate change at PepsiCo. “Road testing the Product Life Cycle Standard has enabled us to engage with other multinational organizations and to join in conversations with NGOs, governments, and academic institutions. When you bring these organizations together, to write a standard, that is going to be the standard that everybody follows and PepsiCo wanted to make sure that we not only learned from the process, but that we also had the opportunity to contribute.” The companies that road tested the Scope 3 Accounting and Reporting Standard found it achievable to complete a Scope 3 inventory and many companies believe it practical to complete one on an annual basis. “Road testing the Scope 3 Standard has been a helpful process that has allowed us to assess emissions throughout the entire value chain, and to identify areas that require more attention,” said Katie Wallace, sustainability specialist at New Belgium Brewing Company. “We plan to use the results to drive improvements and measure greenhouse gas reductions associated with New Belgium Beer. Because we believe transparency to be a key ingredient in any authentic sustainability effort, New Belgium will share our findings with our customers, coworkers and stakeholders. This process has taken us one step closer to true environmental stewardship.” The road testers shared similar views on the business value of using the standards. Most road testers agree that the standards help in identifying GHG reduction opportunities and prioritizing reduction efforts; engaging suppliers and enabling supply chain GHG management; understanding risks and opportunities associated with emissions in the supply chain; creating competitive advantage and product differentiation; and improving credibility and transparency in GHG reporting. The next steps will be to revise the standards based on feedback from the Road Testers as well as the Steering Committee and Technical Working Groups. The revised standards will be released at the end of September for a 30 day public comment period. The text will be finalized at the end of 2010 and the final versions will be published by March 2011. Companies that participated in the road testing exercise include: 3M, Abengoa, Acer Inc, Airbus S.A.S, AkzoNobel, Alcoa, Amcor, Ampacet, Anvil Knitwear, Inc., Autodesk, Inc., Baoshan Iron & Steel Co. Ltd, BASF SE, Belron International, Bloomberg LP, BT plc, Coca-Cola Erfrischungsgetränke AG, Danisco A/S, Deutsche Post DHL, Deutsche Telekom AG, DuPont, Ecolab, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, Gold’n Plump Poultry, LLC, Herman Miller, Inc, IKEA, Italcementi Group, JohnsonDiversey, Kraft Foods, Kun Shan Tai Ying Paint Co, Ltd., Lenovo, Levi Strauss & Co., Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, National Grid, New Belgium Brewing¸ Ocean Spray Cranberries, Otarian, PE International, PepsiCo, Inc., Pfizer, Pinchin Environmental Ltd., PricewaterhouseCoopers (Hong Kong), Procter & Gamble Eurocor, Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc., Rogers Communications, SAP AG, SC Johnson, Shanghai Zidan Food Packaging and Printing Co., Ltd., Shell International Petroleum Company Ltd., Siemens AG, Suzano Pulp and Paper, Swire Beverages, TAL Apparel Limited, Tech-Front (Shanghai) Computer Co., Ltd. / Quanta Shanghai Manufacturing City, Veolia Water, Verso Paper Corp., Webcor Builders, WorldAutoSteel. DNV, KPMG, and PwC provided support to road test the 3rd party assurance guidance.

The Challenge and Promise of Carbon Capture and Storage

August 16, 2010

This article originally appeared in The Solutions Journal. I don’t use the term “clean coal.” There will always be environmental issues surrounding the production and use of coal. But for the foreseeable future, global energy demands are going to require us to keep on burning it. That has brought everyone’s attention to bear on Carbon Capture and Storage, or CCS, the process that most commonly uses chemical solvents to “scrub” CO2 from the overall emission stream, transport it, and then inject and store it in rock strata. There’s currently a lot of misinformation about CCS on both sides of the divide. Some in the coal industry claim the process as an environmental panacea. They’ve called America “the Saudi Arabia of CCS,” given its abundant rock formations, which are perfect for storage. Many activists fear the process is just a way for the industry to do some greenwashing that will allow coal to go on polluting and the world to keep consuming vastly more energy than is sustainable. The truth is somewhat more prosaic, but it points to the crucial role that CCS must play to stop global warming. Let’s get some facts straight. CCS is on the cusp of operational, first-of-a kind deployment, but for the time being it remains a demonstration tool. There are several projects operating at an industrial scale worldwide, in line with a G8 call to realize 20 demonstrations by 2020. Most of these demonstrations are operating at about a million tons per year, but there are no projects operating at several millions of tons of CO2 per year. In the United States, American Electric Power’s Mountaineer power plant in New Haven, West Virginia, is currently doing integrated carbon dioxide capture and geologic storage, using a small stream of the overall emissions from that facility. On top of existing federal funding, the Obama administration has given $3.4 billion from the Recovery Act toward further research and demonstration. The challenge facing this American Electric Power demonstration, and others globally, is that CCS is very site-specific. You have to have the right geology to promote safe and secure storage. That means there’s no single solution. This presents a real challenge for the energy industry. Ultimately, dealing with climate change requires global cooperation, and if a framework for sharing knowledge and building a network of integrated demonstrations can be put in place, technology might move forward towards deployment more quickly. There are signs that this is happening. At the World Resources Institute (WRI), we’re focused right now on developing a set of guidelines for how to responsibly demonstrate and deploy CCS in China. We have already developed a set of guidelines with stakeholders from the United States who represent various viewpoints on CCS, including environmental groups, the coal industry, the oil and gas industry, and leading academics. To develop guidelines for China, we are working with Tsinghua University and leading experts on CCS from both China and the U.S. We are exploring the potential for global response to the challenges posed by developing this technology. In parallel with the rollout of more demonstrations, WRI is urging both the U.S. and China to give proper thought to post-closure stewardship. This is where we really need to learn from the mistakes of the past, in the coal industry as well as others, and ensure that someone is responsible for stewardship of these sites over the long term. There are a number of proposed mechanisms for apportioning responsibility and funding: One bill before Congress envisions a federal tax on operators, based on a cost for each ton of carbon dioxide stored, to create a trust fund that would cover post-closure stewardship costs. Another additional strategy is for CCS operations to post an assurance bond to cover costs. This could be similar to how mining operations currently have to post bonds for land reclamation (not large enough bonds). The idea here would be to shift the burden of CCS risk onto CCS project operations instead of making the public pay for it. If we can get this right, and continue to move in the direction of greater global cooperation, there’s no reason why we can’t move toward a rapid deployment of the technology. When the G8 announced its goal of 20 demonstrations by 2020, it asked the International Energy Agency (IAEA) to come up with a road map for how to achieve that goal. This roadmap projects 100 projects worldwide by 2020, including many in China. This work is based on the assumption that the world must reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2050. The IAEA’s research suggests that CCS could account for 19 percent of that drop. CCS is important because it’s a bridge that’s needed to help us get from our current power plants, which are spewing lots and lots of CO2, to that zero-carbon future we envision. We need to test and try CCS at commercial scales to see if it’s going to work, but we also need to bear in mind that it doesn’t address all the problems of our current energy production and use.