World Eco News

Punxsutawney Phil may have forecast six more weeks of winter, but for much of the country winter has not yet arrived. Once again, weird weather is dominating the headlines. Temperatures have recently hit highs of 63F in New York City and 72F in…

The World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) are pleased to announce the release of the Corporate Ecosystem Services…

First-ever Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef Countries

Editor’s note: Online resources, including verification documentation, a description of the Eco-Audit indicators, summary results and more, are available at: www.wri.org/reefs and www.healthyreefs.org

The first-ever Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef (MAR) countries finds that despite some positive management efforts, more needs to be done to protect the region’s coral reefs. The evaluation, entitled “2011 Eco-Audit of the Mesoamerican Reef Countries,” was carried out by the Healthy Reefs Initiative (HRI), in collaboration with the World Resources Institute (WRI), and nearly 40 local organizations, government agencies and companies. The results are being launched simultaneously in Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico.

The evaluation scored overall reef management as Fair (2.7 out of 5) across the region and for all thematic areas. This score indicates that, in general, the MAR ecosystem is not being adequately managed. The scores by country are: Belize 3.3, Honduras 2.7, Mexico 2.7 and Guatemala 2.2.

“Our evaluation has documented some positive steps in protecting reefs throughout the Mesoamerican region. However, there are many actions needed to protect the reefs that have been under discussion for decades. It’s time to complete and implement these actions,” said Dr. Melanie McField, director of the Healthy Reefs Initiative. “Reefs are a vital part of this region, providing both economic and cultural value to people in this area. We hope that this information will help to ensure that reefs can thrive for generations to come.”

The Mesoamerica Reef extends over 1,000 kilometers (over 600 miles), from Mexico to Honduras, and includes the Western Hemisphere’s longest barrier reef, located in Belize. Economies in the region are highly dependent on marine resources, especially from tourism and fishing industries. In Belize alone, the reef is estimated to contribute approximately $395 to $559 million (U.S.) in goods and services each year.

The Eco-Audit was developed and implemented using twenty-two standardized management indicators across seven thematic areas. This includes: Research, Education and Awareness, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Global Issues, Coastal Zone Management, Sustainability in the Private Sector, Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management, and Sanitation and Sewage Treatment. Over 300 supporting documents were provided as verification of the results.

“Through this highly collaborative process, involving diverse stakeholders, we have developed a collective understanding of reef management efforts supported by robust data,” said Benjamin Kushner, research analyst, World Resources Institute. “We hope that our transparently verified and publicly available results help coastal and fisheries managers, tourism operators, and others make smart decisions to create a healthy environment for reefs.”

“Stakeholders are now demanding unprecedented levels of transparency from organizations and governments, since our current economic and social conditions have been affected by unethical practices and a lack of transparency,” said Antonio Grijalba of PricewaterhouseCoopers Costa Rica. “This initiative has been a challenging process for HRI, but is a very important step to improve the transparency and accountability of the MAR region, align efforts to address the most critical issues, and share best practices to improve performance.”

To ensure the quality of the results, the financial and management auditing firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers Costa Rica reviewed the methodology and provided feedback on the processes and indicators, and the quality of the verification documentation.

The analysis revealed several key successes, including:

• The extent of territorial sea included in MPAs is relatively high across the region;
• Harmonization of regulations for the lobster fishery was a major regional success; and
• There have been long-standing efforts to monitor reef health across the region, complemented by good availability of information on reef condition and threats.

However, it also showed key shortcomings, including:

• A number of MPAs have been created, but their management is mostly inadequate;
• Wastewater is not being treated at standards necessary to protect coral reefs; and
• There is a lack of comprehensive coastal zone planning that has resulted in poorly planned and sited coastal developments.

This first Eco-Audit provides the foundation for subsequent Eco-Audits, which will be implemented every two years, assuring a routine accounting of efforts to improve the health of the MAR.

Read the analysis and find out more at: www.healthyreefs.org and www.wri.org/reefs

-END-

Contact:

Melanie McField, Director, Healthy Reefs Initiative (Belize City, Belize); email: mcfield@healthyreefs.org; tel: (501) 223-4898; or

Michael Oko, Director, Media Relations, World Resources Institute (Washington, D.C.); email: moko@wri.org; tel. (202) 729-7684

While much has been written from a theoretical perspective about markets for ecosystem services, few on-the-ground projects currently exist. Yet the projects that do exist provide one of the best windows onto what actually works in…

This post originally appeared in the National Journal Energy &; Environment Expert Blog. The question was, Obama’s State of the…

If you are a regular reader of news related to water risk, you may have seen data and observations from Aqueduct in several venues during the month of January. This is the first of a series of updates on news related to Aqueduct and the subject…

Dr. Xiaomei Tan Appointed as Deputy Director for WRI’s China Office

The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced that Prof. Zou Ji will resign as its China Country Director, a position he held for more than two years. He will become the Deputy Director of the National Center for Climate Strategy and International Cooperation of China (NCSC), a new think tank on climate research under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

“We have been honored to have Prof. Zou’s extraordinary vision and leadership to guide our work in China,” said Manish Bapna, Acting President, WRI. “As the founding director of WRI’s first overseas office, Prof. Zou’s inspired leadership has created a highly credible presence for WRI in China, expanding our programs and forging new initiatives to advance our mission. We look forward to our ongoing collaboration with Prof. Zou in his new position, and we wish him great success in his future endeavors.”

Under Prof. Zou’s guidance, WRI has advanced solutions for China’s sustainable and low-carbon urbanization, and Prof. Zou has become a key voice on the future of China’s cities. Using the concept of Environmentally Smart Urbanization, developed by Prof. Zou and his colleagues, WRI helped the city of Qingdao become a key demonstration project for low-carbon development. WRI also recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the NDRC to encourage further collaboration between WRI and the Chinese government.

“I am honored to have established WRI’s office in China and to have developed some far-reaching projects on low-carbon development for the country. WRI is increasingly recognized as an independent and valuable think tank, with both local and international expertise,” Prof. Zou said. “As I turn to the future, I am looking forward to new opportunities with the National Climate Research Center to further contribute to sustainable development in China.”

WRI also announced that Dr. Tan Xiaomei will become Deputy Country Director for the China office. Dr. Tan has been working with WRI for the past four years, as a Senior Associate in both the Climate and Energy program and the Institutions and Governance program.

“We are very excited Dr. Tan has agreed to take on this responsibility and expand our programmatic activities in China,” said Bapna. “Dr. Tan has expertise across a broad range of issues, and she has experience in both the United States and China, which should enable her to be highly successful in this position.”

Dr. Tan has worked for 10 years on national and international energy policies with a focus on energy technology, clean technology development, and power sector climate policy.

Dr. Tan will also serve as the Acting Country Director for the China office, as WRI launches a search for a new full-time China Country Director.

“I am delighted by this opportunity to expand WRI’s work in China and to return to my home country,” said Dr. Tan. “Under Prof Zou’s leadership, WRI has become more active on key issues related to climate, energy, water, and transportation. I am looking forward to continuing this work and collaborating with my colleagues in China to build on this foundation.”

During Prof. Zou’s tenure, WRI’s China office has:

• Positioned WRI as a leading, independent research institute on sustainability in China;
• Established an MOU between WRI and NDRC;
• Expanded WRI’s China-based staff from three to 13 people;
• Developed the concept of Environmentally Smart Urbanization;
• Secured a major grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Qingdao Low-Carbon Development Plan; and
• Helped secure a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to promote sustainable and livable cities in China, India and Brazil.

In the recent UN climate negotiations (COP 17) in Durban, South Africa, the issue of transparency of climate finance appeared in a variety of contexts…

Today I testified before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission during a hearing on China’s Global Quest for Resources and Implications…

This post was written with Sara-Katherine Coxon, Objective Coordinator at the World Resources Institute.

“Smog was a daily occurrence, something you could taste and see.”

This…

In response to President Obama’s State of the Union speech, following is a statement from Manish Bapna, Interim President, World Resources Institute:

“In his speech tonight, President Obama reiterated his vision for American’s energy future—a vision based on expanded energy production at home and less dependence on energy from abroad.

“The president declared that he is not going to ‘walk away’ from his commitment to clean energy. Despite the naysayers, President Obama doubled-down on clean energy, calling for a renewed commitment to energy that will create jobs and protect the environment.

“Expanding investment in clean energy can help America rebuild its manufacturing base, drive innovation, and create more jobs. The president also pointed out that government can play an important role in helping new technologies come to fruition, including through important incentives and policies to help the United States compete in the global clean energy race.

“As the president said, passing federal climate legislation may be too politically challenging today. But greater investment in clean energy can help drive down greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, leaders in Washington need to come back to the table to move forward with a comprehensive national response to climate change.

“President Obama also called for expanded development of natural gas. Natural gas is a potential game-changer for domestic energy production, but its full picture remains unclear. The president’s emphasis on additional incentives in clean energy– in wind, in solar, in batteries– are an important first step in ensuring renewable energy can compete with natural gas.

“Natural gas should be part of America’s low-carbon energy mix, but it must be pursued carefully to ensure that proper environmental and social safeguards are in place. We need to ensure that natural gas complements rather than displaces cleaner alternatives, such as wind and solar.

“It’s well past time for leaders in Washington and across the country not just to listen, but to act on America’s clean energy promise. America should embrace a national energy plan that provides the clarity and certainty our country– especially our businesses– need to move to a cleaner, lower-carbon future.”

The 9th annual Transforming Transportation conference will focus on big ideas to scale up sustainable transport in cities worldwide. Over two days, more than 300 global experts will reflect on past successes and ongoing challenges in sustainable transport and urban development, while exploring ways to scale up through innovation. Special attention will be given to financing from private sources, national government programs and international development agencies.

This year’s conference is organized by EMBARQ – the World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport, the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Institute for Transportation Development and Policy, Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities, and the Partnership for Sustainable Low Carbon Transport.

View the full agenda online: http://www.transformingtransportation.org

KEY MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

Thursday, January 26, 9:30–10:30 a.m.
Keynote address by Jaime Lerner, former Mayor of Curitiba and former Governor of Parana State, Brazil, on the “Future of the City: Challenges of Scaling Up Good Practices in Urban Transport.”

Thursday, January 26, 10:30-11:00 a.m.
Media availability immediately following the keynote address with Jaime Lerner; Holger Dalkmann, Director, EMBARQ; and Jose Luis Irigoyen, Sector Director of Transport, Water and ICT, World Bank.

Friday, January 27, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Keynote address by Chris West, Director, Shell Foundation, on “Innovations in Scaling: What Lessons are Available for the Transport Sector?”

Followed by a panel discussion with Ashwin Mahesh, CEO, Mapunity; Kelly Larson, Program Manager, Bloomberg Philanthropies; and Alex Perera, Co-director, Business Engagement in Climate and Technology, World Resources Institute; moderated by Sommer Mathis, Editor, The Atlantic CITIES.

WHERE
The World Bank
Preston Auditorium
1818 H Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20433

Registration required: https://community.wri.org/NetCommunity/tt2012

# # #

For more information or to set up interviews contact:
Lauren Zelin, WRI, Senior Media Officer, (202) 729-7736, lzelin@wri.org
Erica Schlaikjer, EMBARQ, Media Relations Coordinator, (202) 729-7722, eschlaikjer@wri.org

On January 23, WRI will host a high-profile roundtable discussion on “The State of the Clean Air Act: Past, Present and Future.” The event will be moderated by Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.),…

This piece originally appeared in the Winter 2012 edition of Esri’s ArcUser Magazine. The full text, graphics, and GIS datasets are available here.

• View the online mapping presentation

Assessing Threats, Raising Awareness

WRI has been using GIS to develop highly detailed maps of the threats to coral reefs worldwide since 1998. Coral reefs are vital to maintaining the diversity and viability of marine ecosystems. They provide livelihoods and food for coastal communities and shelter and protection for shorelines.

The goal of the Reefs at Risk project is to produce globally consistent data, maps, and reports that are hybrids of model results and observational evidence that can be used to raise awareness about the location and severity of specific threats to coral reefs. GIS is used to develop spatial indicators linking human activities and livelihoods to pressures on coral reef ecosystems.

Reefs at Risk in the Present, 2030, and 2050: The top map (A) shows reefs classified by present integrated threats from local activities. In the middle (B) and bottom (C) maps, reefs are classified by integrated local threats and projections of thermal stress and ocean acidification for 2030 and 2050

The project has spawned four publications between 1998 and 2011—a global analysis; two detailed regional analyses; and, most recently, a high-resolution update of the first global analysis.

Reefs at Risk Revisited improves on the 1998 global analysis in several important ways. It uses a global map of coral reefs at 500-meter resolution and benefits from improvements in the many global datasets used to evaluate threats to reefs. Most threat data is at 1-square-kilometer resolution. For the first time, it also includes an assessment of climate-related threats to reefs as well as an assessment of the vulnerability of nations and territories to coral reef degradation, based on their dependence on coral reefs and their capacity to adapt. Finally, it takes advantage of the many advances in online web mapping applications, such as ArcGIS Explorer Online, to reach a broader audience that is web savvy, but not necessarily GIS savvy.

• Continue reading the full text of this article >>>

This post originally appeared on the ChinaFAQs website.

A group of government officials from China traveled on a study tour…

This piece originally appeared in Lessons About Land Tenure, Forest Governance and REDD+: Case Studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America.1 The full text of the article is available here.

Abstract

REDD+ presents an important opportunity for Tanzania to leverage its forest resources to bring in new capital flows, promote forest management and provide benefits to communities. With a legal framework designed to promote decentralization and more than a decade of experience with Participatory Forest Management, the country appears ready to capitalize on REDD+.

On closer examination, however, villagers face multiple obstacles in securing rights over land and realizing forest benefits. This paper examines five challenges—classification of General Land; recognition of Village Land; recognition of village government; transfer of Village Land to General or Reserved Land; and Participatory Forest Management procedures. Legal ambiguities and contradictions coupled with inconsistent implementation and governance structures pose unique threats to the success of REDD+ in Tanzania. With REDD+ infrastructure yet to be developed, however, opportunities exist for these challenges to be addressed. The current legal and institutional framework needs clarification and strengthening to make REDD+ a success for all Tanzanians.

• Read the full article

1. Naughton-Treves, L. and C. Day. eds. 2012. Lessons about Land Tenure, Forest Governance and REDD+. Case Studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Madison, Wisconsin: UW-Madison Land Tenure Center. ↩

Opportunities in China for impact investing are growing, where investors look to create positive social and environmental benefits alongside returns. Impact investors actively choose to put their money into companies that address social and…

The World Resources Institute hosts a roundtable discussion featuring former EPA administrators, elected officials, and business and health leaders on “The State of the Clean Air Act: Past, Present and Future” on January 23, 2012. The participants will discuss the law’s significant accomplishments and the challenges that lie ahead.

Sen. Tom Carper and Sen. Lamar Alexander will moderate a discussion featuring former EPA Administrators William Ruckelshaus and William Reilly, CEO Ralph Izzo, PSEG, and health experts Daniel Greenbaum, President of the Health Effects Institute, and Dr. Sumita Khatri, Co-Director of the Asthma Center for the Cleveland Clinic.

WHAT
Roundtable discussion on “State of the Clean Air Act: Past, Present, and Future”

WHO
Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), moderator
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), moderator
The Honorable William Ruckelshaus, former EPA Administrator (1970-1973, 1983-1985)
The Honorable William Reilly, former EPA Administrator (1989–1992)
Mr. Ralph Izzo, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, PSEG
Mr. Daniel Greenbaum, President and CEO, Health Effects Institute
Dr. Sumita Khatri, M.D., M.Sc, Co-Director of the Asthma Center for the Cleveland Clinic
Mr. Manish Bapna, Interim President, WRI, welcome remarks

WHERE
World Resources Institute
10 G Street NE, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20002

WHEN
Monday, January 23, 2011
3:00 – 5:00 p.m. EST

Reception to follow

RSVP Required to press@wri.org

WRI-NDRC Sign MOU for Cooperation on Sustainable Cities

The World Resources Institute is hosting a high-level Chinese official delegation to the United States to exchange ideas and information around low-carbon development.

The week-long study tour includes a delegation of 11 Chinese officials, headed by Director General Su Wei of the Department of Climate Change from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The tour covers five U.S. cities, including Washington D.C., New York, Boston, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Other government officials and representatives from the Chinese cities of Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Qingdao, who are involved in the policymaking and implementation of low-carbon urban development, also joined the tour.

“WRI is honored to be hosting this high-level visit with Chinese officials, which provides a great opportunity for a meaningful exchange on core issues of sustainable urban development,” said Manish Bapna, WRI’s Interim President. “Sustainable cities are one of the preeminent challenges for the future, and we hope that this tour will lead to further cooperation ahead.”

During the visit to Washington, WRI and NDRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help increase collaboration on sustainable development activities in China. The MOU was signed by WRI Board Vice Chair, Harriet “Hattie” Babbitt, and Director General Su Wei.

“This tour and the new MOU demonstrate the growing respect and understanding of WRI’s work in China,” said Dr. Zou Ji, WRI’s China Country Director. “WRI seeks to be a bridge between China and the U.S., helping to exchange ideas and mobilize lasting solutions to development challenges.”

The officials will have meetings with U.S. government officials, and leaders from multilateral institutions, business, academia, and foundations. Topics will focus on low-carbon development, including sub-national cooperation, carbon finance, carbon trading programs, urban planning, transport, and international climate action.

WRI has a long history of working on sustainability issues around urban development, transport, climate, and related areas. WRI recently received a five-year, $12.5 million grant from the Caterpillar Foundation to advance environmentally sustainable and livable cities in China, India, and Brazil.

“WRI is committed to improving the lives of people living in urban centers around the world,” said Bapna. “This is an exciting time for our organization’s work in China, and we’re looking forward to scaling-up our activities around sustainable cities in China and other countries in the months and years to come.”

What are the top environmental and development issues that will shape 2012? This morning, I presented the World Resources Institute’s 9th annual “Stories to Watch” at the National Press Club. While we can’t predict the future, here’s a rundown of…