World Bank / by Donald F.Larson, Philippe Ambrosi, Ariel Dinar, Shaikh Mahfuzur Rahman and Rebecca Entler http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64165259&theSitePK=469372&piPK=64165421&menuPK=64166093&entityID=000158349_20081027150127&cid=decresearch [Summary] The scale of investment needed to slow greenhouse gas emissions is larger than governments can manage through transfers. Therefore, climate change policies rely heavily on markets and private capital. This is especially true in the case of … Continue reading »
Posted on February 3, 2009 …
Why Do People Die in Earthquakes? the Costs, Benefits and Institutions of Disaster Risk Reduction in Developing Countries
World Bank / by Charles Kenney http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?pagePK=64165259&theSitePK=469372&piPK=64165421&menuPK=64166093&entityID=000158349_20090127151439&cid=decresearch [Summary] Every year, around 60,000 people die worldwide in natural disasters. The majority of the deaths are caused by building collapse in earthquakes, and the great majority occurs in the developing world. This is despite the fact that engineering solutions exist that can almost completely eliminate the risk … Continue reading »
High Road or Low Road? Job Quality in the New Green Economy
Good Jobs First / by PhilipMattera [with] Alec Dubro,Yomas Gradel and RachelYompson; Kate Gordon and Elena Foshay of the Apollo Alliance http://www.eenews.net/features/documents/2009/02/03/document_gw_02.pdf [From introduction] Decisions made today about green jobs will have profound consequences for our economy, environment, and social fabric for decades to come. Given how much is at stake, the transition must be … Continue reading »
Maximizing NASA’s Potential in Flight and on the Ground: Recommendations for the Next Administration
Baker Institute of Public Policy, Rice University / by George W.S. Abbey, Neal Lane, John Muratore http://www.bakerinstitute.org/publications/SPACE-pub-ObamaTransitionAbbeyLaneMuratore-012009.pdf [From Houston Chronicle via Greenwire ] NASA should shift its focus from moon missions to energy, environment and climate change research, according to a new report. The space agency has an opportunity to prove “its relevance in the … Continue reading »
Assessing the Electric Productivity Gap and the U.S. Efficiency Opportunity
Rocky Mountain Institute / by Natalie Mims, Mathias Bell and Stephen Doig http://ert.rmi.org/research/cgu.html [From website] The report analyzes the size of the electric productivity gap in the U.S. In total, up to 30 percent of current electrical consumption could be curtailed nationwide by closing the electric productivity gap. Electric productivity measures how much gross domestic … Continue reading »
State of Green Business 2009
created by Joel Makower and the editors of GreenBiz.com http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2009/02/02/green-business-growing-but-not-fast-enough-report [Website] Green business activity has continued to grow, even during a down economy, but the aggregate environmental progress being made is marginal, according to a new report, titled “State of Green Business 2009,” the second annual report of its kind published by GreenBiz.com. The State … Continue reading »
Principles for Global Warming Legislation
US Senate, Senator Barbara Boxer http://www.pewclimate.org/docUploads/Boxer-principles.pdf 1. Reduce emissions to levels guided by science to avoid dangerous global warming. 2. Set short and long term emissions targets that are certain and enforceable, with periodic review of the climate science and adjustments to targets and policies as necessary to meet emissions reduction targets. 3. Ensure that … Continue reading »
Double Jeopardy : What the Climate Crisis Means for the Poor
Brookings Institution / by Vinca LaFleur and Abigail Jones http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2009/02_climate_change_poverty.aspx [Website] The fifth Brookings Blum Roundtable report, “Double Jeopardy: What the Climate Crisis Means for the Poor” focuses on two of the most pressing challenges for global policymakers: reducing global poverty and stabilizing the Earth’s climate. Developed following in-depth discussions with leading experts from the … Continue reading »
EPA Needs a Comprehensive Research Plan and Policies to Fulfill its Emerging Climate Change Role
US EPA, Inspector General http://www.epa.gov/oigearth/reports/2009/20090202-09-P-0089.pdf [From summary] EPA does not have an overall plan to ensure developing consistent, compatible climate change strategies across the Agency. We surveyed EPA regions and offices and found they need more information on a variety of climate change topics. They need technical climate change research and tools as well as … Continue reading »
Global Installed Wind Power Capacity (MW) – Regional Distribution
Global Wind Energy Council http://www.gwec.net/fileadmin/documents/PressReleases/PR_stats_annex_table_2nd_feb_final_final.pdf [WSJ Environmental Capital] …Wind power had a very good year worldwide in 2008, led by the U.S. and China, and increased installations by almost 30% over 2007, according to the new numbers out from the Global Wind Energy Council. Globally, there are now 120 gigawatts of wind power installed—that’s the … Continue reading »
