Resources and Tools

WRI Climate Resources

The Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) is an information and analysis tool on global climate change developed by the World Resources Institute. CAIT provides a comprehensive and comparable database of greenhouse gas emissions data (including all major sources and sinks) and other climate-relevant indicators. CAIT can be used to analyze a wide range of climate-related data questions and to help support future policy decisions made under the Climate Convention and in other fora.

The Carbon Value Analysis Tool (CVAT) is a screening tool to help companies integrate the value of carbon dioxide emissions reductions into energy-related investment decisions. The tool has two main purposes:

• To test the sensitivity of a project's internal rate of return (IRR) to "carbon value" (the value of GHG emissions reductions). CVAT integrates this value into traditional financial analysis by ascribing a market price, either actual or projected, to carbon emissions reductions.

• To facilitate the development of emissions reduction strategies by developing a Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) across a portfolio of projects. CVAT ranks projects so managers can prioritize them according to their implicit cost per tonne of carbon emission reduction.

CVAT is designed for use by many types of professionals, including project managers, engineers and energy managers in large companies.

The Climate Northeast partnership is a sister project of Climate Midwest. Climate Northeast builds strategies for companies to thrive in a carbon-constrained economy. Partners develop greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories, share energy management practices and invest in clean energy technologies. These corporate actions shape multi-sectoral policy approaches for a safe climate and sound business future in the Northeast. The Climate Northeast partnership includes companies from various economic sectors, providing diversity of experience and perspective.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) was established in 1998 to develop internationally-accepted accounting and reporting standards for greenhouse gas emissions from companies.

The Green Power Market Development Group is a collaboration of 12 leading corporations and the World Resources Institute dedicated to building corporate markets for green power. The goal is to develop corporate markets for 1000 MW of new, cost competitive green power by 2010.

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Midwest Initiatives

Illinois

The Illinois Climate Change Advisory Group (ICCAG) was convened in 2007 to consider a full range of policies and strategies to reduce GHG emissions in Illinois and make policy recommendations to Governor Rod Blagojevich, pursuant to Executive Order 2006-11. The ICCAG includes business leaders, labor unions, the energy and agricultural industries, scientists, and environmental groups from throughout the state and is chaired by Doug Scott, Director of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Iowa

In 2007, Governor Chet Culver signed SF 485, which created an Iowa Climate Change Advisory Council (ICCAC) to consider and determine the best strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

Minnesota

As part of Minnesota’s Next Generation Energy Initiative, Governor Tim Pawlenty formed the Minnesota Climate Change Advisory Group (MCCAG) and charged the group with development of a Minnesota Climate Mitigation Action Plan. The MCCAG is made up of 50 members representing a broad range of stakeholders including industry, environmental groups, local and tribal governments, transportation, and agriculture. Through a stakeholder process, the MCCAG is to identify opportunities to promote energy efficient technologies and clean, renewable energy resources that will enhance economic growth and develop a comprehensive set of state-level policy recommendations to the Governor for reducing or sequestering greenhouse gas emissions.

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle signed Executive Order #191 in 2007 creating a Task Force on Global Warming to bring together key business, industry, government, energy and environmental stakeholders to examine the effects of, and solutions to, global warming in Wisconsin. The Department of Natural Resources, with the assistance of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC), is leading task force discussions and analysis of potential policy options for climate change to develop a state plan of action to deliver to the Governor to reduce the state's contribution to global warming.

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National & International Initiatives

EPA's Climate Change Page

European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Program
The objective of the European Union's Emissions Trading Program is to launch a public debate with a view towards implementing a possible Community policy on emissions trading before the Kyoto Protocol is applied.

Canadian National Climate Change Program
Understanding climate change means that the Government of Canada and all of its partners can address this issue in a way that will lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, more liveable cities, a cleaner environment and increased competitiveness.

Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)
The Chicago Climate Exchange is a self-regulatory exchange that administers the world's first multi-national and multi-sector marketplace for reducing and trading greenhouse gas emissions. CCX represents the first voluntary, legally-binding commitment by a cross-section of North American corporations, municipalities and other institutions to establish a rules-based market for reducing greenhouse gases.

Kyoto Protocol
Negotiated in 1997 by 180 countries, the Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty designed to reduce global GHG emissions. If brought into force, the treaty would impose limits on emissions in industrialized countries and would establish an international system for trading GHG emissions allowances.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

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Scientific Understanding

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been established by World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environmenatal Programme to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.

National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change
The National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change is a landmark in the major ongoing effort to understand what climate change means for the United States. The Assessment was called for by a 1990 law, and has been conducted under the US Global Change Research Program in response to a request from the President's Science Advisor.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Climate Page
This is the homepage of NOAA's climate research and data. Also visit the U.S. Climate Reference Network, a project developed by NOAA scientists that will improve the ability of America’s decision-makers to form policies about programs impacted by climate variability and change.

The National Academies - Advisors to the Nation on Science, Engineering and Medicine
The National Academies perform an unparalleled public service by bringing together committees of experts in all areas of scientific and technological endeavors. These experts serve pro bono to address critical national issues and give advice to the federal government and the public.

Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Union of Concerned Scientists is an independent nonprofit alliance of more than 100,000 concerned citizens andscientists. They augment rigorous scientific analysis with innovative thinking and committed citizen advocacy to build a cleaner, healthier environment and a safer world.

United States Environmental Protectection Agency - Climate Change Information

United Nations Environmental Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Center
This site offers a biological perspective on the climate change issue, as well as links to climate change conferences and other research on the effects of climate change on biodiversity.

World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
The WCRP was established in 1980, under the joint sponsorship of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and has also been sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1993. The objectives of the programme are to develop the fundamental scientific understanding of the physical climate system and climate processes needed to determine to what extent climate can be predicted and the extent of human influence on climate.

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