WRI Response to the 2014 State of the Union Address

The World Resources Institute (WRI) endorses President Obama's commitment to enact new emissions standards for existing power plants as part of the Climate Action Plan. WRI argues that such standards can drive innovation and economic opportunity, noting that the average U.S. coal plant is nearly 40 years old. The statement emphasizes that U.S. domestic leadership is essential to meeting its international commitment to reduce emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020 and to securing a universal climate agreement in Paris in 2015.

• The WRI supports the establishment of flexible and ambitious emissions standards for existing power plants by the EPA, noting a critical deadline of June 1. This is framed as a necessity because the U.S. power system is aging, with the average coal plant being almost 40 years old and over one-third ready for retirement.
• U.S. domestic climate action is viewed as a prerequisite for international leadership and the success of a universal climate agreement in Paris in 2015. Specifically, these actions would help the U.S. meet its target to reduce emissions by 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.
• Climate change is already causing economic harm through specific regional impacts, including massive floods in Colorado, droughts in California, and rising sea levels in Florida and Virginia.

APA

Steer, A. (2014). WRI Response to the 2014 State of the Union Address. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-2014-state-union-address

Chicago

Steer, Andrew. WRI Response to the 2014 State of the Union Address. World Resources Institute, 2014. https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-2014-state-union-address.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Steer |first1=Andrew |title=WRI Response to the 2014 State of the Union Address |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=28 January 2014 |url=https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-2014-state-union-address |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{steer2014wri, author = {Steer, Andrew}, title = {{WRI Response to the 2014 State of the Union Address}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2014}, month = jan, url = {https://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-response-2014-state-union-address}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }