Green and Mean

The document asserts that the U.S. has a critical opportunity to lead international climate policy because the global landscape has shifted since the Kyoto Protocol. It highlights that major developing nations are now implementing their own climate plans and that the Bali Action Plan allows for 'measurable, reportable and verifiable' actions from both developed and developing countries. The author emphasizes the synergy between climate action and economic growth, noting that 'green' stimulus packages can create jobs and reduce energy costs. Finally, it stresses the need for developed nations to provide financial and technological support to developing countries to ensure a successful global agreement.

• Climate change is accelerating faster than previous models predicted, with evidence including record low Arctic sea ice in 2007 and significant melting of Greenland's ice sheet.
• The Bali Action Plan provides a framework for a more inclusive international agreement than the Kyoto Protocol by requiring mitigation actions from both developed and developing countries that are "measurable, reportable and verifiable".
• Major developing countries have shifted toward proactive climate planning; for example, Brazil aimed to reduce deforestation by over 50% by 2017, and China targeted a 20% reduction in national energy intensity by 2010.
• Green stimulus spending offers significant economic benefits, with the author estimating that such programs create 30,000 jobs for every $1 billion in government spending and can save Americans $450 million per year for every $1 billion invested.
• Russia is identified as a particularly difficult negotiating partner because it lacks a strong internal perceived challenge from climate change and possesses a vast fossil fuel export industry.
• There is a significant gap between the financial needs and expectations of developing countries—some of whom call for funding equal to 0.5-1% of Annex I GDP—and the amounts offered by the U.S. in legislative proposals.

APA

Bradley, R. (n.d.). Green and Mean. World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/publications/green-and-mean

Chicago

Bradley, Rob. Green and Mean. World Resources Institute, n.d. https://www.wri.org/publications/green-and-mean.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Bradley |first1=Rob |title=Green and Mean |publisher=World Resources Institute |url=https://www.wri.org/publications/green-and-mean |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{bradleyndgreen, author = {Bradley, Rob}, title = {{Green and Mean}}, publisher = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/publications/green-and-mean}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }