Green and Mean

This testimony by Rob Bradley, Director of the International Climate Policy Initiative at the World Resources Institute, argues that the United States has a critical opportunity to resume international leadership on climate change. Bradley asserts that the global landscape has shifted since the Kyoto Protocol, with major developing nations now proposing their own mitigation plans and the Bali Action Plan providing a framework for inclusive, verifiable commitments from both developed and developing countries. He emphasizes the synergy between climate action and economic growth, highlighting 'green' stimulus packages as a means to create jobs and stimulate recovery following the financial crisis.

• Climate change is accelerating faster than previous models predicted, with observed impacts already evident. Evidence includes record low Arctic sea ice levels of 4.13 million km2 in 2007 and a mountain pine beetle outbreak in British Columbia that impacted 13 million hectares by 2007.
• Global climate success depends on engaging major developing countries, as fifteen countries (including the EU as one) produce almost 80% of current global emissions. China has surpassed the United States as the world's largest emitter, although its per-person emissions remain barely a quarter of those in the U.S.
• The Bali Action Plan (BAP) offers a more inclusive framework than the Kyoto Protocol by requiring 'measurable, reportable and verifiable' (MRV) mitigation actions from both developed and developing countries, addressing previous U.S. Congressional concerns regarding the lack of developing country commitments.
• Major developing nations are increasingly implementing national climate plans driven by risks to development, energy security, and the desire to lead in clean energy technology. Examples include Brazil's goal to reduce deforestation by over 50% by 2017, China's target to reduce energy intensity by 20% by 2010, and Mexico's pledge to halve GHG emissions by 2050.
• Russia is identified as a particularly difficult negotiating partner because it lacks a perceived internal challenge from climate change and possesses a vast fossil fuel export industry, making it less likely to accept binding emission limits.
• Green stimulus spending provides a dual benefit of economic recovery and climate mitigation. In the U.S., over $100 billion (more than 10%) of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was directed toward environmental objectives, with green recovery programs estimated to create 30,000 jobs for every $1 billion spent.
• There is a significant gap between the financial expectations of developing countries—which call for Annex I countries to commit 0.5-1% of their GDP—and the actual contributions offered by the U.S. through legislative proposals like the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner Climate Security Act.

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} }