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Dr. Jonathan Pershing of the World Resources Institute argues that energy security and climate goals are often aligned but require an integrated policy framework to avoid conflicts. He proposes effectiveness and political feasibility criteria to evaluate policies, noting that while efficiency and renewables offer 'double wins,' other options like natural gas imports or corn-based biofuels can create security risks or environmental damage. The testimony provides specific policy recommendations for the US regarding cap-and-trade, production tax credits, transportation, and biofuels, while also highlighting the vulnerability of developing nations and the risk of climate-induced conflict and migration.

The document discusses the role of carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a potential bridging technology to allow the continued use of coal while reducing CO2 emissions. It argues that while CCS is viewed as a way to maintain the energy status quo, deploying it at a national scale would require a transformation of energy infrastructure as fundamental as a large-scale shift to wind energy.

The analysis finds that while major grassland goods and services are currently in good to fair condition, the overall capacity of these ecosystems to sustain them is declining due to cultivation, urbanization, and degradation.

The document introduces the concept of sustainable development policies and measures (SD-PAMs), which align a host country's national development priorities with a lower-carbon trajectory within an international climate framework. It evaluates the merits and limitations of this approach and examines its operational implications through case studies in Brazil, China, India, and South Africa.

The paper evaluates Phase I (2011–2015) of the CERC Advanced Coal Technology Consortium, noting that while it helped build mutual trust between the U.S. and China, administrative and technical differences across borders hinder effective cooperation. It recommends increasing private sector engagement, focusing on CCS demonstration projects, and consolidating resources to improve the performance of Phase II (2016–2020).

The document argues that while the actual risks of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) are low, public perception of these risks significantly influences the development of policy and regulatory frameworks. To build public acceptability, the author recommends the implementation of large, well-managed demonstration projects, the promotion of robust industry standards and regulations, and the creation of interactive public education and outreach programs.

The document argues that carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) is a critical interim technology for developing countries to decouple fossil fuel use from CO2 emissions without disrupting national development goals. However, it notes that deployment in Africa, Asia, and Latin America is hindered by high costs and insufficient financing mechanisms. The paper advocates for accelerated CCS demonstration in non-OECD contexts to reduce technology risks and costs, aligning with the IEA CCS Roadmap's goal of 50 projects over 10 to 20 years.

The document argues that carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is a critical option for stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations, though its deployment is hindered by the need for policy incentives, flexible regulatory frameworks, and funding for large-scale demonstration projects to lower costs and resolve technical uncertainties.

The PAGE Agroecosystems study finds that while global food production has kept pace with population growth, it has caused significant environmental degradation, including widespread soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and depletion of freshwater resources.

The paper assesses technological carbon removal options in the United States, specifically bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air capture with storage (DACS), and frontier technologies. It argues that while these technologies are critical for stabilizing global temperatures and meeting Paris Agreement targets, their deployment requires significant policy investment in research, development, and infrastructure. The author emphasizes that carbon pricing or regulatory mandates will be essential for sustained large-scale deployment, as CO2 utilization markets alone are insufficient.

The testimony argues that the America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 (S. 2191) is a strong legislative proposal to address global warming through a cap-and-trade system. Dr. Pershing asserts that the US, having contributed 28 percent of atmospheric emissions, must lead the transition to a low-carbon economy to enable a successful international agreement. WRI analysis suggests the bill would cover 82 percent of US emissions, reducing covered emissions by 17 percent by 2020 and 71 percent by 2050 relative to 2005 levels. The testimony emphasizes that the economic impact of the bill's carbon price would be minimal, with some state-level models showing GDP increases when combined with complementary policies. The bill includes cost-containment strategies such as free allowance allocations, auctions, and offsets to ease the economic transition for industries and consumers.

The forest products industry faces a transition driven by environmental policies and shifting consumer values, offering a unique opportunity to provide sustainable solutions to climate change, including carbon storage. However, the industry remains fragmented regarding appropriate climate policies, and the realization of these market opportunities depends on the establishment of clear, long-term national and international regulatory frameworks.

The report contends that bioenergy is an inefficient use of land that exacerbates a projected 70 percent 'food gap' between 2006 calorie availability and 2050 needs. It asserts that large-scale bioenergy targets are unrealistic, as meeting a 20 percent global energy demand target by 2050 would require doubling the world's annual plant harvest. The author argues that bioenergy's climate benefits are often overestimated due to 'double counting' carbon absorption that would occur regardless of energy use. In contrast, solar photovoltaics are presented as significantly more land-efficient, capable of generating over 100 times the usable energy per hectare. The document recommends phasing out subsidies and regulatory requirements for crop-based biofuels and instead prioritizing 'additional' biomass—such as timber processing wastes and landfill methane—for hard-to-abate sectors like aviation.

The report argues that the deployment of commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) depends significantly on local community acceptance and the quality of the engagement process. It emphasizes that effective engagement is measured by the success of the process itself, rather than whether all parties agree on the project's outcome. The guidelines are designed for three primary stakeholders: project developers, regulators, and local decision-makers, aiming to move beyond simple public education toward a culture of two-way communication to ensure local values and ecosystems are respected while pursuing climate mitigation goals.

The report warns that increasing global demand for land-based products is underappreciated in current climate strategies, potentially leading to policies that increase emissions. It projects significant land conversion by 2050 and advocates for a strategy of producing more on existing land, protecting ecosystems, reducing demand for land-intensive products, and restoring native habitats.

The policy brief warns that using soybeans and corn for aviation fuel increases food prices and causes deforestation, urging the US government and states like California to prioritize non-food feedstocks such as waste biomass and e-fuels.

The document provides recommendations for the 2007 Farm Bill to better integrate greenhouse gas mitigation into U.S. agricultural policy, specifically calling for the inclusion of nitrous oxide and methane reductions and the assessment of environmental tradeoffs in conservation programs.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) outlines a strategic pathway for China to achieve deep decarbonization by 2050, focusing on the critical transition period of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025). It argues that adopting a 'Strengthened Ambition Scenario' (SAS) can lead to significant economic and social benefits, including a net social gain of 6.5 trillion yuan in 2050 and the avoidance of 1.89 million premature deaths annually by that year. The report emphasizes the role of key economic regions—the Yangtze River Delta, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—in leading the national transition by peaking emissions early.

The document examines carbon mineralization and enhanced root crops as potential carbon removal strategies. Carbon mineralization, which uses reactive materials to form solid carbonate minerals, could remove 410 MtCO2 per year if one-third of the construction aggregate market shifted to mineralized aggregate. Enhanced root crops, though theoretical, could sequester up to 185 MtCO2 per year across 249 million acres of major U.S. crops. Both technologies face significant research and development hurdles and require sustained federal funding to resolve unknowns regarding scalability, environmental impacts, and commercial viability.

Initiative 20x20 is a regional partnership in Latin America and the Caribbean designed to restore degraded landscapes through reforestation, agroforestry, and silvopasture. The initiative has surpassed its initial goal of 20 million hectares and has earmarked US$2.4 billion for project financing. The program addresses the fact that at least 200 million hectares of land in the region are severely degraded and that 49% of regional emissions stem from land-use change, forestry, and agriculture.