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This policy note from the World Resources Institute outlines the causes and drivers of eutrophication, noting a significant increase in coastal dead zones and the primary role of human activities—specifically wastewater, agriculture, and fossil fuel combustion—in nutrient pollution.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute assesses the environmental, energy, and economic impacts of a sludge-to-energy project in Xiangyang City, Hubei Province, China. The project utilizes high-temperature thermal hydrolysis, anaerobic digestion, and methane capture to treat sludge and kitchen waste, converting them into compressed natural gas (CNG) and biochar while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

This report by the World Resources Institute examines the concept of sustainable development policies and measures (SD-PAMs) as a way to align economic development in developing countries with the goal of limiting greenhouse gas emissions.

This testimony by Sarah Forbes of the World Resources Institute, delivered to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, examines the early development of China's shale gas industry, the role of U.S.-China partnerships, and the resulting impacts on global energy security and the environment.

This guide details the greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory methodology used by the World Resources Institute (WRI), covering the reporting period from Fiscal Year 2010 to 2021. It outlines the organizational boundaries, operational scopes, and specific calculation methods for direct and indirect emissions in accordance with the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standards.

This working paper evaluates the first five years (Phase I, 2011–2015) of the Advanced Coal Technology Consortium (ACTC) under the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). The ACTC focuses on advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) and coal utilization. While the collaboration has fostered mutual trust between the United States and China, the paper identifies administrative, organizational, and technical barriers to effective joint research, development, and demonstration (RD&D).

This World Resources Institute working paper outlines eight policy pathways to achieve zero carbon buildings (ZCBs) by combining energy efficiency, renewable energy, and carbon offsets. It emphasizes that cities will lead this transition and that ZCBs are attainable regardless of a country's wealth or development status, citing feasibility studies and consultations in India, China, Mexico, and Kenya.

This technical note describes the World Resources Institute's (WRI) Climate Finance Calculator, a tool designed to determine countries' international climate finance contributions based on their economic capacity to pay and their emissions-based climate responsibility.

This report analyzes electricity transmission challenges for renewable energy in the EU, China, and the US. It identifies that while transmission is critical for managing the intermittency and remote location of renewables, progress is hindered by fragmented governance, cost-allocation disputes, and tensions between national and local interests. China is investing heavily in ultra high voltage (UHV) infrastructure, the EU is utilizing Directives to integrate member-state grids, and the US struggles with a highly localized, state-led planning approach.

This research paper benchmarks Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in China against international standards using 30 of 38 BRT indicators. Based on data from 59 cities across 21 countries, the paper identifies 11 design areas where Chinese systems underperform and provides recommendations to help China reach its national goal of 5,000 kilometers of BRT by 2020.

This report analyzes the impact of dockless bike-share systems across 12 Chinese cities, concluding that these systems serve as effective last-mile mobility solutions that improve public transit connectivity, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance public health.

This working paper by the World Resources Institute analyzes environmental and social risk management for overseas investments, specifically providing lessons for Chinese companies. Through six case studies of non-Chinese multinational companies, the paper demonstrates that strong risk management benefits companies, while weak management leads to financial loss and reputational damage.

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.

A World Resources Institute (WRI) technical note analyzing the clean energy trajectories of major greenhouse gas emitters and the contents of intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) submitted to the United Nations.

This guide by the World Resources Institute outlines five public-private financing mechanisms designed to overcome capital barriers for energy efficiency investments: on-bill financing, Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing, Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) models, loan guarantees, and loan loss reserve funds (LLRFs).

This working paper addresses widespread errors in the emission factors used for accounting for indirect greenhouse gas emissions from purchased electricity in China. It notes that incorrect factors used in 2010 could lead to a 49 percent over-estimation of emissions and warns that such inaccuracies distort signals for GHG mitigation decisions. Drawing on the GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1:2006, the paper provides detailed calculation processes and default emission factors for China's regional grids to guide policy makers and corporate users.

This guide details the methodology and data sources used by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to create the Atlas of Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunity. The atlas identifies global areas of forest loss and evaluates the feasibility of restoration by contrasting potential forest coverage with current coverage and human pressure.

This research paper estimates that China voluntarily provided and mobilized $45 billion (averaging $4.5 billion per year) for climate action in developing countries between 2013 and 2022, representing about 6% of the total finance from developed countries. The study addresses a data gap caused by aggregate and sporadic government reporting by analyzing four channels: bilateral public finance, multilateral public finance, export credits, and mobilized private finance.

Dr. Jonathan Pershing of the World Resources Institute provided testimony to the US Senate Environment and Public Works Committee supporting the America’s Climate Security Act of 2007 (S. 2191). He argued that the bill's cap-and-trade system would provide a necessary price signal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at modest economic costs while positioning the United States to lead international climate action.

This research paper outlines a four-phase framework for developing a national electric mobility roadmap—planning and preparation, visioning, development, and implementation—to assist Vietnam in decarbonizing its transportation sector based on global case studies.