Resources and Tools
WRI Climate Resources
The Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) is an information and analysis tool on global climate change developed by the World Resources Institute. CAIT provides a comprehensive and comparable database of greenhouse gas emissions data (including all major sources and sinks) and other climate-relevant indicators. CAIT can be used to analyze a wide range of climate-related data questions and to help support future policy decisions made under the Climate Convention and in other fora.
The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) was established in 1998 to develop internationally-accepted accounting and reporting standards for greenhouse gas emissions from companies.
The Green Power Market Development Group is a collaboration of 12 leading corporations and the World Resources Institute dedicated to building corporate markets for green power. The goal is to develop corporate markets for 1000 MW of new, cost competitive green power by 2010.
Northeast Initiatives
Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)
The goal for RGGI is to develop a multi-state cap and trade program covering GHG emissions. The program will initially be aimed at reducing carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the participating states. The participating states are expected to have an agreement on program design by November 2005. After the cap and trade program for power plants is implemented, the states may consider expanding the program to other kinds of sources.
New England Governors / Eastern Canadian Premiers Climate Change Action Plan
This action plan is the culmination of efforts between the New England governors and the Eastern Canadian premiers and their respective environment and energy agencies. The plan supports and complements other regional, state and provincial initiatives currently being implemented.
Clean Air - Cool Planet
Clean Air - Cool Planet is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding and promoting solutions to global warming. Clean Air-Cool Planet creates partnerships in the Northeast to implement solutions to climate change and build constituencies for effective climate policies and actions.
Environment Northeast
Environment Northeast is a nonprofit, member supported environmental research and advocacy organization working to promote effective solutions to global warming, energy conservation and electric system reform, renewable power, diesel emission reductions and clean engines.
SmartPower
SmartPower is a non-profit organization dedicated to cleaning our air, creating healthy communities and achieving energy independence -- all through the use of renewable energy. An initiative of the Pew Charitable Trusts, The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, The Surdna Foundation, The John Merck Fund and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, SmartPower seeks to have 20% of energy come from renewable sources by the year 2010.
New England Climate Coalition
The New England Climate Coalition (NECC) is a coalition of more than 160 state and local environmental, public health, municipal and religious organizations concerned about the drastic effects of global warming in the Northeast. NECC's goal is to ensure the New England Governors implement the Climate Change Action Plans promised in 2001.
National & International Initiatives
EPA's Climate Change Page
European Union (EU) Emissions Trading Program
The objective of the European Union's Emissions Trading Program is to launch a public debate with a view towards implementing a possible Community policy on emissions trading before the Kyoto Protocol is applied.
Canadian National Climate Change Program
Understanding climate change means that the Government of Canada and all of its partners can address this issue in a way that will lead to reduced greenhouse gas emissions, more liveable cities, a cleaner environment and increased competitiveness.
Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX)
The Chicago Climate Exchange is a self-regulatory exchange that administers the world's first multi-national and multi-sector marketplace for reducing and trading greenhouse gas emissions. CCX represents the first voluntary, legally-binding commitment by a cross-section of North American corporations, municipalities and other institutions to establish a rules-based market for reducing greenhouse gases.
Kyoto Protocol
Negotiated in 1997 by 180 countries, the Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty designed to reduce global GHG emissions. If brought into force, the treaty would impose limits on emissions in industrialized countries and would establish an international system for trading GHG emissions allowances.
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Scientific Understanding
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has been established by World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environmenatal Programme to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation.
National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change
The National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change is a landmark in the major ongoing effort to understand what climate change means for the United States. The Assessment was called for by a 1990 law, and has been conducted under the US Global Change Research Program in response to a request from the President's Science Advisor.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Climate Page
This is the homepage of NOAA's climate research and data. Also visit the U.S. Climate Reference Network, a project developed by NOAA scientists that will improve the ability of America’s decision-makers to form policies about programs impacted by climate variability and change.
The National Academies - Advisors to the Nation on Science, Engineering and Medicine
The National Academies perform an unparalleled public service by bringing together committees of experts in all areas of scientific and technological endeavors. These experts serve pro bono to address critical national issues and give advice to the federal government and the public.
Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS)
Union of Concerned Scientists is an independent nonprofit alliance of more than 100,000 concerned citizens and scientists. They augment rigorous scientific analysis with innovative thinking and committed citizen advocacy to build a cleaner, healthier environment and a safer world.
United States Environmental Protectection Agency - Climate Change Information
United Nations Environmental Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Center
This site offers a biological perspective on the climate change issue, as well as links to climate change conferences and other research on the effects of climate change on biodiversity.
World Climate Research Programme (WCRP)
The WCRP was established in 1980, under the joint sponsorship of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and has also been sponsored by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1993. The objectives of the programme are to develop the fundamental scientific understanding of the physical climate system and climate processes needed to determine to what extent climate can be predicted and the extent of human influence on climate.
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