PROTECTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CLIMATE AND LIFE ON EARTH

CLIMATE INSTITUTE

� Organizing the first broad-scale climate changeconference in North America in 1987, the firstclimate change symposium for UN missions in1988, and the first major climate conference inthe Middle East in 1989 in Cairo, Egypt

� Co-authoring and editing much of the impactsection of the Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change (IPCC) First Assessment Report

� Coordinating Climate Impacts and ResponsesStudies in 8 Asian Nations with a Fourth of theworld’s population

� Briefing policymakers in 22 nations underthe auspices of the IPCC (see map page 6-7)

� Organizing a study of the environmentalrefugee challenge resulting in the publicationof Environmental Exodus: An EmergentChallenge in the Global Arena (1995)

� Initiating in 2000 a consortium of internationalpartners and managing a global initiative toassist Small Island States in the development andimplementation of their sustainable energy plans

� Launching the Environmental Leadership Program,an internship program that has trained and placedover 150 students in environmental projects

� Releasing in 2008, Sudden and DisruptiveClimate Change: Exploring the Real Risks andHow We Can Avoid Them, a compilation ofpresentations by scientists and experts oninnovative responses to climate change

Since its creation in 1986, the Climate Institute has been a leader in both catalyzing innovative andpractical policy solutions towards climate stabilization, and educating the general public of the gravityof climate change impacts.

Serving as a bridge between the scientific community and policy-makers, the Climate Institute hasmanaged to develop flexible frameworks now being used as serious starting points for internationalnegotiations. Working with an extensive network of experts and alliances in the US and internationally,the Institute has become a respected facilitator of dialogue to move the world toward more effectivecooperation while cementing long-term partnerships for global climate balance.

Our achievements include:

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CLIMATE INSTITUTE STAFF

John ToppingPresident & CEO

Luis Roberto AcostaDirector Mexico and Latin America Affairs

Magali DevicDirector of Research

Carlos Diaz LealInternational Liaison

Nasir KhattakDirector of Global Environmental Programs

Michael MacCrackenChief Scientist for Climate Change Programs

Aurora Elena RamosSenior Advisor

Nina RinnerbergerDirector of Operations & Strategic Planning

Tom RoperProject Leader, Global Sustainable EnergyIslands Initiative

Jack WernerSenior Associate

PROTECTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CLIMATE AND LIFE ON EARTH 3

Renewable Energy Provides Hopefor the Future

With the demand for conventional energy sources(i.e. coal, oil, natural gas) growing rapidly, fossilfuel supplies are gradually being exhaustedand will eventually dwindle. In contrast,renewable energy uses sources that are naturallyreplenished and can sustain our global energyneeds. Generating virtually no greenhouseemissions, renewable systems have opened upnew opportunities and should be activelypursued. Iceland has been extremely successfulin leading the way in transitioning from a fossilfuel-based economy to an alternative- energyeconomy by developing its geothermal resources.We believe that renewables can offer greatpromise both to offset carbon emissions andenhance development; in many places theyalready represent a cost-effective option.

Encourage Intelligent Adaptationand win-win Solutions

Environmental protection and economicwell-being are mutually reinforcing. Many climateprotection initiatives, both in adaptation and ingreenhouse emissions reduction, are a matterof thinking smart at the outset and need notinvolve added cost. Energy efficiency is a vitalcomponent to reduce our carbon footprint andcan also represent a huge economic opportunity.For example, the use of cogeneration (recoveryof electricity from waste heat and buildingof combined heat and power plants) maysimultaneously realize large economic savingsand drastically cut CO2 emissions. The use ofnatural plantations such as vetiver grass can alsoprevent beach and road erosion and drasticallyreduce land contamination.

For the past thousands of years the Earth’s climate has fluctuated. However, over the last decades, climatechange variability has been amplified by global warming resulting from a human-induced increase ingreenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The Fourth Assessment on climate change conductedby the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concluded that evidence of the warming of theclimate system was now “unequivocal.” It is expected to have tremendous consequences for the Planet’secosystems and on the livelihood of millions of people.

Today, recent findings on the Antarctic and Greenland fronts have made clear that ice sheets are retreatingat an alarming pace while sea ice in the Arctic is shrinking. Climate change is already unleashing a series ofdisruptions including sea-level rise, coastal erosion, coral bleaching, increased frequency of severe storms,devastating flooding, wildfires, pest outbreaks and massive tree deaths.

Upon entering its Third Decade Campaign, the Climate Institute pledged to renew its commitment fora sustainable Planet by promoting climate stabilization and creating opportunities to improve the qualityof life for people around the world.

THE CHALLENGE: Climate Change

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THE CLIMATE INSTITUTE seeks to protect the balancebetween climate and life on Earth by…

Despite their geographical and cultural diversity, the Small IslandsDeveloping States (SIDS) share similar conditions includingremoteness, susceptibility to natural disasters and an excessivedependence on fossil fuels. Particularly vulnerable to climatechange impacts, they are also nearly all geographically suited totake advantage of natural and renewable energy resources.The Climate Institute has helped small Caribbean and PacificIslands to develop their renewable energy programs.

... Launching the International Leadership Alliance forClimate Stabilization

Along with its mitigation efforts, the Institute has recentlyinaugurated a Public-Private North-South partnership initiativeto design more comprehensive climate protection plans that willencompass coastal management, hurricane preparedness andemergency planning, and provide technical assistance. ThisInternational Leadership Alliance for Climate Stabilization initiativeseeks to facilitate dialogue between states, provinces or majorcities of larger developing countries with civic or religious groupsas well as corporations and international agencies.

… Moving the Science to a Higher Level

Hundreds of years ago, the Mayan civilization was wellaware of the interdependence of human developmentwith weather and climate, which enabled them to buildcomplex infrastructures harmonized with natural cycles.Today, the Climate Institute and its Mexican partnersare building the world’s highest Climate Observatoryin Puebla, Mexico to measure greenhouse gases anddust particles in order to monitor climate and assesshurricane risk. The Center addresses an opportunity forextensive environmental study, filling a gap in the GlobalClimate Observing System (GCOS) that currently lacksan observation complex in the broad mid-section of theAmericas (Mexico, Southern United States, CentralAmerica, and Caribbean).

Sierra Negra Mountains (Pico de Orizaba National Park) where theSir Crispin Tickell High Altitude Global Climate Observation Center willbe located at 15.000 feet (4,500 meters) above sea level.

… Helping Small Islands Achieve Energy Independence

Building on the release of Sudden and Disruptive Climate Change and its quarterly newsletter, Climate Alert, theClimate Institute is developing a strong outreach and education program in the US and in Mexico to provide objectiveand comprehensive information on climate change risks and potential responses. The Institute’s website (www.climate.org)provides a variety of online tools including a directory by country and region of climate-focused organizations. It is extensivelyvisited and recognized as a valuable information source.

The Institute is reaching out to an even broaderaudience through public talks and presentations.Its website content is being translating into fiveother languages, including Spanish, French, German,Portuguese and Chinese. It has also opened a LatinAmerican Regional Office in Mexico City where itis helping to design an effective national awarenesscampaign with local partners and cultural institutionsto disseminate news of pioneering and inspiringclimate protection initiatives. The Institute is alreadyworking on similar initiatives at the State level inPuebla and Quintana Roo.

This book makes it clear to allof us that, while risks of abruptclimate change are increasing,opportunities to solve the climatecrisis are abundant. It’s animpressive accomplishment.

Al GoreFormer Vice President of the USCo-recipient, 2007 Nobel Prize

PROTECTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CLIMATE AND LIFE ON EARTH 5

We believe that there is great potential in the exchangebetween modern science and traditional Native Americanknowledge. Many Indian reservations are located onmarginal lands and are particularly threatened by waterscarcity. Their environment has already undergone dramaticchanges. Recent studies have raised awareness of theprofound ecological consequences of climate disruptionencouraging informed action. The Climate Institute hasforged an alliance between Tribal Colleges, NASA and USuniversities to provide scientific and capital resources toempower Native American communities to be proactivein responding to climate stresses. To this end, the Instituteseeks to facilitate scientific and policy training for TribalCollege students to help them develop innovative andcomprehensive response strategies within their tribes todirect their own future.

… Empowering Native American Tribes to Respond to Climate Change Risks

… Educating the Public about Climate Change Impacts

CANADA

UNITED STATES

Seattle

Ottawa

Toronto

Washington, DC

Brasilia, BRAZIL

Sao Paulo, BRAZIL

Montevideo, PARAGUAY

Fortaleza, BRAZIL

Rabat,MOROCCO

UNITED KINGDOM

ICELAND

RLondon

Tunis, TUNISIA

Cairo,

Miami

DOMINICAST. LUCIAGRENADA

ST. KITTS & NEVIS

Tegucigalpa,HONDURAS

Mexico City, MEXICO

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Riga, LATVIAWarsaw, POLAND

Budapest, HUNGARYBucharest, ROMANIASofia, BULGARIA

NISIA

Cairo, EGYPT

Damascus, SYRIA

Islamabad,PAKISTAN

INDIADhaka, BANGLADESH

Kathmandu, NEPAL

Bangkok, THAILANDHanoiVIETNAM

Ho Chi Minh CitySRI LANKA

Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

Melbourne, AUSTRALIA

FIJI

NEW CALEDONIA

MARSHALL ISLANDS

Jakarta, INDONESIA

Manila, PHILIPPINES

Nagoya, JAPAN

Beijing, CHINA

Seoul, SOUTH KOREA

MALDIVES

M

Climate Institute Conference

Presidential/Ministerial Briefing

Country Study

Sustainable Energy Program

KEY

PROTECTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CLIMATE AND LIFE ON EARTH 7

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

William A. NitzeChairman, Climate InstituteChairman, Galapagos Conservancy

Crispin TickellChairman EmeritusDirector, Policy Foresight ProgrammeJames Martin Institute for Science and Civilization,Oxford University

Mark GoldbergVice ChairmanSenior Vice President, Policy and Strategy,

National Coalition on Health Care

John C. ToppingPresident and CEO, Climate Institute

Luis Roberto AcostaDirector, Latin American Regional Activities

Dr. Noel BrownPresident, Friends of the United Nations

Joseph A. CannonEditor, the Deseret Morning News

Dr. Robert W. CorellProgram Director, The H. John Heinz III Center forScience, Economics and the Environment

Tom CastenChairman, Recycled Energy Development

Dr. Devra DavisDirector, Center for Environmental OncologyUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Jason ElliottManaging Director, Ranger Capital Fund

Christopher FlavinPresident, Worldwatch Institute

Dr. Thomas GaleTrustee, Thomas H. and Barbara W. Gale Foundation

Barbara HernándezPresident, Fundación Pedro y Elena Hernández

Dr. Lee HuebnerDirector, School of Media and Public Affairs,George Washington University

Dr. Michael MacCrackenChief Scientist, Climate Change Programs,Climate Institute

Dr. Michael McElroyProfessor, Environmental Studies, Harvard University

John Noel IIIPresident, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Daniel PowerPresident, Oceana Energy Company

Margie Simon de OrtizDirector General, CICEANA

Hon. Tom RoperProject Leader, GSEII

Hon. Claudine SchneiderFormer Member, US House of Representatives

Dr. Stephen SchneiderProfessor of Biology, University of Stanford

James Lee WittPresident, James Lee Witt Associates

William A. Nitze, ChairmanJohn C. Topping, CEO andPresident of the Climate Institute

PROTECTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CLIMATE AND LIFE ON EARTH 9

Dr. Sharad AdhikaryKathmandu, NepalDirector, Himalayan Climate Centre

H.E. Heherson AlvarezManila, The PhilippinesFormer Chair, Senate Environment CommitteeFormer Secretary of the Environment

Amb. John AshtonLondon, UKUK Foreign Secretary’s Special Representative forClimate Change

Prof. David AttardValetta, MaltaHead, Department of International Law

Dr. Michael C. BarthFairfax, VAExecutive Vice President, ICF Consulting

Dr. Andre BergerLouvain-la-Neuve, BelgiumHonorary President of the European Geosciences UnionProfessor, Université Catholique de Louvain

Hans BjerregaardCopenhagen, DenmarkChair, Forum for Energy and Development

Dr. Roger BlakeleyPorirua, New ZealandChief Executive, PoriruaFormer Secretary for the Environment of New Zealand

John P. Bond*Falls Church, VAAttorney

Michael F. Brewer, Esq.Massachusetts, USAPresident, Drug Innovation and Design, Inc.

Dr. Jim BruceOttawa, Ontario, CanadaSenior Associate, Global Change StrategiesInformation Company

Lt. Col. Christine Debrah (Rtd.)Accra, GhanaFormer Executive Director, EnvironmentalProtection Agency

Sen. Mohamed el- KassasCairo, EgyptEmeritus Professor, Faculty of Science, Cairo University

Prof. Daniel EstyNew Haven, COYale University

Dr. Tibor FaragóBudapest, HungaryHead of Department, Ministry of Environment and Water

Christiana FigueresWashington Grove, MDFounder, Center for Sustainable Development inthe Americas (CSDA)

Dr. David FiskLondon, United KingdomProfessor, Imperial College

Dr. Gordon T. GoodmanStockholm, SwedenChairman Emeritus, Stockholm Environment Institute

Prof. Orman GrangerBerkeley, CADepartment of Geography, University of California

Luis Manuel Guerra*Mexico City, MexicoEnvironmental journalist

Mr. Nelson HayVenice, FLRetired President, International Gas Center

Renee KarottkiCapetown, South AfricaENFORSE

Prof. Gunnar KullenbergTal Qroga, MaltaSenior Executive Director, International Oceans Institute

Willie L. Leftwich, Esq.Washington, D.C.Attorney, Investor and Pottery Maker

Mr. Amory LovinsSnowmass, COCEO, Rocky Mountain Institute

Dr. James McCullochOntario, CanadaRetired Director General, Canadian Climate Centre

BOARD OF ADVISORS

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Dr. Nobuo MimuraHitachi, JapanProfessor, Center for Water Environment Studies,Ibaraki University

Dr. Norman MyersOxford, UKVisiting Fellow, Oxford University

Diana Ponce NavaMexico City, MexicoFormer Director of Air Quality, Mexico City

Dr. Shuzo Nishioka*JapanDirector of National Institute for Environmental StudiesEnvironmental Agency of Japan

Dr. H. Nuzhet Dalfes*IstanbulProfessor, Climate and marines Sciences

Prof. Richard OdingoNairobi, KenyaDepartment of Geography, University of Nairobi

Dr. R. K. PachauriNew Delhi, IndiaDirector-General, The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI)Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Prof. Martin Parry*Norwich, UKUniversity of East Anglia, Jackson Environmental Institute

Dr. Graeme PearmanVictoria, AustraliaSenior Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO

Dr. A. Barrie PittockVictoria, AustraliaAuthor and Former Director, Climate ImpactGroup, CSIRO

Paul C. Pritchard*Rockville, MDFounder & President, National Park Trust

Dr. Arcot RamachandranChennai, IndiaChair, Tata Energy Research Institute

Dr. Antonio Rocha MagalhaesBrasilia, BrazilPrincipal Country Officer for Brazil, World Bank

Annie RoncerelGeneva, SwitzerlandClimate Change Programme, UNITAR

Dr. Cynthia RosenzweigNew York, USASenior Scientist, GISS

Dr. Hind Sadek*Washington, DCPresident, Environment and Our Common Past (Ecopast)

Dr. Maciej SadowskiWarsaw, PolandDirector, Climate Change Country Studies Program,Institute of Environment Protection

Dr. Eneas SalatiManaus, BrazilPresident, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia,Manaus-AM

Professor Suresh K. SinhaNew Delhi, IndiaSenior Scientist, Indian Agricultural Research Institute

Miet SmetBrussels, BelgiumMinister of State and Member, the Flemish Parliament

The Rt. Hon. Sir Ninian StephenVictoria, AustraliaFormer Special Ambassador for the Environment

Ir. Aca SugandhyJakarta, IndonesiaFormer Deputy Minister, Population & Environment

Dr. M.S. SwaminathanChennai, IndiaChairman, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

Dr. Ulrich TrotzBelize, Latin AmericaProject Manager, Caribbean CommunityClimate Change Centre (CCCC)

Dr. Pier Vellinga*Amsterdam, NetherlandsDirector of the Climate Centre at the Vrije Universiteit

Dr. Dan WildcatLawrence, KansasDirector, American Indian Studies ProgramHaskell Indian Nations University

Dwight WilsonSan Francisco CaliforniaPresident, One Roof

Professor Ye RuqiuBeijing, ChinaCoordinator Chinese Climate Impact Assessment

*Honorary Board Members

BOARD OF ADVISORS continued

PROTECTING THE BALANCE BETWEEN CLIMATE AND LIFE ON EARTH 11

Corporation and industry groups

American Gas FoundationAmerican Honda Motor CompanyBPCH2M HillCS Mott FundFord Motor CompanyGenomma Lab, MexicoGoldman SachsMichael Stores, Inc.PG&E CorporationShell FoundationToyota Motor Company

Foundations

The Bullitt FoundationThe Communities Foundation of TexasThe Chicago Community FoundationThe Evergreen FoundationThe Gordon and Betty Moore FoundationThe Thomas H. and Barbara W. Gale FoundationThe Pedro y Elena Hernandez FoundationThe Miguel Alemán FoundationThe Moriah FundThe Rockefeller Brothers FundThe Rockefeller FoundationThe Surdna FoundationThe Turner FoundationThe Wallace Global FundThe W. Alton Jones FoundationThe William Bingham Foundation

Government Agencies and other Organizations

Asian Development BankEnvironment CanadaEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)Government of AustriaGovernment of EgyptGovernment of ItalyJapan Environmental AgencyNational Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationOrganization of American StatesRenewable Energy and Energy Efficiency PartnershipSwedish International Development Cooperation AgencyUnited Nations Environment ProgrammeUnited Nations Development ProgrammeUnited Nation FoundationUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization

(UNIDO)United Nations Population FundUS Agency for International Development (USAID)US Department of Energy (DOE)US Department of StateWorld BankWorld Resources Institute

DONORS

Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)Centro de Información y de Comunicación Ambiental deNorte América (CICEANA)

Climate Care, UKCounterpart InternationalEnergy and Security GroupInternational Network for Sustainable EnergyEnvironmental and Energy Study InstituteInternational Hurricane Research CenterPacific Power Association, FijiNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)Sistema Internacional de Informacion Ambiental (SIMA)Stonehaven Productions, Inc.The Vetiver Network

PARTNERS

CLIMATE INSTITUTE

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Washington, DC 20036

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The Climate Institute is a non-profit,501 (c)(3) charitable, educational organization.It receives financial support from international

government agencies, foundations,corporations and associations, environmentaland research organizations, and individuals.

To make a donation to the Climate Institutevisit our website at www.climate.org

© 2008