News & Commentary

Stronger Climate Actions Needed This Year

November 1, 2021 Expert BlogInternationalJake Schmidt

Urgent action is needed if the world is going to have a chance of staving off the worst impacts of climate change. 

China Announces It Will Not Build New Coal Plants Abroad

September 21, 2021 Expert BlogChinaAlvin Lin, Jake Schmidt

China’s new announcement has the potential to help promote a clean energy revolution around the world by sending an important signal that China will immediately shift its support for overseas coal power plant projects to work with developing countries to…

US Commits to More International Climate Finance

September 21, 2021 Expert BlogUnited States, InternationalBrendan Guy, Jake Schmidt

The U.S. needs to urgently mobilize more international climate finance if we are going to have a chance of a successful climate summit in Glasgow this November, and any chance of keeping 1.5°C alive.

US Will Oppose Fossil Fuel Projects at Development Banks

August 20, 2021 Expert BlogInternationalJake Schmidt

The Biden administration released new guidance that will lead the U.S. to oppose fossil fuel projects at the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).

Time for South Korea to Deliver Bold Climate Action: 50% Cut

May 20, 2021 Expert BlogInternationalJake Schmidt

When he meets with President Biden this week, South Korea President Moon Jae-in has a golden opportunity to show his country means business when it comes to tackling climate change and doing its part to protect the world from a…

Stepping-up the U.S.'s Global Climate Finance Commitments

April 28, 2021 Expert BlogUnited StatesBrendan Guy, Jake Schmidt

The Biden administration lays the foundation to take U.S. international climate finance to the next level.

US Climate Finance Plan Restricts Fossil Fuel Finance

April 23, 2021 Expert BlogUnited States, BrazilJake Schmidt, Han Chen

This is a clear signal the United States will move away from financing coal, oil and gas projects overseas. Now is the time to make sure the details deliver on that necessary drive to urgently shift public financing from dirty…

Japan Commits to Cut Climate Emissions 46-50 Percent by 2030

April 22, 2021 Expert BlogInternationalJake Schmidt

This is a step forward but not yet a strong enough signal from a major economy and climate polluting country.

Getting US Over Halfway to Net Zero by End of this Decade

April 22, 2021 Expert BlogUnited StatesJake Schmidt, Brendan Guy

Cutting U.S. emissions by at least half by decade’s end is ambitious, achievable, and necessary. It also requires deliberate actions to ensure an equitable transition.

50% Emissions Reduction Club: US, Japan, Canada, South Korea

April 14, 2021 Expert BlogInternational, United StatesJake Schmidt

The fast-approaching Climate Summit hosted by President Biden offers a tremendous opportunity for some of the world’s biggest contributors to climate change to up their game, and commit to being halfway to net zero by the end of this decade.

Launching America’s Reinvigorated Climate Agenda: Week One

January 28, 2021 Expert BlogJake Schmidt

This first week of the Biden-Harris administration is off to an impressive start on efforts to tackle the climate crisis. They have launched an all-hands-on-deck approach to mobilize America and the world towards greater climate action, less pollution, more jobs…

America Is Back in the International Climate Effort

January 20, 2021 Expert BlogJake Schmidt

This marks the beginning of a drive toward more ambitious and just climate action in the country and around the world.

China Outlines Additional Steps on Climate Action

December 12, 2020 Expert BlogChinaJake Schmidt, Brendan Guy, Han Chen, Alvin Lin

At the Climate Ambition Summit 2020 on the five-year anniversary of countries agreeing to the Paris Agreement, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would take additional steps to deliver its 2030 ambitions.

Rising to the Challenge Five Years after the Paris Agreement

December 11, 2020 Expert BlogInternationalJake Schmidt

Five years after the Paris Agreement was adopted, big actions are necessary from major players to bring global emissions to net zero no later than 2050.

An International Climate Agenda for the Biden Administration

November 23, 2020 Expert BlogUnited States, InternationalBrendan Guy, Jake Schmidt

A Biden-Harris Administration takes office with the stark reality that we would have been in a better position if the world had a stronger U.S. partner.

China’s President Commits to Enhance Climate Action

September 22, 2020 Expert BlogJake Schmidt, Brendan Guy, Han Chen

During his speech to the UN General Assembly today, Chinese President Xi Jingping announced that the country will enhance its climate change ambitions. This announcement is the starting bell on the next critical leg of the race for the world—especially…

COP25: What World Leaders Should Do on Climate Action

December 12, 2019 Expert BlogJake Schmidt, Brendan Guy, Han Chen

The 20 major emitters that account for approximately 80% of global emissions have stood nearly mute at COP25 in Madrid.

Countries Can Mobilize Stronger Climate Action at COP25

December 3, 2019 Expert BlogJake Schmidt

Here’s a message to world leaders at the U.N. climate conference in Madrid, Spain: The responsibility lies with you, each nation, to commit to deeper, faster and more all-encompassing cuts in the greenhouse gas pollution that is hurtling our planet…

Trump Recklessly Formalizes U.S. Withdrawal From the Paris Agreement

November 4, 2019 Expert BlogUnited StatesJake Schmidt

President Trump continues to be an outlier on climate change as states, cities, companies, and investors—not to mention 195 other nations—are treating the issue as a real and growing problem they need to address now.

Most Leaders on Wrong Side of Science at U.N. Climate Summit

September 23, 2019 Expert BlogInternationalJake Schmidt, Brendan Guy