WRI is a global research organization that turns big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity and human well-being.
Climate discussions tend to focus on raising ambition—getting countries to reduce more emissions, faster. But there’s an equally important issue that gets far less attention: ensuring climate action doesn’t leave anyone behind, particularly the world’s most vulnerable people.
Malawi's growing population depends on forests for wood or charcoal for cooking, but these forests are being cleared for agriculture, which 80 percent of Malawians rely on to support themselves. To combat this potentially disastrous trend, Malawi's government plans to pay its young people to plant trees.
Steep reductions in carbon emissions will be critical to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change, but that won’t be enough. Capturing and storing carbon already in the air must be part of our climate strategy in the United States and around the world.
When climate negotiators meet in Katowice, Poland, from December 2 through 18, they will have three critical tasks: agree on effective rules to set the historic Paris Agreement in motion; commit to strengthen national climate commitments by 2020, and invest in climate solutions for developing countries.
