Insights: WRI's Blog

The U.S. government has spent $375 billion over the past decade in direct costs due to extreme weather. New WRI research outlines how the federal government and Congress can support local communities at the frontlines of climate impacts.

The G20 Hamburg Summit in July will be the first time that President Trump meets fellow G20 leaders in a group setting. The newly released summit agenda is a reminder that the new president’s campaign promises and early appointments could put him at odds with prior G20 commitments.

President Barack Obama has done more to address climate impacts than any of his predecessors, notably in his administration's Climate Action Plan announced in 2013. A key pillar was enhancing resilience to the impacts of a changing climate.

The United States and China formally joined the Paris Agreement in a ceremony in Hangzhou, China ahead of the G20 Summit. The move brings the world firmly within range of hitting the threshold needed for the climate agreement to "enter into force"—which could happen as soon as this month.

A climate change strategy for all of North America could transform how we address a defining issue of our time. The move would be unprecedented, but it is more possible than ever. Heads of state from Canada, Mexico and the United States have the opportunity at the North American Leadership Summit in Ottawa to begin the process by setting out strong continent-wide climate actions.

A new U.S.-Canada joint will cut methane emissions from oil and gas systems by 40-45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025. It's a big step toward meeting both countries' climate goals—methane is a greenhouse gas 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Experts often debate the pros and cons of a carbon tax versus a cap-and-trade system. But WRI research finds that if well-designed, both policies can effectively reduce emissions in the United States.

EPA is continuing to provide states with the tools and support to reduce their power sector emissions, and many states and utilities have said they will continue their plans to comply with the Clean Power Plan despite the recent stay.

New research finds that sea levels increased at a faster rate this past century than any other in nearly 3,000 years. While this is old news to the local elected officials on the front lines of coastal flooding in the United States, the findings will hopefully inspire much-needed action at the federal level.

The landmark Paris Agreement on climate change came under tough scrutiny from members of the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, but Dr. Andrew Steer said a clean energy economy would "create hundreds of thousands of more jobs, increase GDP and save families money on energy bills."