WRI Insights

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World Economic Forum
Commentary

Global Environmental Risks Are Keeping Davos Leaders Awake at Night

The World Economic Forum's new Global Risks Report is out and the results are clear: Business leaders are increasingly concerned about climate change's effect on their bottom lines.

Commentary
Costa Rica restoration
Commentary

From Tree-Planting Drones to Shade-Grown Tea: Businesses Are Making Money by Reforesting the Planet

New WRI research examined businesses that are part of the burgeoning "new restoration economy." The results were clear: Restoring degraded landscapes can yield big returns.

Commentary
Commentary

Bad Air to Better Oceans: 6 Environment and Development Stories to Watch in 2018

Toxic air pollution. Plastic-filled oceans. Sucking carbon from the skies. These are just a few of the stories that will shape 2018's legacy.

Commentary
India power plant
Commentary

40% of India’s Thermal Power Plants Are in Water-Scarce Areas, Threatening Shutdowns

Fourteen of India’s 20 largest thermal utilities experienced at least one shutdown due to water shortages between 2013-2016, at a cost of $1.4 billion. It's a taste of what's to come in a warmer, more crowded world.

Commentary
Bike sharing in China
Commentary

Chinese Cities Aim to Rein in Bike-Sharing Boom

More than a million bike-share bikes crowd some Chinese cities, piling up in public spaces, blocking sidewalks and tripping pedestrians. But the chaos may soon be coming to an end.

Commentary
Mexico City
Commentary

We Know How to Save Millions from Dying on the World’s Roads

Fewer than 3 people per 100,000 are killed in road crashes in Sweden every year, less than almost anywhere else in the world. It's 11 per 100,000 in countries like India and the United States. One reason for the difference is a novel approach called "Safe System."

Commentary
Hurricane Maria
Commentary

Billion-Dollar Disasters to Disappearing Ice: 2017 Was a Year of Record-Breaking Climate Events

Parts of the United States are experiencing blizzard and frigid temperatures, possibly spurred by climatic changes. It's reminiscent of the types of extreme conditions we witnessed over and over last year.

Commentary
Power plant in Germany
Commentary

Power Plants Use Water, But We Have No Idea How Much

Power plants use a lot of water for cooling, but most don't disclose how much. A new WRI methodology calculates their thirst by using Google Earth images.

Commentary
Indonesian sawmill
Commentary

Indonesia Has a Carrot to End Illegal Logging; Now It Needs a Stick

Despite recent policies, Indonesia is still losing billions from unreported and illegally sourced timber. Tougher law enforcement could help.

Commentary
Cane toad
Commentary

Of Venomous Toads and Precious Jewels -- Farewell 2017!

By many accounts, 2017 has been a disastrous year for important environmental and economic issues. But even the most adverse conditions may hold unexpected blessings. WRI President and CEO Andrew Steer assesses this last year and the opportunities ahead in 2018.

Commentary

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