WRI Insights

Less than two weeks after 175 nations signed the pivotal Paris Agreement, a question lingers: What's next? At the Going Green conference in Washington, D.C., three leaders had answers.

The Coalition for Urban Transitions is one of the first international initiatives to examine the economics of sustainable cities. The Coalition will put urban infrastructure investment where it belongs—at the heart of national economic development planning.

Two weeks ago, more than 175 nations signed the Paris Agreement, making it the most-signed international treaty in a single day. Dozens of initiatives outside the UNFCCC process stand ready to help countries deliver the Agreement's goals.

The Paris Agreement won't take effect until 55 countries representing at least 55 percent of global emissions officially join. Countries representing more than 49 percent of emissions have already committed to join early. Here's how we could bridge the gap.

Most grocery stores throw out bumpy, misshapen fruits and vegetables even though they're just as nutritious as their perfectly shaped brethren. Tesco's "Perfectly Imperfect" program sells this produce at lower prices in an effort to curb food waste.

Earth Day 2016 was a momentous celebration of international climate policy, as 175 countries -- a record number of signers of an international agreement on a single day -- signed the Paris Agreement. So what steps do we need to take to keep that momentum going -- and accelerate it -- over the coming months and years? Let's start with three key tasks for this year.

While the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted implementation of the Clean Power Plan (CPP), it’s in states’ own best interests to continue moving forward with compliance. New analysis finds Illinois can get 75 percent of the way to its CPP emissions-reduction target just through its existing clean energy policies and opportunities.

One of China's major challenges in its shift to low-carbon electricity is curtailment, which means that power grids don't use renewable power even when wind and solar plants are capable of producing it. Better-designed and -implemented policies can help.

From fans to air conditions to refrigerators, appliances account for about 18 percent of global energy consumption, and India's rising urban population has a growing appetite for them. Energy-efficient appliances haven't caught on with Indian consumers, despite their clear cost and environmental benefits. Flawed governance is part of the reason why.

A disappointing experience in forest conservation laid the groundwork for marketing expert Daniel Vennard to lead WRI's Better Buying Lab. The initiative will bring together leading food service companies, manufacturers and restaurant chains to shift consumers towards more environmentally friendly plant-based proteins.