WRI Insights

The Long March was a watershed moment in Chinese history—the moment Mao Zedong’s nascent Communist Party escaped disaster in 1934 en route to forming a new nation. Fast forward 80 years, and China is poised to embark on a new Long March – but this time away from climate change and environmental damage toward a sustainable future.

Recent [research](http://www.wri.org/securingrights) from WRI and the [Rights and Resources Initiative](http://www.rightsandresources.org/) found that the world’s 513 million hectares of legally recognized community forests store 37 billion tonnes of carbon—29 times the annual carbon footprint of the world’s passenger vehicles. The impacts of oil extraction in Ecuador illustrate why secure community forest rights are necessary to protect both livelihoods and the environment.

Next week at the UN Climate Summit in New York City, leaders from business, national government, and cities will convene to discuss bold actions to address climate change in various sectors, including transport. And while climate change is an international challenge, climate action in the transport sector is proven to create significant and immediate development benefits at the national and local levels.

Indonesia's parliament recently approved an agreement to reduce haze pollution from land and forest fires. Ratification of the law—originally signed 12 years ago—comes not a moment too soon: Fires are currently flaring across southern Sumatra and West and Central Kalimantan, jeopardizing Indonesia’s forests and the communities and wildlife that call these regions home.

When CEOs and heads of state meet on September 23 at the [UN Climate Summit ](http://www.un.org/climatechange/summit/) in New York, two questions will guide the discussion.

A new report, *[Better Growth, Better Climate](http://newclimateeconomy.report/)*, finds that there are several actions city leaders can take that can reduce emissions while driving economic growth. **The report finds that connected, compact cities could save $3 trillion in infrastructure investments over the next 15 years.** Not only that, but they can also curb global climate change and yield immediate local benefits for air quality, health, and quality of life.

How should politicians prioritize between robust economic growth and solving the problem of climate change? A [new report](http://newclimateeconomy.report/) reveals an encouraging answer: There’s no need to choose. *[Better Growth, Better Climate](http://newclimateeconomy.report/)*, finds that **low-carbon investments—if done right—could cost about the same as conventional infrastructure, but would deliver significantly greater economic, social, and environmental benefits in the long-run.**

City leaders will have a key role at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York City, which brings together heads of state, mayors, business leaders and civil society representatives to work toward an international agenda to tackle climate change and build resilience.

In an article written for Huffington Post, Andrew Steer discusses how shale energy depends on water supply.

The shale gas revolution, which began nearly 10 years ago in the United States, is poised to spread across the globe. For many countries, shale gas could strengthen energy security while cutting emissions. But unlocking this massive resource comes with a significant environmental risk: access to freshwater for drinking, agriculture, and industrial use.