WRI Insights

Earlier this month, WRI launched its “Stories to Watch in 2014.” All years are important, but decisions made in 2014 will have a striking impact for decades to come. Here are seven potential game-changers:

As we recap in our extreme weather timeline below, this year saw a range of catastrophic events—from Typhoon Haiyan causing more than 6,000 deaths in the Philippines, to severe drought in California, to raging wildfires in Prescott, Arizona. A new report shows that 2013 ranks as the fourth-warmest year on record (tied with 2003). And this December [marks the 346th consecutive month](http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/sotc/global/2013/12) with global average temperatures above the 20th-century average.

The world is in the midst of unprecedented urbanization, with cities expected to hold 5.2 billion residents by 2050. One of the major challenges of the 21st century, therefore, is achieving a sustainable future for our cities. And transport – which connects people to economic opportunities, education, health services, and more – can make or break [“The Future We Want.”](http://www.un.org/en/sustainablefuture/) Experts at [Transforming Transportation](http://transformingtransportation.org/) have identified five opportunities to move human society toward transport of the 21st century. These areas for action include: road safety, mid-sized cities, regional and local governments, finance, and data and technology.

[New analysis](http://www.wri.org/publication/trillion-dollar-question-transport) quantifies the total annual transport capital investment around the world. *[The Trillion Dollar Question: Tracking Public and Private Investment in Transport](http://www.wri.org/publication/trillion-dollar-question-transport)* working paper finds that the **global transport investment is between US$1.4 and US$2.1 trillion each year, [enough to fund](http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/docs/FINAL_MTA_Board_10-14_Amendment_book_July2013_BLUE_PAGES.pdf) the capital budget of New York’s subway 88 times.** This finding and others have significant implications—both for the cities of today and for investing in the future cities we want.

New research from the World Resources Institute scores[ water-related risks](http://www.wri.org/applications/maps/aqueduct-country-river-basin-rankings/#x=0.00&y=0.00&l=2&v=home&d=bws&f=0&o=139) facing 180 countries and 100 river basins. This is the first national-level data of its kind, evaluating competition for available [water](http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/hubs-water) supplies, annual and seasonal supply variability, flood occurrence, and drought severity. The data paints a country-level picture of water risks, information that is clearly relevant for national policymakers. But this research also holds huge implications for the private sector—particularly for shareholders and investors, corporate operations, and corporate supply chains. Multinational businesses should take notice—and take action.

Many countries in Africa are rich with trees, wildlife, minerals, and other natural resources. But as new WRI research and an interactive map show, few national laws provide communities with strong, secure rights to the resources on their land. WRI conducted a systematic review of the national framework laws for five natural resources—water, trees, wildlife, minerals, and petroleum—in 49 sub-Saharan African countries. The results are presented in our new [Rights to Resources map](http://www.wri.org/resources/maps/rights-to-resources).

This week, [EMBARQ](http://www.embarq.org/) and the [World Bank](http://www.worldbank.org/) will co-organize [Transforming Transportation](http://transformingtransportation.org/), a two-day event that will bring together business leaders, policymakers, and city and transport officials. Experts will discuss a critical topic: how the business and transport sectors can work together to improve the world’s cities – to benefit themselves, as well as millions of urban residents.

Thanks to efforts to reduce its coal use, Minnesota is producing more power while decreasing its carbon dioxide pollution. But the state has the potential to go even further. **New WRI analysis finds that Minnesota can reduce its carbon dioxide emissions 31 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 just by complying with its current policies and taking advantage of existing infrastructure opportunities.** Achieving these reductions will allow Minnesota to meet potentially ambitious [EPA power plant emissions standards](http://www.wri.org/blog/states-can-take-action-now-meet-future-power-plant-emissions-standards), which are due to be finalized next year.

Few programs have seen widespread success in tackling water quality problems in the Mississippi River Basin and Gulf of Mexico, but an emerging initiative could present a way forward. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched the [Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative](http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/wi/programs/?cid=nrcs142p2_020764) (MRBI) in 2009. [New WRI research](http://www.wri.org/publication/MRBI) finds that with some specific improvements, the MRBI’s new approach could play a key role in improving the nation’s inland and coastal water quality.

From U.S. climate action to growing global water risks, 2013 brought its share of highs and lows for the environment and development. WRI’s experts responded to these events with their own commentary, research, and analysis—and it’s clear that our readers were paying attention. Check out a handful of WRI’s most popular blog posts of 2013: