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Despite presidential rhetoric against climate finance, the US Congress still allocates money for overseas climate spending.Photo by marnie webb/Flickr.
Commentary

2020 Budget Shows Progress on Climate Finance, But US Continues to Fall Behind Peers

Advocates of climate finance in Congress have spent the last three years on the defensive, working to maintain current levels of spending. But a rapid scale up of investment in climate action is urgently needed, and public finance plays a key role.

Commentary
The New York Stock Exchange. Photo: Piqsels.
Commentary

BlackRock Is Getting Serious About Climate Change. Is This a Turning Point for Investors?

A big cog has turned in the gears of finance. What exactly did BlackRock commit to with its sustainability announcement, and how will its announcement impact other actors? Here's what we need to see to turn the corner in sustainable investing.

Commentary
Renewable energy march in Philadelphia
Commentary

Watch These 4 Clean Energy Trends in U.S. Cities in 2020

American cities, states and businesses have already come a long way on the road to cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Here are four clean energy trends to watch in the coming year in cities in the U.S.

Commentary
Cargo chip near San Francisco
Commentary

China Can Lead Global Green Trade Drive

As we approach the Year of the Rat and begin a new 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac, three profound challenges face the world: how to build a more stable and efficient trading system, tackle climate change and protect biodiversity. China has a pivotal role to play in all three.

Commentary
Cachi Hydroelectric Plant. Cartago, Costa Rica
Commentary

6 Lessons on Energy Decarbonization from Countries Leading the Way

While very few countries are on track for achieving a zero-carbon energy system by 2050, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ethiopia and the United Kingdom are further along than many.

Commentary
Loading oil palm fruit in Sabah, Malaysia. Photo by Greg Girard/CIFOR/Flickr
Commentary

PODCAST: Certifying Sustainable Palm Oil with Andika Putraditama

Certified sustainable palm oil makes up only 20% of global trade value. How can producers and consumers work together to raise that number, and why is doing so important for Indonesia and the world?

Commentary
Water scarcity in Ethiopia
Finding

It Could Only Cost 1% of GDP to Solve Global Water Crises

New WRI research shows how countries can achieve water security for all by 2030. The economic benefits of investing in sustainable water management far outweigh the costs.

Finding
climate march
Commentary

8 Environment and Development Stories to Watch in the New Make-or-Break Decade

2020 will inevitably be a turning point for the environment. Key decisions on climate change, the ocean and biodiversity will determine if it is a turning point for the better or for the worse.

Commentary
Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Plant in Iceland
Commentary

2020 Could Be the Year Carbon Removal Takes Off

With global greenhouse gases on track to rise — again — to their highest level in history, there's increasing interest in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In just a year, carbon removal has gone from being seen as a "radical fix" to a necessary tool to address the climate crisis.

Commentary
Two fishermen offloading lobster from their boat onto a floating dock in Maine.
Commentary

This Month in Climate Science, December 2019: Pre-term Births, Fewer Fishermen and Accelerated Arctic Melt

Climate scientists recently found that extreme heat is leading to more pre-term births, warming waters in New England are linked to a decline in fishermen, and unprecedented changes in the Arctic show the region is changing more quickly than anticipated. This post summarizes these and other studies published in December 2019.

Commentary

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