WRI Insights

China has unveiled its 13th Five-Year Plan, which will guide the country's economic and social development from 2016 through 2020. Its new climate and energy targets show that the country will continue its shift to a more sustainable growth model and deliver on its Paris Agreement commitments.

With the 29-hour closure of Washington, D.C.'s Metro, trust in the city's public transit system is at a low point. But, the shutdown isn’t just bad for the Metro; it has broader impacts for the whole of the city.

As President Xi Jinping has said, after unprecedented economic expansion since 1990, China now needs to embrace a new economic model that focuses more on the quality rather than the quantity of growth. Will the new 13th Five-Year Plan be able to deliver this?

For better or for worse, plantation forests are here to stay. But through sustainable management and a "landscape approach," plantations can actually help contribute to the global restoration movement. Researcher Jared Messinger explains.

A new U.S.-Canada joint will cut methane emissions from oil and gas systems by 40-45 percent below 2012 levels by 2025. It's a big step toward meeting both countries' climate goals—methane is a greenhouse gas 34 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Despite the fact the Indonesia's peatlands are a major carbon sink, we know surprisingly little about them—much of the information out there about their extent, thickness and change is inaccurate. The recently launched Indonesian Peat Prize aims to change that.

In the 18 debates held so far, moderators have asked about everything from Super Bowl picks to flower arrangements, while posing only a handful of questions on climate. This week's debates in Florida—ground zero for climate change in the United States—are the perfect opportunity to change that.

Berta Cáceres famously fought against the Agua Zarca Dam, which would have obstructed the Gualcarque River, a source of food and water for local communities. Her murder is tragic, senseless and unfortunately, indicative of more systemic governance problems.

Uruguay went from having virtually no wind generation in 2007 to installing the most wind per capita of any nation in 2014. New WRI research explores the country's smart use of climate finance, and offers lessons on how other nations can successfully transform their energy sectors.

Mounting evidence shows that advancements in gender equality could have a profoundly positive impact on environmental well-being.In celebration of International Women's Day on March 8, Natalie Elwell and Yasmine Williams explore the connection.