WRI Insights

Well-designed cities can generate jobs, innovation, and economic growth for all. But when designed poorly—with too much sprawl, waste, and inefficiency—they can divide urban centers and exacerbate pollution, inequality, and political instability. Against this backdrop, some 25,000 people have gathered in Medellin, Colombia, for the UN Habitat’s [World Urban Forum](http://wuf7.unhabitat.org/) this week. The key question they face: How can cities drive growth that is [inclusive and sustainable](http://www.wri.org/blog/safe-city-just-city)?

In an article originally published in Project Syndicate, the authors discuss the changing landscape of forest management and how corporations are making stronger sustainable business commitments.

Recently, WRI hosted a roundtable on Adaptation Finance in Washington, D.C., bringing together experts in development and climate finance to discuss this challenge: Countries and donors are mobilizing hundreds of millions of dollars to help people adapt to a changing climate. How do they get it to the local communities that need it most?

India has come out with ambitious renewable energy goals, but the country still faces a daunting financing gap. WRI and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) are leading an innovative effort—[The Green Power Market Development Group](http://www.wri.org/blog/5-reasons-india-needs-green-power-purchasing-group)—that could bridge this finance gap and help overcome India’s energy challenges.

Improving developing cities’ traffic safety is a critical task for ensuring that these growing urban centers become safe, equitable places to live. A key part of achieving this safety? Sustainable urban design. The connection between safety and justice is a major theme of the upcoming [World Urban Forum](http://wuf7.unhabitat.org/) (WUF7), organized by UN-HABITAT, which this year focuses on “urban equity in development—cities for life.” At the event, EMBARQ experts will host a [Cities Safer by Design for All](http://wrirosscities.org/events/un-habitat-world-urban-forum-event-safer-design) networking session. The event will convene key experts and explore ways that urban design can improve safety—and in turn, justice—in developing cities around the world.

Stopping recurring fires and protecting Indonesia’s communities, businesses, and forests requires a proactive plan to prevent future fires, or at least greatly reduce their intensity. As part of our ongoing Indonesia forest fires [series](http://www.wri.org/topic/indonesia-forest-fires), WRI’s researchers have used data from the Global Forest Watch platform along with preliminary on-the-ground research to analyze Indonesia’s forest fires and haze problem.

Although the World Bank has successfully addressed a number of important economic and social risks in its projects, it is falling short in recognizing climate risks. As the World Bank refreshes its long-term strategies, this is a key moment to bring climate change—and more broadly, sustainability—to the forefront of its investment agenda.

David Waskow discusses the recently released IPCC report. He suggests ways India can address risk and make progress on climate and development. *This article was originally published by [The Financial Chronicle](http://www.mydigitalfc.com/knowledge/global-warning-627).*

The [new report](http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/) from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)—released last night—[reveals several findings](http://www.wri.org/blog/4-takeaways-ipcc-report-reveal-worsening-impacts-climate-change) that decision-makers can keep in mind—both in order to understand current and future climate impacts, as well as develop strategies to help societies become more resilient to them. Here are a few takeaways that can inform the future of climate change adaptation:

The [first installment](https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg1/docs/WGIAR5_SPM_brochure_en.pdf) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5)—released in September—[confirmed](http://www.wri.org/blog/5-major-takeaways-ipcc-report-global-climate-change) the overwhelming scientific consensus that the world is warming, largely due to human activities. The Working Group II (WGII) [report](http://ipcc-wg2.gov/AR5/), released today, [takes this finding a step further](http://www.wri.org/news/statement-wri-responds-ipcc-report): **Not only is climate change happening, but every continent on earth is now experiencing its impacts.**