WRI Insights

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:

Two and a half millennia ago, Plato announced that “Human behavior flows from three things: desire, emotion, and knowledge.” Unfortunately, our human and corporate behavior on climate change is not even close to where it needs to be. But if the great philosopher was right (and he usually was), 2013 may have been a game changer. The big news from 2013 came from gains in knowledge. New tools and research are opening our understanding much wider than before. But will we act on this? Knowledge can spur action, but this path is not guaranteed.

Manish Bapna highlights five standout climate and energy stories of 2013, which point to signs that some businesses, consumers, and governments are moving toward a growing understanding of the risks of climate change. The question is whether this heightened awareness will shift a global course quickly enough to reduce negative climate impacts. This blog post was originally published at [Forbes](http://www.forbes.com/sites/manishbapna/2013/12/23/5-big-energy-stories-of-2013/).

This is the final installment of WRI’s blog series, [Adaptation and the Private Sector](http://www.wri.org/tags/adaptation-and-private-sector). Each post explores ways to engage the private sector in helping vulnerable communities adapt to the impacts of climate change.

As 2013 comes to a close, it’s a good time to look back on [the impact](http://www.wri.org/our-work/outcomes) we’ve made in the world this year. We made progress on tackling key sustainability challenges, including [addressing climate change](http://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/climate), promoting [clean energy](http://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/energy), ensuring [food security](http://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/food) and stable [water supplies](http://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/water), reducing [forest degradation](http://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/forests), and creating [sustainable cities](http://www.wri.org/our-work/topics/cities-transport). Take a look at our [nine top outcomes](http://www.wri.org/our-work/outcomes):