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In recent days, there have been widespread protests across the United States and other countries following the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Tony McDade by police, as well as the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, and the harassment of Christian Cooper. All of these incidents reflect ongoing racism toward Black people that persists in the United States.

Following is a statement by Andrew Steer, President & CEO, World Resources Institute:

“This is a heartbreaking moment for the United States. We’ve recently seen many examples of racism and police brutality, most notably the tragic death of George Floyd, which has triggered a wave of protests across the country. There’s a lot of confusion right now, but one thing is absolutely clear: We cannot tolerate racism of any kind. We must do our part by speaking out and actively working to overcome systemic and institutional racism, especially directed toward Black people, that has been ingrained in the United States for far too long.

“Right now, trust between citizens and governments is severely frayed. Government and institutional leaders at all levels must act with much greater determination. They must listen more, bring more voices to the table, and do more to reduce the gross inequality at the root of many of today’s problems.

“WRI is focused on creating a safer and better world by addressing global environmental and development challenges. To solve global challenges—whether it is climate change, environmental degradation, or extreme poverty—we must ensure that solutions benefit all members of society, especially communities of color who are disproportionately impacted. The environmental movement has done far too little to address these issues. We are committed to doing more.”