publication
by , , , and - Building on recent applications in Latin America, this paper overviews WRI’s Green-Gray Assessment method, and provides recommendations for applications.
natural infrastructure
blog post
by Erin Gray - August 26, 2019Green infrastructure can mitigate most of the world's major water problems, but investment has been held back by lack of certainty about returns. Our new methodology helps lay out how to measure the costs and benefits of green and gray infrastructure projects.
publication
by Ana Gabriela Morales, Suzanne Ozment and Erin Gray - August 2019The Natural Infrastructure for Aquifer Recharge Financial Calculator, is an excel based tool with a flexible financial model that estimates the private costs and benefits, including the return on investment (ROI), of natural infrastructure interventions designed to enhance aquifer recharge. The technical note explains the methods, data and assumptions used to produce the tool.
blog post
by Moushumi Chaudhury and Namrata Chand - May 09, 2019The people of Fiji, one of the countries most threatened by climate change, are taking adaptation and resilience into their own hands. Vulnerable neighborhoods in Lautoka City are building infrastructure to withstand stronger storms, and nurturing coastal ecosystems to defend against sea level rise.
publication
by Greg Browder, Suzanne Ozment, Irene Rehberger Bescos, Todd Gartner and Glenn-Marie Lange - March 2019This report explores how integrating nature into built, gray infrastructure systems can help provide services like food, flood protection, and clean water. These green solutions can open new opportunities for financing, and boost resilience to climate change.
blog post
by Suzanne Ozment and Irene Rehberger Bescos - March 21, 2019Green infrastructure like forests, wetlands and coral reefs can help traditional “gray infrastructure” perform better. Yet, green-gray infrastructure projects remain relatively niche, mainly because of persistent myths about their costs and feasibility.
event
At this event, the World Bank and WRI will launch a new report, Integrating Green and Gray: Creating Next Generation Infrastructure, which explores how nature can act as infrastructure to help meet development and climate goals.
blog post
by Brenden Jongman and Suzanne Ozment - March 06, 2019This blog was originally posted on the World Bank's Sustainable Cities blog.
blog post
by Suzanne Ozment and Rafael Feltran-Barbieri - December 18, 2018For the cash-strapped government of Rio de Janeiro, restoring forests around the city is a smart investment. New research shows that forests can provide Rio with better water quality at lower cost.
news item
This summer, California experienced its largest fire in state history—the latest disaster in a growing trend towards hotter, larger, and more destructive fires.
publication
by Suzanne Ozment, Rafael Feltran-Barbieri, Erin Gray, Perrine Hamel (Senior Scientist, Natural Capital Project), Juliana Baladelli Ribeiro (Environmental Analyst with Nature-Based Solutions, Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection), Samuel Roiphe Barrêto (Brazil Conservation Manager, The Nature Conservancy), Aurélio Padovezi and Thiago Piazzetta Valente (Environmental Analyst with Nature-Based Solutions, Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection) - September 2018Incorporating natural infrastructure into water management plans can cost-effectively improve infrastructure system performance and resilience.
news item
Today at the Global Climate Action Summit, 45 cities across six continents joined the Cities4Forests initiative, committing to conserve and restore their forests while making residents more aware of the vast benefits of trees.
event
World Water Week is a unique opportunity for individuals around the world— from experts and decision-makers to young professionals—to discuss the world's most pressing water issues and identify promising solutions. Take a look at WRI's scheduled events.
publication
by Todd Gartner, Climate Bonds Initiative, CDP, Ceres and Alliance for Global Water Adaptation - May 2018Green bonds finance sustainable infrastructure projects. A new criteria sets standards for green bonds for built and natural water infrastructure.
blog post
by Todd Gartner and John H. Matthews - May 22, 2018Wetlands, forests and other green spaces are the original water infrastructure. For the first time, they can now be financed through bonds – just like other built infrastructure such as treatment plants and dams.
blog post
by Frances Seymour - March 21, 2018From clean water provision to storm protection, forests provide benefits for everyone—even those who live in the concrete jungle.
blog post
by Rafael Feltran-Barbieri, Suzanne Ozment and Samuel Roiphe Barreto - March 19, 2018Brazil's forests are its historic first line of defense against water stress and water-related natural disasters, but now these forests are under pressure. Will Brazil increase investment in its natural infrastructure to defend against water crises?
blog post
by Betsy Otto and Leah Schleifer - February 15, 2018Cape Town, South Africa is poised to shut off water taps for homes and businesses in the next few months. Is the next "Day Zero" coming to a city near you?
publication
by Helen Ding and James M. Bullock - February 2018This guide was developed for technical advisors to government officials, business people, investors, and others who need to draw on ecosystem assessments to inform decision-making. It assesses several types of ecosystem service modeling tool, discusses issues involved in modeling ecosystem services, and provides guidance on how to choose the right model to address a specific policy question. The guide outlined five steps to help decide which model to use in a particular decision-making context. It especially targets advisors and decision-makers in developing countries who are not experts in ecosystem service modeling and who have limited information and technical resources but must make decisions about natural resource management in relation to ecosystem services.
blog post
by Suzanne Ozment and Solange Filoso - November 02, 2017Forest restoration needn't be regarded as competition for scarce water resources. As a new report reveals, it can have a positive effect on water supply, among other benefits.