World Resources Institute

The energy transition is happening🌍 Find out how it will happen and who reaps the benefits at #StoriesToWatch👉 go.wri.org/stw-2026

Local action to global impact🌍 Read WRI's annual report to see how we are driving progress for people, nature and climate➡️ go.wri.org/wriannual25-tw

🌿#Grasslands are an overlooked player in climate change mitigation. 90% of their #carbon is stored underground, where their diversity helps increase the amount of organic carbon stored in roots and soils. Because of this, and because many grasslands plants have deep and resilient root systems, their carbon stores may be more stable than those in forests, better able to withstand environmental stressors like #drought and fires. 👉Learn more about the many benefits of grasslands: go.wri.org/grassland-bene…

🌲When forests are healthy, they provide priceless benefits to people, nature and climate. But neglected forests can quickly turn into liabilities. We already see this shift from assets to liabilities playing out around the globe👉 go.wri.org/forests-assets #BiodiversityDay

🌱In Johannesburg, invasive plants have degraded areas around the city’s Jukskei River. Pines, black wattle, eucalyptus, bugweed and other invasives monopolize nutrients and outcompete local flora. They also worsen flooding, especially in Johannesburg’s riverside informal settlements like Alexandra and Soweto. Invasive plants’ roots push out deeper-rooted indigenous species, destabilizing the soil around riverbanks. When rain hits these riverbanks, loose soil and sediment flow into the river, reducing its ability to absorb and slow floodwaters. Aggressive invasive roots also damage drainage pipes and culverts, multiplying flood impacts. Shifts in climate and rainfall patterns are further exacerbating the problem: as temperatures increase, invasives thrive, densify and spread. Working with local communities, initiatives like WRI’s SUNCASA project are removing invasive plants to prevent flooding and loss of biodiversity while supporting livelihoods. So far, the project has cleared invasive plants from more than 133 hectares along the Jukskei’s riverbanks while creating more than 100 jobs in the process. Workers are also reintroducing indigenous species like African olive and white stinkwood. The trees’ sturdy roots will stabilize the Jukskei’s riverbanks, increase local biodiversity and reduce the impact of flooding. Johannesburg is also developing a Transformative Riverine Management Program, a framework and business model for investors and corporations to get involved in rehabilitating the city’s rivers, starting with the Jukskei. From Kinshasa to Dire Dawa, cities across Africa are discovering that wetlands, trees and parks could be their strongest defense against climate change. Learn more: go.wri.org/nbs-africa-tw #BiodiversityDay

Rafe Pomerance was one of the first to understand that climate change is the defining challenge of our time. He spent his life demanding we treat it that way. Today, we mourn his passing🌎💐 Over the last five decades, Rafe worked tirelessly to put climate action on the political agenda —inspiring countless environmental advocates in the process. He lobbied policymakers, forged coalitions, and pushed for concrete targets when the political will to act on climate was scarce. Among his many achievements, he helped organize the landmark 1986 U.S. Senate hearings on the greenhouse effect, a notable turning point in public awareness of climate risks. He was a key architect of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the world’s first major effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. His critical work orchestrating climate action in the U.S. and beyond was documented in the book Losing Earth. WRI was privileged to call Rafe a colleague from 1986-1993, but we were just one of many organizations made better by his leadership — @friends_earth, the @WoodwellClimate, the Polar Research Board, Arctic 21, @americanrivers, the U.S. government and more. "Much has been written and will be written about Rafe, as his contribution to the climate movement cannot be overstated,” said Christina DeConcini, WRI’s Director of Government Affairs. “He was a delightful person, who drew people in with his contagious positive energy, his indefatigable passion to push new ideas forward and his generous spirit. I feel privileged to have had him as a colleague, mentor and most importantly, a friend.” We are grateful to have been part of Rafe's journey. His vision, persistence and integrity will continue to guide our work and the many changemakers he inspired. For those who knew Rafe or were shaped by his work, we invite you to share a memory or reflection🙏🪞⬇️

What can happen when temperatures rise in your city? Here are a few key impacts👇🌡️ While climate treaties trade in the language of degrees, it can be hard to imagine what people are likely to experience in their own neighborhood. To help fill in the picture, we analyzed dozens of climate models to discover how 1.5 and 3 degrees C of global warming might affect your city: go.wri.org/heat-city-tw

🏘️There’s a growing housing crisis that’s impossible to ignore. The most important questions to consider are not just how much housing to build, but where it’s built, who it’s for, and how it’s built and financed. These choices will define whether housing becomes part of the solution or continues to undermine the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. #WRIExplains solving the world's growing housing crisis in more detail➡️ go.wri.org/world-housing-…

Global South cities are growing fast. But many are also becoming more vulnerable to flooding and water scarcity. Why? The answer often starts in the watershed. 🌍💧 Learn more: go.wri.org/nbs-africa-tw

📣Still time to register for the WRI Polsky Energy Summit's opening session! Don't miss the opportunity to hear from Dr. @fbirol, Executive Director, @IEA and Chris Stark CBE, Head of UK’s Mission for Clean Power, @energygovuk ➡️ lnkd.in/ezgFbHjU

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are rapidly warming the planet. But where do they come from? Insights from #ClimateWatch explain which sectors emit the most GHGs: go.wri.org/ghg-emissions-…

🌴Tropical primary forest loss declined in 2025, driven largely by Brazil. However, climate-driven fires are a dangerous new normal, threatening to reverse this progress🔥 2025 #TreeCoverLoss data from @UMD_GLAD is now available on @globalforests, and it reveals a promising sign that strong policies and enforcement can work. Read the full analysis here on WRI's living report on forests, the Global Forest Review 👉 go.wri.org/tcl2025-x

This week is #WUF13, “Housing the world: Safe & resilient cities & communities.” ~3 billion people lack safe housing, but the housing crisis will not be solved by building more units alone. Instead, #cities must decide where, how & for whom we build. 👉 bit.ly/4uxoeUB

What does crossing 1.5°C really mean for our planet, our economies, and our lives? And why is it still possible to change course? Watch this quick explainer — then dive deeper into the data and pathways forward. Read the full breakdown: go.wri.org/criticalwarming #WRIExplains

The war in Iran is exposing critical vulnerabilities in our global energy, food and water systems. Explore three articles from WRI experts that unpack the impact on these systems and what it will take to bolster them👇 ➡️Amid the Iran Conflict, Resilience Must Be the Top Priority by Ani Dasgupta: go.wri.org/energyfoodiran… ➡️As Iran War Strains Fuel Supplies, Clean Energy Is Secure Energy By: Craig Hanson & Jessica Isaacs: go.wri.org/cleanenergyira… ➡️Iran War Could Worsen Middle East’s Water Woes by featuring Liz Saccoccia: go.wri.org/iranwatercris-…

🥛When it comes to environmental impact, not all milks are equal. Look at this chart, for example: Data shows cow’s milk produces roughly 3 times more emissions than plant-based options. 🌎The good news is that we don't need to choose between protein and the planet. Options like pea milk and soy milk provide a protein-rich alternative while reducing our impact. Read more on plant proteins: go.wri.org/go-wri-tw-prot…

🌳😌🌇The cooling power of trees starts with shade. When surfaces like pavement, rooftops and buildings are exposed to direct sunlight, they absorb and store heat, releasing it back into the air long after the sun goes down. Trees interrupt that process. They shade sidewalks, streets and people, preventing surfaces from heating up in the first place. They also cool the surrounding air through evapotranspiration, the release of water vapor from leaves. Learn more about the cooling potential of urban trees➡️ go.wri.org/cool-trees-tw

WRI is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nick Wayth as the first Global Director of the WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition @WRIEnergy. We look forward to officially welcoming Wayth to WRI when he officially starts in September. Read more via the press release➡️ go.wri.org/polsky-energy-…

From creating game-changing data platforms that connect decision-makers around the world to partnerships with local communities restoring degraded lands, you'll see actions at many scales within WRI's annual report🌍🌱 Read these stories of impact here➡️ go.wri.org/wriannual25-tw

🪵Between 2003 and 2014, illegal logging cost Indonesia an estimated $6.5 billion to $9 billion in lost government revenue from timber royalties alone. Learn how wood science, scaling and integration can help🔗 bit.ly/48ZYTK6