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World Resources Institute


WRI DIGEST



New Data Shows: The World Lost 4.1 Million Hectares of Primary Rainforest Last Year 

According to new data on WRI’s Global Forest Watch platform, the world lost 11 football (soccer) fields’ worth of tropical primary forest cover per minute in 2022. Despite heads of 145 countries vowing in 2021 to halt and reverse forest loss in the next decade, the tropics lost 10% more primary forest in 2022 than the previous year. Losing forest — especially primary rainforest — poses huge implications for people’s livelihoods, human health, biodiversity and the climate.  Learn more about what the data shows for the state of the world’s forests — and how to save them. Read more.

  
A road going across the Amazon Rainforest
Aerial view of destruction caused by illegal mining in the Amazon rainforest. Losses in the Brazilian Amazon unrelated to fire reached their highest levels since 2005. Photo by PARALAXIS/Shutterstock
Mountains in the distance

What to Know About Carbon Mineralization 

Ancient rock formations, like those in the mountains of Ibra, Oman, are both beautiful and functional. Over hundreds or thousands of years, during a natural process known as carbon mineralization, carbon dioxide (CO2) reacts with certain minerals, ultimately pulling CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it. New technologies can speed up this process, meaning carbon mineralization presents significant potential to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and curb climate change. WRI experts answer five common questions about up-and-coming carbon mineralization technology. Read more.

A busy street

How Cities Can Build Climate-Resilient Communities ​

Cities take up 3% of Earth’s land, but at the same time are responsible for most of the world’s energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, population densities and interconnected infrastructure put urban areas at higher risk of floods, extreme heat and other impacts of climate change. A 2022 UN assessment finds that a holistic approach to change that focuses on the entire urban system — as opposed to single issues — can help cities prepare for a sustainable and equitable future. WRI highlights three innovative urban projects that are effectively building climate-resilient communities, providing inspiration for other cities around the world. Read more.


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VITAL VISUALIZATIONS


  
Tree Cover Loss Graph
Graphic by WRI
 

Heads of 145 countries signed onto the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use in 2021. But despite this agreement to halt and reverse deforestation, tropical primary forest loss increased in 2022 compared to 2021.



UPCOMING EVENTS
 

Realizing Net Zero: Moving from Targets to Action
June 29, 2023
3:00 PM - 4:15 PM CEST, Online

Exploring New Guidance on IRA Tax Incentives for Clean Energy
July 06, 2023
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT, Online