On June 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its new Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) for 2023-2025. But evidence shows these standards, originally intended to decarbonize transportation, will actually increase carbon emissions. The “renewable fuels” this policy requires are biofuels — produced by crops like corn — which require significant land use for their resource-intensive production, while occupying farmland that could be used for food during a global land squeeze. WRI U.S. Director Dan Lashof examines the consequences of relying on crop-based fuels. Read more.

Smog from wildfires in Canada has blanketed cities across North America over the past several weeks, disrupting life for millions as far away as Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C. These catastrophic wildfires make clear that the impacts of forests extend far beyond their borders. Beyond hazardous air, however, wildfires lead to significant carbon emissions, threaten water security and hurt economies. WRI experts offer five examples of how wildfires can disrupt city life hundreds to thousands of miles away. Read more.

A new paper by WRI experts published in Nature sheds light on wood harvesting’s contribution to climate change, something research and policymakers have largely overlooked. The paper estimates that global wood harvests will add 3.2 to 4.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere every year for the next 10 years. For perspective, that’s about 10% of the world’s recent annual CO2 emissions. WRI experts explain how changes in methods — or a reduction — in wood harvesting can help forests absorb more carbon and thus curb climate change. Read more.