U.S. President Joe Biden made historic investments in the country’s power grid last week, providing $3.5 billion in grants to expand wind and solar capacity, boost power line resilience, build out microgrids to fight power outages and more. While the investment is needed, so is policy reform. It currently takes an average of 4+ years to permit and build wind and solar projects, and about 10 years for transmission lines. Expediting permitting processes will be essential for the country to hit its goal of decarbonizing the power sector by 2035. WRI experts lay out potential solutions. Read more.

Last week, the European Investment Bank (EIB) announced it will grant “debt-for-nature" swaps in countries most vulnerable to climate change. These kinds of deals are increasingly important as developing nations — oftentimes those most exposed to the impacts of climate change — face mounting debt and tighter fiscal conditions. In this explainer, WRI experts unpack what’s causing the complicated climate-debt trap and propose solutions. Read more.

While more and more companies are setting targets to reduce water use and improve water quality in their own facilities and along their supply chains, few address water use at the consumer level. Meanwhile, household water demand has grown 600% over the last 50 years. That’s why some pioneering companies are now setting “downstream” targets, addressing consumers’ water use from products like shampoo, dish detergent and more. Read more.

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