WRI DIGEST

The Planet Is on the Brink of Exceeding Global Temperature Targets

2023 was the hottest year on record, but now we know just how hot: 1.48 degrees C (2.66 degrees F) warmer than pre-industrial levels. This figure is dangerously close to the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F). Overshooting this temperature target will have devastating effects on ecosystems, communities and livelihoods, some of which are already underway. Research from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reveals the impacts the world can expect with warming above 1.5 degrees C. Read more.

Warmer waters have bleached corals off the coast of Indonesia. Rising temperatures from climate change threaten coral reef systems — and the people and animals that depend on them — around the world. Photo by Velvetfish/iStock.

Jochen Tack/Alamy Stock Photo

10 Countries Proving It’s Possible to Phase Out Coal

Global consumption of coal peaked in 2023 despite the need to cut emissions nearly in half this decade. Yet some countries are proving it’s possible to rapidly reduce coal use. Greece and the United Kingdom have not only achieved the fastest coal reductions in the world, but have done so more quickly than scientists say is necessary. WRI experts highlight the 10 countries cutting coal power the fastest and what others can learn from their processes. Read more.

Su Song/WRI

A New Trend in Green Transit: Mobility-as-a-service Platforms

Mobility-as-a-service apps are a one-stop travel planning and payment system, allowing commuters to easily find and access shared bikes, metros, buses and other green forms of transport. Finland, Japan, the U.K., U.S. and others are piloting the platforms to encourage more sustainable travel. Early signs show it could be working. Read more.

Jochen Tack/Alamy Stock Photo

What We Know About Deep-sea Mining — And What We Don’t

The demand for the critical minerals essential for production of EV batteries, solar panels and other clean tech is booming. While mining lithium, cobalt and other critical minerals on land is already ramping up, many are now looking to the sea for its vast mineral resources. Norway recently approved exploration of its waters for deep-sea mining, and the UN’s International Seabed Authority is expected to finalize regulations on the practice in 2025. The problem is that little is known about the deep ocean — or the consequences of extracting from it. Read more.

VITAL VISUALIZATIONS

Every fraction of a degree of temperature rise will intensify the impacts of climate change. While even limiting warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F) is not without its risks, overshooting this target will have severe and irreversible consequences.