While the Seine River in Paris has received quite a bit of buzz as city officials desperately tried to clean it for the 2024 Olympic Games, India’s Kham River is an example of the many benefits a river restoration unlocks.

Asadullah Khan, a longtime resident of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly known as Aurangabad), recalls how when he was a child, the water in the local Kham River was so clear that locals could drink from it. But over the past few decades, factors like unmanaged waste and unregulated sand mining turned the river into a dumping ground that became hazardous to human health.

In 2020, a coalition of community and city-led groups launched a multi-pronged restoration initiative. The Kham’s previously polluted sites have since turned into ecological parks with both community space and natural habitats for wildlife. This restoration also brought back the Kham’s cultural significance as a sacred lifeline for the city, which is also serving as a blueprint for how other communities can do the same. Read more.

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As states around the U.S. brace for yet another week of extreme heat and severe weather, it’s clear that the impacts of climate change are already underway. But policies from President Joe Biden’s administration are aiming to curb greenhouse gas emissions while also preparing the country for a warming world. As Biden finishes his term, WRI U.S. Director Dan Lashof assesses the state of U.S. climate action. Read more.

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At the 2024 UN climate conference (COP29), taking place Nov. 11 to Nov.22, global thought leaders and policymakers will gather in Baku, Azerbaijan to measure the current state of climate action and determine what’s needed to confront the climate crisis. Much is at stake. WRI’s COP29 Resource Hub is now available for up-to-date information on the summit’s key issues and what to watch as November approaches. Explore the COP29 Resource Hub.

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The dire impacts of climate change have been on display all year — from severe flooding in Brazil and East Africa to droughts in Mexico and Europe — but scientists say it’s not too late for the world to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. That’s where “nationally determined contributions,” or NDCs, can help. NDCs are climate action plans that detail how countries will slash greenhouse emissions and help limit global warming. In 2025, countries will submit the next rounds of their NDCs, in accordance with the Paris Agreement. These plans will outline countries' intended climate actions through 2035. WRI experts explain everything you need to know about these commitments. Learn more.