In 2024, countries representing about half the world’s population are voting for national leaders. And the stakes for people and the climate couldn’t be clearer: The biggest election year in modern history is happening amid record-high global temperatures, devastating wildfires, dire water shortages and more. Actions taken — or not taken — by the governments elected this year will shape the planet’s trajectory for generations to come.

WRI researchers and climate policy experts are closely following elections around the globe. With some key races already decided, here’s what they’re saying about the potential implications for the climate so far. Read more.

Photo by WRI 

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, many wealthy areas are bordered by sprawling villas: informal settlements where residents live in makeshift homes and lack access to basic services like clean water and electricity. Poor infrastructure has also left them highly exposed to climate risks like floods and extreme heat. But a visionary approach in one neighborhood demonstrates how, rather than evicting residents, the city can partner with them to co-create new amenities and transform these areas into thriving, climate-resilient communities. Read more.

Photo by Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo 

Around Lake Tana in Northern Ethiopia, a historically water-rich area that feeds one of Nile River’s major tributaries, wells and springs are drying up. Some local farmers now spend hours walking and waiting in line to collect water. And such shortages are becoming more common around the world. As international experts gather at the world’s water summit in Stockholm this week, it’s increasingly clear that solving local water challenges will require countries to address complex global issues, including climate change, that are at the root of the problem. Read more.

Photo by 6381380/iStock

Despite growing momentum for climate action, the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached record highs in 2023, according to a new international report. But not all countries are equally responsible for the high levels of greenhouse gases causing the planet to heat up. WRI experts explore the history of carbon dioxide emissions to see how we arrived at this point. Read more.