The 2024 wildfire season has been Brazil’s worst in at least a decade. Over 11 million hectares burned between January and August, more than double the same period last year, and fires continue to blaze. Flames have ravaged the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal (the world’s largest tropical wetland), while cities endure suffocating smoke.

President Lula da Silva vowed to prioritize the environment when he took office, and indeed, deforestation rates fell in 2023. But as fires rage — many of which are caused by illegal forest clearing for farmland — the administration faces scrutiny over whether its actions measure up to its promises of bold climate leadership.

Experts from WRI Brasil dissect the country’s current crisis and what it needs to do next. Read more.

Photo by Anirut Thailand / Shutterstock

Hurricane Milton escalated this week into one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico, posing a dire threat to the southeastern U.S. mere weeks after Hurricane Helene tore through the region. Stronger, more devastating storms like this are just one effect of a warming world. WRI unpacked what the latest science reveals about the impacts of climate change — and why there’s still cause for hope. Read more.

Photo by Kirsten Walla/iStock

2023 was the driest year in over three decades for rivers around the world, according to a new UN report, which also found that nearly half the global population now faces water shortages for at least one month per year. WRI data reveals which countries currently face severe water stress or will in the coming decades. Read more.

Photo by Bernhard Classen / Alamy Stock Photo

The U.K. just announced £22 billion (US$28.8 billion) for projects that aim to capture and store carbon emissions from sources like factories and power plants. While some see “CCUS” technologies as an important tool for fighting climate change, others worry they could stall progress. With more countries exploring and investing in this evolving industry, here’s what to know. Read more. 

On October 2, the European Commission proposed delaying the enforcement of a landmark law that would ban commodities linked to deforestation or forest degradation from entering or being traded in the European market.

“The European Commission's proposal to delay the enforcement of the EU Deforestation Regulation is disappointing. It sends the wrong signal to national governments, both within and outside the EU, as well as to business partners... The world’s forests cannot afford another year without stronger protection.”

Stientje van Veldhoven, Vice-President, Regional Director for Europe, World Resources Institute 

WRI’s new paper is the first to analyze whether and how countries are using their national climate plans to shift citizens toward more pro-climate behavior changes.

Why are we seeing more floods? Is it fueled by climate change? 🌎💧⁣

Explore three key takeaways on why floods pose a growing threat around the world.