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*Trusted research, data & insights* ** for a better world for people, nature & climate

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WRI DIGEST *↓*
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The impacts of climate change were everywhere this year.

Record wildfires scorched South America ( [link removed] ). Devastating floods destroyed lives and property in Brazil and Kenya ( [link removed] ). Extreme heat gripped cities in India and the U.S.

Yet behind the headlines, progress bloomed. Brazilian farmers are using sustainable agriculture to revitalize degraded landscapes ( [link removed] ) in the Amazon. Renewable energy is bringing power and boosting incomes in sub-Saharan Africa ( [link removed] ). Countries forged a new climate finance deal ( [link removed] ) that, while insufficient, can help build resilience in the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

WRI’s experts were there for all of it — providing analysis to help people *understand pressing challenges* , identify *evidence-based solutions* and inspire *global ambition*. And we made all our articles freely available to you, our readers.

Below we’ve compiled some of our top stories from 2024. The list includes a visual history of carbon emissions ( [link removed] ) , groundbreaking analyses on water-stressed foods ( [link removed] ) and extreme heat ( [link removed] ) , a global climate action tracker ( [link removed] ) and so much more.

We hope you’ll take a look back on this important year for people, nature and climate, and support our work ( [link removed] ) producing more insightful content in the year ahead ( [link removed] ).

Thanks for reading!

Sarah Parsons
Editorial Director

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Analyzing Today's Challenges
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Photo by Xinhua/Alamy Stock Photo

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*Floods and Fires on the Rise ➔*
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2024 witnessed an onslaught of climate disasters, from record wildfires across South America ( [link removed] ) to deadly floods in Kenya and Brazil. Our experts helped explain why these events are getting worse ( [link removed] ) and how people are building resilience in unexpected ways ( [link removed] ).

Urban landscape behind a forest. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Sipa USA/Alamy Stock Photo

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*What Could 3 Degrees C of Warming Look Like? ➔* ( [link removed] )
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What will happen if the world stays on course for nearly 3 degrees C of temperature rise this century? We modeled future heatwaves and other climate risks in nearly 1,000 of the world’s largest cities to find out.

A man pushes a boat to shore in Bali, Indonesia ( [link removed] )

Photo by Alf Ribeiro/Alamy

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*1/4 of World’s Crops Threatened by Water Risks ➔* ( [link removed] )
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New data on WRI’s Aqueduct platform revealed that one-quarter of the world’s crops are grown in areas where water is highly stressed, highly unreliable or both — threats that could exacerbate hunger.

A man pushes a boat to shore in Bali, Indonesia ( [link removed] )

Photo by Paralaxis/iStock

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*Tracking Deforestation Around the Globe* **➔** ( [link removed] )
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The world lost an alarming amount of trees in 2023: almost 10 football (soccer) fields of tropical primary forest per minute. But there were glimmers of progress, too, like Brazil and Colombia reducing primary forest loss by 36% and 49%, respectively.

A man pushes a boat to shore in Bali, Indonesia ( [link removed] )

Photo by 6381380/iStock

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*The History of Carbon Dioxide Emissions ➔* ( [link removed] )
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Our visual history of carbon emissions shows which countries have contributed most to climate change — and how that list has changed over the last two centuries.

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Exploring Solutions
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A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Yantra Imagens

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*Small Farmers Are Bringing Brazil's Amazon Back to Life ➔* ( [link removed] )
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Small-scale farmers are reviving abandoned palm oil plantations in the Amazon, showing that food production and healthy forests can go hand-in-hand.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Joerg Boethling/Alamy Stock Photo

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A New Solution to Power Africa *➔* ( [link removed] )
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Expanding electricity access in Africa does little good if people can’t afford it. But what if renewable power could also be used to boost people’s incomes, tackling both issues at once?

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Andri Munazir/iStock

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Our Health Depends on a Healthy Ocean *➔* ( [link removed] )
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From staple foods to cancer-treating drugs, people everywhere rely on the ocean in more ways than they might realize — which means keeping it healthy should be a top priority.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Rass Films/iStock

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Is There Such a Thing As Better Meat? *➔* ( [link removed] )
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WRI research found that options like grass-fed and free-range meat, which are better for animals, often take a bigger toll on the planet than conventional farming. So, what's really the “better” option?

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by ton koene/Alamy Stock Photo

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Conserving Biodiversity Hinges on Indigenous Rights *➔* ( [link removed] )
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Lands managed by Indigenous Peoples and local communities are some of the last biodiversity strongholds. But without secure legal rights, they can't always protect these pristine ecosystems from harm.

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Raising Global Ambition
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A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Jacques Tarnero/Shutterstock

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Tracking Progress on Global Climate Pledges *➔* ( [link removed] )
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WRI’s climate commitment tracker takes stock of how countries are progressing on their promises to scale up renewables, halt deforestation, stem methane emissions and more.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Alf Ribeiro/Shutterstock

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The Climate Action We Need This Decade *➔* ( [link removed] )
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The world is on track to cut emissions 1% by 2030. To prevent increasingly dangerous climate change impacts, that number needs to be 42% — a yawning gap, but one that’s still possible to close. We outlined how

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Leonard Provid/Shutterstock

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Climate Action, Despite Trump *➔* ( [link removed] )
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President Donald Trump’s re-election was undoubtedly a blow to U.S. climate and environmental action — but not a death knell, say WRI experts.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by brazzo/iStock

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Stepping Up National Climate Commitments *➔* ( [link removed] )
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2025 will reveal a lot about where climate action is headed, with nearly all countries expected to submit new national commitments for the coming decade. Here’s what to know.

A woman carries water during a blistering hot day in New Delhi, India. ( [link removed] )

Photo by Viktor Osypenko/Alamy Stock Photo

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Denmark Sets a New Bar for Agriculture *➔* ( [link removed] )
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Denmark’s groundbreaking agriculture policy is the most ambitious national effort yet to tackle the environmental impacts of farming, setting a new bar other countries should strive to meet.

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Upcoming Events
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*WEBINAR*

**Stories to Watch 2025* ( [link removed] )*

January 30, 2025
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM EST

Learn more
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*How You Can Help*

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