Can't see this email? View in your browser ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

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

DONATE TO WRI ( [link removed] )

**************
WRI DIGEST *↓*
**************

*In this issue:*

* The High Seas Treaty’s High Stakes ( #blurb1 )
* Why Forests Are Vanishing ( #blurb2 )
* Extreme Heat Is Reshaping Cities ( #blurb3 )
* Biofuels Pose Risks for the US Midwest ( #blurb4 )

A farmer picking produce from the ground ( [link removed] )

Photo by Okyela/Shutterstock

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
The High Seas Treaty Could Reshape Ocean Protection ( [link removed] )
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The “high seas,” waters outside of national borders, comprise roughly two-thirds of the ocean. It’s an immense area teeming with life and valuable natural resources that remains largely unregulated. This situation is becoming increasingly precarious as the ocean’s health is squeezed by climate change, pollution, overfishing and emerging threats like deep-sea mining.

The High Seas Treaty aims to bring these international waters under one legally binding framework that can foster stronger governance, increase conservation and ensure sustainable use of the ocean’s resources.

The text of the treaty was agreed in 2023 after nearly two decades, but it needs at least 60 countries to ratify it before it takes effect. With less than 10 countries left to ratify, all eyes are on this week’s UN Ocean Conference to see if it will finally take force.

Read more ( [link removed] )

Solar panels ( [link removed] )

Photo by Rich Carey/Shutterstock

*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
New Data Shows What’s Driving Tree Cover Loss Around the World ( [link removed] )
*********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Forests disappeared at a staggering rate over the last two decades. New data shows that over a third of this loss is likely permanent. But it also gives us a clearer picture of what’s been driving forest destruction around the globe — and what to do about it.

Read more ( [link removed] )

Ocean wildlife ( [link removed] )

Photo by Tuayai/iStock photo

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
How Extreme Heat Is Reshaping Cities ( [link removed] )
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Extreme heat is no longer rare or temporary; it’s a pervasive new reality that’s reshaping the ways we live, work and travel. But as cities around the world get hotter, some are finding powerful methods to cope.

Read more ( [link removed] )

People standing with a banner in front of a mountain ( [link removed] )

Photo by Zoran Zeremski/Shutterstock.

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Increasing Biofuel Production in the US Midwest Is Risky ( [link removed] )
************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Over 30% of corn and 40% of soybean oil produced in the U.S. are used to make “sustainable” biofuels. Yet studies suggest that growing biofuel production can actually increase emissions, push out small farmers and pollute Midwest communities.

Read more ( [link removed] )

********************
Vital Visualizations
********************

Rates of return on adaptation investments by sector ( [link removed] )

Agriculture, wildfire and logging are the biggest drivers of tree cover loss globally. But the picture looks drastically different when you break it down by region.

Read more ( [link removed] )

*********************
FEATURED NEWS RELEASE
*********************

*Business and Policy Leaders Call for Strong EU Climate Plans ( [link removed] )*

The EU has yet to submit its new climate commitment (NDC) ( [link removed] ) , due in 2025. At a high-level event co-convened by WRI, leaders underscored the need for robust, investible climate plans that can help enhance energy security, economic strength and industrial competitiveness.

Dan Lashof, Senior Fellow, WRI ( [link removed] )

“Major economies — particularly China — are ramping up investment in clean energy and industry. An ambitious NDC puts the EU on course to compete for the market of the future and secure its energy independence."

*— Stientje van Veldhoven ( [link removed] )
* *—* Vice-President, WRI

*Read more* ( [link removed] )

*************
WRI on Social
*************

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
( [link removed] ) LINKEDIN / JUNE 11, 2025 ( [link removed] )
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

What would make 2025 a turning point for global climate action? ( [link removed] )

2025 is a pivotal year for climate action, with new national plans and major decisions on the horizon. 🌍

What would make it a true turning point? Vote in the poll, tell us why in the comments — and let us know if we missed anything.

View on LinkedIn ( [link removed] )

***************
Upcoming Events
***************

*WEBINAR*

*Advancing Energy Equity with Locally Led Solar: How CBOs Are Lighting the Path to Community Impact* ( [link removed] )

June 17, 2025
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM EDT, Online

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

*Office Hour: Deforestation Alerts Overview with a Focus on DIST Alerts* ( [link removed] )

June 18, 2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT, Online

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

*Quantifying How Much New NDCs Would Cut Emissions* ( [link removed] )

June 24, 2025
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT, Online

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

*Financing Nature: Unlocking Investment Opportunities in Nature-Based Solutions* ( [link removed] )

June 25, 2025
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT, Online

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

*Major New Book - "We Are Eating the Earth" - A Conversation with Author Michael Grunwald* ( [link removed] )

July 01, 2025
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM EDT, Online

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*How You Can Help*

WRI relies on the generosity of donors like you to develop evidence-based solutions and turn research into action. You can support our work by making a gift today.

Donate ( [link removed] )

Other Ways To Support WRI ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

*Update Your Email Subscription Preferences* ( [link removed] )

*Unsubscribe* ( [link removed] )

*Privacy Policy* ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] ) Twitter ( [link removed] ) Instagram ( [link removed] ) LinkedIn ( [link removed] ) YouTube ( [link removed] )

World Resources Institute • 10 G Street NE Suite 800 • Washington, DC, 20002 • 202.729.7900