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:*

* Most Cities Are Getting Hotter. Not Everyone Feels It Equally ( #blurb1 )
* Could AI Unlock Billions for Nature Restoration? ( #blurb2 )
* Solving the Plastic Pollution Crisis ( #blurb3 )
* A New Type of Company Could Finally Fund Healthy Ecosystems ( #blurb4 )

Overlook of a city ( [link removed] )

Photo by John Warner/Shutterstock

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Cities Are Getting Hotter. Not All Residents Feel It Equally. ( [link removed] )
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

On a sweltering day, where you live in a city can make all the difference. In Cape Town, for example, the dense, concrete city center can be 15 degrees C (27 degrees F) hotter than its leafier, tree-lined districts. That’s the difference between an uncomfortably hot day and dangerous heat stress.

But cities can change that. The trick is knowing exactly where heat is most intense – and what local fix works best, from planting trees to painting roofs white. We explore three cities finding the right solutions for their hottest neighborhoods.

Read more ( [link removed] )

People in a garden ( [link removed] )

Photo by Serrah Galos/WRI

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Could AI Unlock Finance for Nature Restoration? ( [link removed] )
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Governments have pledged to restore 1 billion hectares of degraded land by 2030. But the finance to do so just isn’t there. AI could change that by transforming the way we track tree growth to make restoration projects more attractive investments.

Read more ( [link removed] )

Cows in a field ( [link removed] )

Photo by Rich Carey/Shutterstock

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
How Can We Solve the Plastic Pollution Crisis? ( [link removed] )
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

The world generates nearly a million tons of plastic waste every day. Just 9% gets recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, burned or leaked into the environment — and into our bodies. Curbing plastic pollution will require a range of solutions.

Read more ( [link removed] )

Aerial view of a kayak in a river ( [link removed] )

Photo by fokke baarssen/Shutterstock

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
‘Natural Asset Companies’ Could Finally Make Healthy Ecosystems Investable ( [link removed] )
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Financial markets have long rewarded extracting natural resources over protecting them: For every $1 the world invests in nature, it invests $30 in destroying it. A new business model, known as the “Natural Asset Company,” aims to flip this equation on its head.

Read more ( [link removed] )

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

Ocean actions ( [link removed] )

About 91% of all plastic waste ends up in landfills, incinerators or ‘mismanaged,’ which includes insecure dump sites, open-pit burning and environmental pollution.

Read more ( [link removed] )

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

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
LINKEDIN / MARCH 17, 2026 ( [link removed] )
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

WRI Explains What is the EU Deforestation Regulation? ( [link removed] )

The EU Deforestation Regulation aims to keep products linked to deforestation, from coffee to beef, off European shelves. It could reshape global supply chains and help protect forests worldwide. Here’s what you need to know.

View on LinkedIn ( [link removed] )

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

*WEBINAR*

*Global Nature Watch: AI-Powered Insights for Nature in Africa—and Beyond ( [link removed] )*

March 19, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM WAT

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

*Building Local Capacity for Clean Energy Siting: What's Working and Why ( [link removed] )*

March 26, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

*CBAM, Green Procurement, and the Importance of Product-level Emissions Standards for Industrial Decarbonization Policy ( [link removed] )*

March 27, 2026
11:00am - 12:00pm 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