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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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*In this issue:*

* The Ocean Can Play a Much Larger Role in Fighting Climate Change ( #blurb1 )
* New Data Shows What’s Driving Forest Loss Around the World ( #blurb2 )
* What is Kelp and Why Is it Vital for People and the Planet? ( #blurb3 )
* Fixing Central Africa’s Water and Power Challenges Starts with Restoring Nature ( #blurb4 )

People at a beach with a wind farm in the background ( [link removed] )

Photo by Islandstock/Alamy Stock Photo

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The Ocean Can Play a Much Larger Role in Fighting Climate Change ( [link removed] )
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Just 1% of global development funding goes to ocean-based climate solutions. Yet research shows that these very solutions — from offshore wind to restored mangroves — could deliver one-third of the emissions reductions needed by 2050 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F).

Every $1 invested in key ocean actions can return at least $5 in global benefits over the next 30 years. We break down seven ocean-based strategies that cut emissions, create jobs, protect coastlines and improve food security — and make the case for why the ocean must be at the heart of climate negotiations.

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Deforestation ( [link removed] )

Photo by Rich Carey/Shutterstock

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New Data Shows What’s Driving Forest Loss Around the World ( [link removed] )
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New data from Global Forest Watch reveals that 34% of global tree cover loss from 2001 to 2025 is likely permanent — meaning trees won’t grow back naturally. In tropical primary rainforests, that number jumps to 60%. From farming in Latin America to logging in Europe, understanding what’s behind the loss is the first step to stopping it.

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Fish swimming next to kelp ( [link removed] )

Photo by Andrew Stowe / iStock

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What Is Kelp and Why Is it Vital to People and the Planet? ( [link removed] )
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Kelp forests are among the most diverse habitats on Earth and generate about $500 billion each year in ecosystem services, from capturing carbon to protecting coastlines. But climate change, poor water quality and overfishing have damaged up to 60% of them in the last 50 years. We look at what’s at stake and how to protect the ocean’s kelp.

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People on a mountain ( [link removed] )

Photo by WRI Africa

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Fixing Central Africa’s Water and Power Challenges Starts with Restoring Nature ( [link removed] )
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As cities in the Ruzizi Basin, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, expand, paved surfaces replace forests, driving floods, erosion and threats to the region’s hydropower. In conflict-affected Bukavu, communities are responding with nature — restoring riverbanks, planting 31,000 trees and turning plastic waste into income for local women and youth.

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FEATURED NEWS RELEASE
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*Global Leaders Call on COP31 to Place Ocean at Heart of Climate Action ( [link removed] )*

Over 150 global experts and leaders, including WRI, are calling on UN Climate Conference (COP31) hosts Türkiye and Australia to prioritize ocean-climate solutions this November. In an open letter, the signatories argue that ocean-climate solutions are one of the last and best chances to raise and meet much-needed climate ambition for mitigation and resilience.

*Read more* ( [link removed] )

*WRI at London Climate Action Week ( [link removed] )*

From the energy transition to climate finance, London Climate Action Week (June 22-26) gathers thousands of global leaders and experts to turn climate commitments into action. WRI will contribute to over 45 events throughout the week. Its centerpiece hub, Climate Leadership in Action ( [link removed] ) (June 24), brings a full day of public sessions, partner events and roundtables focused on solutions in energy, resilience, finance and development.

WRI is also a partner in the Climate Innovation Forum ( [link removed] ) (June 22), uniting over 2,500 leaders to drive action for a net-zero nature-positive future, and the World Climate Investment Summit ( [link removed] ) (June 25), addressing capital flows from hard-to-decarbonize sectors, nature and adaptation.

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Vital Visualizations
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Mitigation potential of ocean-based climate solutions graphic ( [link removed] )

Reducing offshore oil and gas has the largest mitigation potential of any ocean-based solution.

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WRI on Social
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LINKEDIN / JUNE 9, 2026 ( [link removed] )
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LinkedIn graphic ( [link removed] )

How can El Niño affect the Amazon Rainforest?

El Niño tends to reduce rainfall during South America’s wet season, which makes the following dry season even more arid and fire prone. This is especially true in the Amazon where forests are not well-adapted to fire.

The two most recent strong El Niño events, in 2015-2016 and 2023-2024, both produced record-breaking fire seasons in Brazil. In both 2016 and 2024, fires burned more than 2.3 million hectares of forest in Brazil — more than 4 times the annual average from 2001 to 2025, according to data on WRI’s Global Forest Watch platform.

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June 22 - 25, 2026

London, UK | Online options available

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October 26 - 28, 2026
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