While the race for the presidency and the control of Congress dominated news about the U.S. election, below the radar state and local measures to accelerate the shift from fossil fuels to clean energy fared surprisingly well. Nine examples of ballot measures in half-a-dozen states show that Americans want an energy system that is sustainable and equitable. Such sub-national efforts, paired with the increased federal support coming soon, could help turn the United States from climate laggard to climate leader. 
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A new report from WRI China investigates how dockless bike sharing is changing travel behavior in 12 Chinese cities and assesses the impacts on health, emissions, road safety, and urban management. While country circumstances differ, many countries have followed China’s lead in launching city dockless bike programs. “Lessons from Chinese cities can provide insights and good practice for cities elsewhere on how to build a cycling culture and encourage bike-sharing,” writes Jyot Chadha, senior manager with the New Urban Mobility (NUMO) alliance.
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In the landmark 2014 New York Declaration of Forests governments, companies, NGOs and indigenous peoples pledged to halve deforestation by 2020 and stop it by 2030, while restoring an area of degraded land larger than India. A new assessment concludes that the world is headed in the wrong direction. David Gibbs, Nancy Harris and Katie Reyatr examine the reasons behind this colossal failure and what can be done to get back on track. The good news: recent progress on forest monitoring and other actions offer hope that the 2030 goal can still be achieved. Read More.