If Earth were a business that underwent an audit, fourteen of the company’s 18 divisions examined would be in the red. Capital accounts undervalued and depleted for short-term gain; important assets and liabilities are omitted from the balance sheets. WRI Vice President Janet Ranganathan writes that the global market system has become the single-most environmentally destructive force on the planet, “the hungry elephant in the Garden of Eden.” What to do? Ranganathan proposes two solutions. First, fix omissions in the calculation of corporate profit. Second, reduce corporate influence over public policy and elections. Read More.

Local communities are on the frontline of climate change impacts but they often lack a voice when it comes to adaptation projects aimed at helping them. In a new “Big Ideas Into Action” podcast, local organizers point to a better way. WRI Climate Resilience Manager Ayesha Dinshaw says that because local stakeholders understand their own context they can help ensure that people in their own neighborhoods, communities, and districts aren’t left behind. Read more.

Because global emissions have continued to climb, scientists say that averting runaway climate change will require removing billions of tons of carbon from the atmosphere by midcentury. Landscape restoration—growing trees and bushes—is the cheapest path but may be too slow. Enter Direct Air Capture (DAC), removing carbon by means of new human-driven technologies. DAC is controversial and will require careful consideration of energy, land and water use. But the world may have no choice. In this detailed new explainer, WRI experts cover the most important things you need to know about emerging DAC technologies, costs and benefits. Read more.