COVID-19 has unfortunately worsened the world’s plastic problem: single-use plastics are necessary for personal protective equipment, and many governments have delayed or scrapped plastic bags and packaging bans. WRI’s Carole Excell explains that we need to continue to make progress on reducing plastic pollution. Read more.

Women often carry the heaviest burden from climate change. This is especially for true for low-income women, including slumdwellers in India. In Ahmedabad, India, the Mahila Housing Trust (MHT) — a finalist for the 2020-2021 Prize for Cities — is shifting the paradigm by giving women tools and resources to improve their lives. Empowered by knowledge, tools for change and a voice, women are transforming their neighborhoods and policymaking. Read more.

When it comes to emissions, forests can absorb carbon, serving as a carbon sink. WRI-led research, published on Global Forest Watch, found that overall the world’s forests sequestered about twice as much carbon dioxide as they emitted. However, of the three largest remaining tropical forests, only the Congo River basin is still a strong carbon sink. Nancy Harris and David Gibbs unpack how trees serve as a two-way highway for carbon emissions. Read more.