The global population recently surpassed 8 billion people, and demand for food is only projected to increase. Yet recent analysis finds that while croplands are expanding, the amount of crop harvests used for domestic food consumption — currently only 37% — is declining. A growing share of crops are being used for processing, industry, exports and other non-direct food uses. That’s a problem, since domestically produced food crops are essential for the 50 countries poised to be food insecure by 2030 if current trends continue. Read more.

The past year has seen the ongoing effects of COVID-19, a global food and energy crisis as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, devastating climate impacts on the world’s most vulnerable countries and more. What kind of progress towards a sustainable and equitable future will we see in 2023? WRI’s flagship event, Stories to Watch 2023, takes place on January 25th. Join us as WRI’s President and CEO Ani Dasgupta provides insights on what we project will be the big stories of 2023. Register here.

In the eastern Indian state of Odisha — where slum dwellers make up 25% of the population in some cities — COVID-19 threatened not only a public health emergency, but an unemployment and poverty crisis. So, the state’s Housing and Urban Development Department came up with an innovative solution: employ the urban poor in climate-resilient public works projects like parks and rainwater harvesting. Odisha’s Urban Wage Employment Initiative is one of five finalists for WRI’s Ross Center Prize for Cities. Read more.