At WRI's 20th annual Stories to Watch, President & CEO Ani Dasgupta presented four stories we think will be major environmental headlines in the coming year. From financial system reforms and their impact on climate finance for vulnerable countries to new leadership's potential impact on Amazon conservation, how these stories shape up in 2023 will affect the world’s future trajectory. Join WRI podcast host Nicholas Walton as he talks to Dasgupta about this year’s key moments. Listen here.

Over 90% of the current U.S. school bus fleet is diesel-powered, which exposes children to toxic exhaust linked to asthma, cancer and other illnesses. Students with disabilities, those living in rural communities, low-income families and Black students are more likely to travel long distances on a school bus, making them more susceptible to the damaging effects of diesel exhaust. While electric school buses offer a cleaner, exhaust-free alternative, without the right planning, they can actually exacerbate inequities. Read more. 

In August 2022, devastating floods wreaked havoc in Pakistan, impacting an estimated 33 million people and generating more than $40 billion in economic damages. Six months later, flood waters have yet to fully recede, while an already politically turbulent nation experiences mass displacement, food insecurity and increased risk of water-borne illness. Ongoing research from WRI and the Water, Peace and Security Partnership shows how disasters like Pakistan’s floods can create instability not only for those directly affected, but for the world. Read more.