More than 20 million U.S. kids ride the bus to school each day. The trips put their health in jeopardy: Most school buses run on diesel, which produces exhaust linked to cancer, respiratory disease and developmental problems. The good news is that tireless work at the local, state and federal levels is bringing more clean electric school buses to U.S. roadways. WRI data shows that 500 school districts in 39 states have now committed to procuring a collective 13,503 electric school buses, and the number continues to rise. Read more.

India’s Pavagada solar park is the third largest in the world, making it a key player in achieving the country’s ambitious renewable energy targets. But before it was a solar park, Pavagada served as grazing land for pastoralists, who treated the area as a commons. These landless farmers are just one example of the downside of clean energy expansion and underscore the need for a “just transition” to a low-carbon economy. Read more.

Those who feel the impacts of climate change first are too often left out of decision-making processes on how to address them. Despite research revealing the efficiency of locally led adaptation — projects that engage the communities directly impacted by climate change — more powerful actors continue to drive adaptation initiatives. From Zimbabwe to Bangladesh, several projects reveal why “locally led” is oftentimes the best kind of adaptation. Read more.