Recent heat waves in North America and Europe proved just how deadly extreme temperature rise can be, and similar events will become more common unless emissions drop dramatically. But in some places, it’s not just climate change that’s fueling high heat. A WRI report shows how local deforestation paired with global warming are combining in the tropics to create dangerous levels of heat stress. This “double-whammy” heat effect poses particularly high risks for vulnerable and low-income communities living near the equator. Read more.

When wars and acts of terrorism rocked Peshawar, in northern Pakistan, public transport became impossible. In its place was a disconnected patchwork of private operators running outdated buses, trucks and taxis that were unreliable, polluting and dangerous. The situation was particularly precarious for women and transgendered people, who faced frequent harassment, rude behavior and would even sometimes be denied service. On International Women’s Day, we highlight how the innovative Zu Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system turned things around, providing an example of what safe, gender-inclusive public transport looks like. Read more.