As the Earth Gets Hotter, Can Our Cities Get Cooler?

Blistering temperatures are searing the U.S. East Coast this week. Greece issued a warning for its tourists to “avoid unnecessary risks” during its own bout of extreme heat. And in Saudi Arabia, thousands have died on their Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. And these are just a few examples of heat waves gripping countries around the world. Most years, heat is the deadliest disaster, killing an average 490,000 people globally and leaving even more with severe health problems. With deaths from heat expected to increase by 50% by 2050, cities are faced with the challenge of how to prepare. But there are low-tech solutions to make cities cooler even as Earth gets warmer. From Mumbai, India to Monterrey, Mexico, urban design and infrastructure choices can cool even the world’s hottest cities. Read more.

The Many Benefits of Reducing Food Loss and Waste

The United States is the latest country to join the growing trend of setting national food waste policies, along with China, the U.K. and France. Globally, a third of all food produced winds up in the trash, with food loss and waste expected to double by 2050. Reducing the amount of food that goes uneaten unlocks benefits that go far beyond nutrition and food security. Research shows that lowering consumer food waste by even 20%-25% by 2030 could save the world an estimated $120-$300 billion per year. Read more.

Why Wood Is Not the Carbon Neutral Resource Some Say It Is

WRI research estimated that growing global wood use over the next several decades will emit more than 3 times the carbon of aviation annually. Other research claims the opposite, that wood demand will lead to more forested area and carbon storage. WRI experts took a closer look at the model underpinning these findings and found that they rest on flawed assumptions. Read more.

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