Recent Floods: A Tragedy and a Wake-up Call

Tragic Flooding in Brazil; a Wake-up Call for the World

Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil is in the midst of devastating flooding, with more than 100 lives lost and thousands displaced. This tragedy hits particularly close to home for WRI Brasil, where our Porto Alegre office hosts dozens of friends, collaborators and partners. With little hope of floodwaters receding anytime soon and new reports of water and power shortages continuing to roll in, uncertainty and fear are still rampant.? While the situation is due in part to the lack of risk mitigation and disaster prevention measures nationally, Brazil is also on the frontlines of a crisis it alone did not make. Communities around the world are increasingly battered by droughts, floods and withering heat caused largely by wealthy nations’ greenhouse gas emissions.? Analysis and action are necessary now more than ever. WRI Brasil’s Executive Director Cristiane Fontes weighs in. Read more.

The Impacts of Forest Fires Spread Far Beyond Burn Sites

Wildfires have hit Canada once more after a record-breaking season last year. Thousands of residents of Alberta and British Columbia have been forced to evacuate after blazes ignited following months of unseasonably warm temperatures and drought. And the fires’ full impacts extend far beyond their burn sites — threatening water supplies, fueling climate change and driving economic losses near and far. Read more.

Mexico Declared Safe Mobility a Human Right. Now What?

Like most places around the world, Mexico’s streets can be described as vehicle-forward, prioritizing fast-moving traffic over pedestrian safety and accessibility. But with the country recently declaring safe mobility a human right, changes are afoot. WRI research shows how seven relatively simple interventions can help Mexico and other countries make their streets safer and greener. Read more.

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