According to new data analysis from WRI’s Global Forest Watch, the world lost 10 football (soccer) fields’ worth of primary forest per minute in 2023. And while progress was made on fighting deforestation, it was not consistent around the world. 

The good news: Brazil and Colombia — home to the large and vastly biodiverse Amazon rainforest — showed dramatic reductions in primary forest loss due to strong policies and political will. The bad news: Significant decreases in Brazil and Colombia were counteracted by increases in other tropical countries like Bolivia, Laos and Nicaragua. Canada also experienced significant loss after a record-breaking wildfire season. Learn more about what this comprehensive data means for the state of the world’s forests.

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Industry is responsible for 25% of global emissions. But new policy from U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration aims to fight that, with up to $6 billion for new technologies to cut carbon from heavy industries: everything from steel and cement to macaroni. But decarbonizing industry is tricky because it can’t only be solved by switching to clean energy. Some of its processes generate emissions that are not related to burning fossil fuels and therefore require new technologies and methods. Systems Change Lab explains five meaningful steps industry can take towards net zero. Read more.

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One in three people living in cities globally do not have access to reliable, safe or affordable necessities, like housing. As cities look to address the development challenges of a rising urban population, they must also consider the impacts from a warming climate that could lead to increased damage and lives lost from inadequate housing. WRI experts highlight cities around the world already addressing these challenges through resilient housing and low-carbon services — such as clean energy, sanitation and water — for low-income and marginalized communities. Read more.

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The ocean could be one of our greatest assets in fighting the climate crisis; it covers 70% of the Earth and holds 42 times more carbon than the atmosphere. By leveraging the ocean to physically capture and pull carbon from the atmosphere, there’s potential to remove billions of tons of carbon per year. WRI experts explain how the U.S. is uniquely positioned to lead this charge and what steps it can take. Read more.

Overall, the tropics lost 3.7 million hectares of primary forest in 2023, a rate stubbornly consistent with previous years and still leaving the world far off track from the global goal of ending deforestation by 2030.