Can't see this email? View in your browser ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

*Trusted research, data & insights* ** for a better world for people, nature & climate

DONATE TO WRI ( [link removed] )

**************
WRI DIGEST *↓*
**************

*In this issue:*

* Will AI Help or Harm the Planet? ( #blurb1 )
* Circular Economy: Necessary but Elusive ( #blurb2 )
* Neighborhood Climate Action ( #blurb3 )
* New National Climate Plans ( #blurb4 )

Construction site ( [link removed] )

Photo by Gerville/iStock

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
AI Can Help or Harm the Planet. It’s Up to Us. ( [link removed] )
*****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

AI tends to be viewed in extremes. For some, it's the shining star of progress and abundance. For others, it’s a harbinger of chaos, environmental harm and cascading job loss.

The reality lies somewhere in the middle.

While it's true that AI comes with environmental, financial and social costs, it's also true that it can help us solve some of today’s most pressing challenges — like how to effectively power grids with renewables or pinpoint emerging threats to nature in near-real time.

WRI’s Global Data Lab Director Evan Tachovsky lays out how we can harness this new technology for the good of people and the planet, while minimizing AI’s potential perils.

Read more ( [link removed] )

Landfill ( [link removed] )

Photo by Adennysyahputra / iStock

**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Assessing World's Progress Toward a Circular Economy ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )
**********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Reduce, reuse, recycle: We all know the mantra, but how well do we follow it? And which countries are doing the best job? The Systems Change Lab broke down nine key trends that show the world’s progress toward a circular economy.

Read more ( [link removed] )

Looking over a balcony ( [link removed] )

Photo by WRI

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Neighborhoods Are World’s Climate Action Leaders ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )
***************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Climate action faces growing political headwinds in many countries. Yet cities like Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cape Town, South Africa; and Cleveland, Ohio are showing that progress doesn’t have to be top-down.

Read more ( [link removed] )

People in front of windmills ( [link removed] )

Photo by Shawn.ccf/Alamy Stock Photo

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
New National Climate Commitments Expected Next Week ( [link removed] ) ( [link removed] )
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

All eyes are on the UN General Assembly next week, with many countries expected to put forth new national climate plans and emissions targets. Collectively, these plans will reveal the world’s climate trajectory over the next decade. Here’s what to know.

Read more ( [link removed] )

*********************
FEATURED NEWS RELEASE
*********************

*Second Africa Climate Summit Steps Up Climate Ambition ( [link removed] )*

Wanjira Mathai ( [link removed] )

The 2nd Africa Climate Summit concluded on Sept. 10 with a strong call for ambitious climate action and a roadmap for the continent’s development.

“Africa is not waiting for the world to act — it is leading. [The continent is] strengthening water and food security, protecting fragile ecosystems, and empowering communities — especially farmers, women and youth — to thrive in a changing climate."

*— Wanjira Mathai ( [link removed] )
* *—* Managing Director, Africa and Global Partnerships

*Read more* ( [link removed] )

*************
WRI on Social
*************

**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
LINKEDIN / SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 ( [link removed] )
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

WRI Explains social post ( [link removed] )

👀 All eyes are on the countries yet to submit updated climate plans — especially the top emitters.

Countries are submitting updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) for the first time since 2020. These commitments are key to driving progress toward a sustainable future. WRI explains further.

View on LinkedIn ( [link removed] )

*****************
FEATURED RESOURCE
*****************

*WRI at New York Climate Week ( [link removed] )*

Next week’s New York Climate Week will help set the tone for climate, nature and development action in the lead-up to key global summits later this year, including the UN climate summit (COP30) ( [link removed] ). Tune into a WRI event or webinar to learn more about the key issues at stake.

*Learn more* ( [link removed] )

***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
Available now: The New Global Possible ( [link removed] )
***********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Rebuilding optimism in the age of the climate crisis ( [link removed] )

Released last week, Ani Dasgupta's new book ( [link removed] ) highlights real climate solutions that are already transforming lives around the world — and explores how we can scale them to meet the urgency of today’s challenges. Proceeds from book sales will directly support WRI’s mission.

Learn more about The New Global Possible ( [link removed] )

***************
Upcoming Events
***************

*WEBINAR*

( [link removed] ) *Social Inclusion & Community Ownership for Successful NbS Adoption ( [link removed] )*

September 18, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM EAT, Online

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

( [link removed] ) *The Business Case for Resource Conservation ( [link removed] )*

September 22, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:30 PM EDT, Online

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*IN-PERSON*

( [link removed] ) *Climate Finance Innovation: Where Deals Meet Commercial Capital ( [link removed] )*

September 23, 2025
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM EDT, Covington & Burling LLP: The New York Times Building

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*WEBINAR*

( [link removed] ) *From Farm to Plate: Scaling What Works to Maximize Food ( [link removed] )*

September 24, 2025
11:30 AM - 2:30 PM EDT

Learn more ( [link removed] )

*How You Can Help*

WRI relies on the generosity of donors like you to develop evidence-based solutions and turn research into action. You can support our work by making a gift today.

Donate ( [link removed] )

Other Ways To Support WRI ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] )

*Update Your Email Subscription Preferences* ( [link removed] )

*Unsubscribe* ( [link removed] )

*Privacy Policy* ( [link removed] )

( [link removed] ) Twitter ( [link removed] ) Instagram ( [link removed] ) LinkedIn ( [link removed] ) YouTube ( [link removed] )

World Resources Institute • 10 G Street NE Suite 800 • Washington, DC, 20002 • 202.729.7900