A massive winter storm blanketed much of the U.S. in snow and sub-freezing temperatures over the weekend, knocking out power for more than a million households. 

Losing power during a bitter cold spell can be dangerous, even life-threatening. As these kinds of blackouts become more common thanks to increasingly extreme weather, understanding what causes them and how to prevent future failures will be key to protecting lives and infrastructure. 

WRI grid expert Kelly Lefler unpacked what, exactly, causes power systems to buckle during severe winter weather and how we can make them more resilient.

Overuse, pollution and ecosystem damage have led to an era of “global water bankruptcy” in which much of the world can no longer return to normal water levels, according to a new UN report. WRI data shows which countries face the highest water stress today and where risks are escalating fastest.

For too long, the Amazon’s economy has been underpinned by extractive industries like farming and mining that strip away resources and leave the forest degraded. But a new economic model, based on time-tested Indigenous practices that support people and nature, is emerging.

From almond shells to invasive species, companies are using waste in innovative ways to lock away carbon.

Increasing pressure on the world's fresh water means that an additional billion people could live with extremely high water stress by 2050 — conditions in which even a short drought can lead to severe consequences.