4 Charts Explain Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Countries and Sectors

Globally, greenhouse gas emissions have grown by 53% from 1990 to 2019. Where are these emissions coming from, and who is responsible? WRI’s Climate Watch platform offers comprehensive emissions dat[...]

What are Mangrove Forests?

Mangroves are shrubs and trees that grow in coastal waters. Mangroves are halophytes, meaning they are salt-tolerant trees that thrive in intertidal conditions. These diverse and productive ecosystems[...]

What is Ocean Acidification?

The term ocean acidification is used to describe the ongoing decrease in ocean pH caused by human CO2 emissions, such as the burning of fossil fuels. It is the little known consequence of living in a [...]

Beyond Plastic Waste

With more than 8 million tons of plastic entering the ocean each year, humanity must urgently rethink the way we make and use plastics, so that they do not become waste in the first place. Cheap, ligh[...]

Kelp Deforestation: Threats to our Underwater Forests

Kelp forests are some of the most dynamic and ecologically productive marine habitats in the world. A root-like system called a holdfast affixes to the rocky seafloor, supporting a long stipe that ext[...]

How Does CO2 Affect pH In Water?

The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a solution is one of the many factors that determines the pH of water. When CO2 levels increase in water, the pH level drops, which makes the water become more ac[...]

What Is Blue Carbon and Why Does It Matter?

Though terrestrial forests typically get most of the attention, they are not the only ecosystems that possess a natural ability to fight climate change. There are three coastal ecosystems that are als[...]

Despite Pandemic Shutdowns, Carbon Dioxide and Methane Surged in 2020

Carbon dioxide levels are now higher than at anytime in the past 3.6 million years. Levels of the two most important anthropogenic greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, continued their unrelen[...]