Webinars And Videos

Roads and bridges are aging across the U.S. But instead of focusing on fixing them, our infrastructure system prioritizes expansion over maintenance.

🌳At a time when forests are increasingly under threat, it’s urgent to understand the regulation and ensure its full implementation. #WRIExplains what the EU Deforestation Regulation is and answers 8 key questions👉 https://go.wri.org/eudr

Thanks @justine-underhill for taking us on this enlightening walk!

A lot of people care deeply about their cities and towns. Safer streets. Walkable neighborhoods. Strong local businesses. Places that actually work for the people who live there. Every year, people from across the country gather to learn from each other and share how they’re working to make their communities stronger. The Strong Towns National Gathering is happening this May in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Early bird registration ends soon. We hope to see you there 🙂

AI tools like ChatGPT, navigation apps and streaming platforms feel effortless, drawing information seemingly from thin air. Yet the infrastructure behind them is anything but invisible. #WRIExplains Data centers👉 https://go.wri.org/data-centers About WRI: WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp

Once you see it, you can’t unsee it. This time, it’s forcing functions. If there’s a certain outcome you want, the design forces the behavior you want. Forcing functions are everywhere, even in our street design. So a speed limit sign without an accompanying design to slow drivers down only tells you what you did wrong instead of preventing you from doing wrong in the first place.

🌊#WRIExplains: Deep-Sea Mining https://go.wri.org/deep-sea-mining Deep sea mining, an activity involving the collection of minerals from the ocean floor, is gaining attention as experts estimate vast undiscovered resources. While companies currently harvest minerals on land, concerns are growing about the potential environmental impact of deep sea mining, which is not yet well-understood. The International Seabed Authority is working to establish regulations for this activity, with many warning of harm to marine life and coastal communities. Minerals such as lithium, cobalt, nickel and rare earth elements are essential ingredients in everything from wind turbines and electric vehicles to cell phones, medical technologies and military infrastructure. Mining for these materials on land is already well established, but with demand surging, some are now looking to tap the seafloor for its millions of square kilometers of metal ores. Some countries and companies have already begun exploring underwater mineral deposits and mining techniques — but the prospect of deep-sea mining remains controversial. Despite years of research, little is known about the deep ocean. Many fear that extracting minerals from it could pose grave consequences for both marine life and planetary health. While nations can currently pursue deep-sea mining in their own domestic waters, the world is still awaiting exploitation regulations from the UN’s International Seabed Authority (ISA) that will dictate whether and how it could proceed in international waters, where the bulk of the ocean’s critical minerals are found. With the future of deep-sea mining still under debate, here’s what we know so far about the proposed practice and its impacts — and what we don’t. Learn more: https://go.wri.org/deep-sea-mining

Walk audit challenge: accepted. Even in snowy weather. 💪

The housing crisis isn’t unfamiliar—but restrictive zoning makes it nearly impossible to fix it. What possibilities are unlocked if we changed the rules around what can be built?

This course explains the foundational technologies behind generative AI, including GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks), VAEs (Variational Autoencoders), and LLMs (Large Language Models). The tutorial goes beyond the theoretical by applying each model to realistic urban planning tasks — such as redesigning streetscapes, summarizing public comments, and generating development scenarios. Through live demos using free or commonly available AI tools, planners will learn the mechanics behind GenAI and build the confidence to explore these tools in their own work. Subscribe to Planetizen Courses’ channel and enable notifications to keep up with the latest urban planning videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/PlanetizenCourses?sub_confirmation=1 This video is an excerpt from Generative AI Tools and Workflows for Urban Planning. Watch the full course here: https://courses.planetizen.com/course/generative-ai-tools-and-workflows?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=description&utm_content=generativeai-2&utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video-description Planetizen Courses offers hundreds of online urban planning video courses taught by trusted professional planners. Sign up for access to cutting edge urban planning and urban design video courses on computer, phone, or tablet: https://courses.planetizen.com/courses?utm_source=youtube.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=plnzc-cta-description&utm_content=generativeai-2 Follow Planetizen Courses on X: https://x.com/plnzcourses Follow Planetizen Courses on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/planetizen-courses

What it looks like to put your money where your mouth is. By helping the community thrive, you can make your business thrive.

Today, we’re releasing a new white paper: “Mission Accomplished.” Find the report here: https://www.strongtowns.org/missionaccomplished For years, the dominant explanation for America’s infrastructure problems has been that we haven’t invested enough. Yet federal spending on transportation is at historic highs, and frustration with the results continues to grow. This report offers a different interpretation. The Interstate Highway System achieved its original goal. The challenges we face today are not the result of failure, but of a system that continued long after its purpose was fulfilled. Understanding what comes after it is the work in front of us.

Adaptive reuse: bringing new life to old buildings. What could you do with the empty spaces in your city?

When the only ideas that show up are low-ambition projects, that’s usually not a creativity problem. It’s an incentives problem. So maybe the proper question isn’t “Is this good?” It’s “Why is this all that makes sense to build?”

Most people see a bike lane. But we see: slower traffic, safer streets, room for small businesses, space for community life. Design is never just about movement. It shapes what’s possible.

Carbon removal could help prevent the worst impacts of climate change. #WRIExplains further: https://go.wri.org/carbon-removal About WRI: WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: / world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: / worldresources 🙏🏼 Facebook: / worldresources 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresourc… 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp

Learn more about Utah wildfire risk reduction👉🔗bit.ly/UTFire  Across northern Utah, communities at extreme risk of wildfire are reshaping the landscape through proactive, collaborative restoration projects. This transformation reflects the power of the Utah Resilience Fund, an innovative funding mechanism that unites public, private, and philanthropic partners to act before disaster strikes.   By pooling diverse funding sources and coordinating work across public and private lands, the Fund has accelerated wildfire mitigation from mountain headwaters to the Great Salt Lake in order to protect lives, jobs, homes, drinking water, and ecosystems.   This WRI Cities4Forests work delivers lasting outcomes for both people and nature with support from our partners, including Summit County, the U.S. Forest Service, Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, Mountain Regional Water District, the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, Utah’s Shared Stewardship, Utah’s Watershed Restoration Initiative, Representative Black Moore, Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, Trout Unlimited, and the Caterpillar Foundation.   —   WRI’s Cities4Forests initiative helps cities and communities around the world use nature to solve problems. For more information, visit cities4forests.com.   Learn more about the Utah Resilience Fund by visiting cities4forests.com/URF.   —   Footage by Natasha Collins, James Anderson, and Summit County. Production and editing by Courtney Blackmer-Raynolds and Natasha Collins.   #Forests #Restoration #Wildfires #ForestManagement #WaterResilience

For years, farmers in Berbere Woreda in southeastern Ethiopia lived hand to mouth — not because water was scarce, but because they didn’t have access to a reliable, affordable energy source. Although nearby rivers flowed year-round, the lack of power meant they couldn’t pump water to their fields. As a result, most families harvested only once a year, producing barely enough to feed themselves. Today, that story is changing. With technical support from WRI and DanChurchAid, and funding from the IKEA Foundation, farmers now have access to solar-powered irrigation. This clean, reliable energy is enabling them to grow crops three to four times a year — transforming agriculture from a struggle for survival into a pathway to prosperity. For the first time, farmers are earning income, planning for the future, and building resilience for their families and communities. This is their story.

For more than 20 years, WRI has identified annual “Stories to Watch.” These are the year’s moments, issues and decisions that we believe will shape the future trajectory of the world. Stories to Watch 2026 explores how the choices we make can deliver real benefits for people—not just decades from now, but today. Will the energy transition stall economic progress or ignite a new era of inclusive prosperity? Will climate action deepen today’s cost-of-living and housing crises—or become a pathway to affordability? Will jobs in the new economy open doors to a brighter future for families everywhere—or leave too many behind? Don’t miss the live panel discussion at the end. In this interactive conversation, WRI experts and global leaders unpack the trends, risks, and opportunities that will define the year ahead, offering insights you won’t find in the headlines alone. Together, they examine what’s at stake, what’s changing, and where bold action can make the biggest difference. A correction: When we mention the death toll in Jamaica as a result of Hurricane Melissa, the correct number should be 45. About WRI: WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. WRI works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp

*Jobs. Skills. Economic security.* Few things are scarier than losing a job. As the global economy transitions, millions of jobs will disappear — but millions more will be created. The real question is how many people are prepared for the change. In this video, Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of World Resources Institute examines how climate action is reshaping jobs across sectors — where jobs will be lost, where new opportunities are emerging, and why reskilling is now one of the biggest economic challenges of the decade. *This video explores:* • How many jobs will be lost — and how many will be created • Why job “churn,” not unemployment, is the real challenge • What the transition means for manufacturing, agriculture, and construction • How reskilling can protect workers, families, and local economies You’ll hear evidence and examples from India, Germany, and beyond — including how electric vehicle manufacturing and workforce training can open new opportunities, especially for women. This video is part of *Stories to Watch 2026*, WRI’s annual briefing on the trends shaping the year ahead. ▶ Watch the full Stories to Watch 2026 briefing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNUKou0gFxE&t=30s *Chapters* 00:11 Why jobs are the biggest fear in any transition 00:43 How many jobs will be lost — and gained 01:41 Why job “churn” matters more than unemployment 03:39 India: reskilling workers for the EV transition 06:06 New opportunities for women and small businesses 07:42 Germany’s Ruhr Valley: rebuilding after coal 08:22 The global skills gap 09:12 Why workforce planning is falling behind 10:27 How AI could reshape jobs in the new economy 11:36 Why people must be at the center of the transition About WRI: WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp Creative Commons licensed footage courtesy of WEGA WA GWITU TV/Youtube, The Traveler Ke/YouTube, Uncharted Safari/YouTube, Blessed YouTuber/YouTube Brazil photos courtesy of agenciaBrazil

*Economic growth. Competitiveness. The next global economy.* For most people, the economy is the number one concern. Many leaders worry that climate action could slow growth and make their countries less competitive. Others argue the opposite: that delaying the transition risks falling behind. In this video, Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of World Resources Institute examines how the climate transition is already reshaping economic growth — and why countries and companies that move faster may gain a lasting advantage. *This video explores:* • Whether clean energy and climate action can accelerate economic growth • Why electric vehicles and new industries are reshaping global markets • How countries like China, Kenya, and Denmark are building competitive advantage • What it takes to finance growth in the new economy You’ll see examples from electrifying transport in Kenya to clean manufacturing, agriculture, and innovation across emerging and advanced economies. This video is part of *Stories to Watch 2026*, WRI’s annual briefing on the trends shaping the year ahead. ▶ Watch the full Stories to Watch 2026 briefing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNUKou0gFxE&t=30s *Chapters* 00:00 Why growth and competitiveness drive climate decisions 00:26 Europe, the U.S., and fears of falling behind 01:46 EVs and the future of global markets 02:28 Can climate action actually boost growth? 03:09 China’s clean energy strategy 03:45 Kenya: electrifying transport from the bottom up 06:36 Denmark and business-led growth 07:52 Can countries grow and decarbonize at the same time? 08:27 Financing growth in the new economy 09:30 Clean industrialization and green steel 10:12 Innovation and entrepreneurship 11:10 What to watch for in 2026 *About WRI* WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp Creative Commons licensed footage courtesy of WEGA WA GWITU TV/Youtube, The Traveler Ke/YouTube, Uncharted Safari/YouTube, Blessed YouTuber/YouTube Brazil photos courtesy of agenciaBrazil

*Cost of living. Housing. Energy prices.* Climate change is no longer a distant concern — it’s affecting the cost of everyday life. From housing and electricity bills to insurance and transport, affordability has become one of the biggest economic challenges facing families worldwide. In this video, Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of World Resources Institute examines how climate change and the global economic transition are reshaping affordability — and whether climate action can actually help lower costs over time. *This video explores:* • Why housing is the world’s biggest affordability crisis • How climate risks are driving up insurance and living costs • What Brazil and cities around the world are doing to deliver affordable, resilient housing • Why cheaper renewables could lower energy prices — and where new risks are emerging This video is part of Stories to Watch 2026, WRI’s annual briefing on the trends shaping the year ahead. ▶ Watch the full Stories to Watch 2026 briefing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNUKou0gFxE&t=30s *Chapters* 00:00 Why affordability is the real concern 01:14 Housing: the world’s biggest cost-of-living crisis 02:17 Why housing is also a climate issue 03:11 Brazil: upgrading housing where people already live 05:55 What affordable, resilient housing looks like 07:35 Energy prices, electricity demand, and renewables 09:52 Trade, energy costs, and global uncertainty 10:42 Can climate action make life more affordable? *About WRI* WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp Creative Commons licensed footage courtesy of WEGA WA GWITU TV/Youtube, The Traveler Ke/YouTube, Uncharted Safari/YouTube, Blessed YouTuber/YouTube Brazil photos courtesy of agenciaBrazil

*Jobs. Cost of living. Energy prices.* In Stories to Watch 2026, WRI President and CEO Ani Dasgupta explains how the climate transition is already reshaping everyday economic realities — and what choices will matter most this year. For more than two decades, World Resources Institute has published annual Stories to Watch — the moments, decisions, and trends shaping the year ahead. This year’s briefing focuses on three big questions: • *Growth:* Will the transition slow economic growth — or unlock inclusive prosperity? • *Affordability:* Will climate action worsen today’s cost-of-living and housing pressures — or help make life more affordable? • *Jobs:* Will the new economy create opportunity — or leave too many behind? You’ll hear evidence and examples from around the world — including electrifying two- and three-wheelers in Kenya, resilient housing in Brazil, and skills for EV supply chains in India. 00:00 Intro: Why 2026 is about daily economic reality 01:32 Three trends shaping 2026 (markets, disasters, backlash) 08:00 Story 1 — Growth: who wins the next economy? 11:42 Kenya: electrifying two- & three-wheelers (money back in pockets) 14:46 Denmark + business choices (growth without emissions) 19:17 Story 2 — Affordability: cost of living, housing, energy prices 22:14 Brazil: resilient housing + participatory upgrading 27:09 Energy affordability: renewables, demand, AI + data centers 29:59 Story 3 — Jobs: job losses, job gains, job churn 33:29 India: skills + reskilling for EV supply chains 38:06 What to watch: skills, workforce planning, AI impacts 41:39 Conclusion: choices that determine who benefits *Watch the 11–12 minute deep dives:* ▶ Growth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-PzRwI6_eQ&t=11s ▶ Affordability: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjBOIYwkt2s&t=16s ▶ Jobs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko7Qo4FdNqk&t=11s *Prefer to read?* Companion article: https://go.wri.org/GMjKFq A correction: When we mention the death toll in Jamaica as a result of Hurricane Melissa, the correct number should be 45. About WRI: WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp Creative Commons licensed footage courtesy of WEGA WA GWITU TV/Youtube, The Traveler Ke/YouTube, Uncharted Safari/YouTube, Blessed YouTuber/YouTube Brazil photos courtesy of agenciaBrazil

At the beginning of 2025, we broke down the key challenges and potential solutions to the effort to increase climate finance: how to help countries make critical transitions to clean energy and build resilient infrastructure to deal with the impacts of climate change. How did we do? WRI’s CEO, Ani Dasgupta, looks back at our predictions and reviews what actually happened—and what still needs to happen. Decisions that leaders and voters make will continue to determine decide the fate of people, nature and the climate alike. Watch our Stories to Watch 2026 coverage to find out what’s in store for the year ahead. About WRI: WRI is a global research organization working to improve people’s lives, protect nature and halt climate change. WRI works to improve people’s lives, protect and restore nature and stabilize the climate. As an independent research organization, we leverage our data, expertise and global reach to influence policy and catalyze change across systems like food, land and water; energy; and cities. Our 2,000+ staff work on the ground in more than a dozen focus countries and with partners in over 50 nations. 🌍 Official website: https://www.wri.org 🔗LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldresources/ 🙏🏼 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldresources/ 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/worldresources.bsky.social 🐦 Twitter: https://x.com/WorldResources 🌎 Sign up for the WRI Digest: https://go.wri.org/4hwQ0Kp

Can re-skilling drive a clean, resilient economy? Find out TOMORROW with @worldresources at #StoriesToWatch. Register here👉 https://go.wri.org/stw-26 📅Jan 29 ⏰9AM EST 💻Online #GreenEconomy #Jobs #ClimateAction #Sustainability #Environment #Webinar

Will climate action make life more unaffordable?💰 Find out the truth at #StoriesToWatch 2026. Save your spot today👉 https://go.wri.org/stw-2026