Environmental stories to watch in 2009 talk about four stories: Will the economic stimulus be green?; What are the prospects of Congress passing climate legislation?; How will the U.S. work with China?; and Will see a new weapon for protecting global forests and stopping illegal logging?.

In this fifth in a series of annual briefings, WRI President Jonathan Lash briefed journalists on seven key environmental issues to watch in 2008: What is likely to happen on the international climate front?; what will Congress do about climate change in 2008?; does the Environmental Protection Agency have a surprise for us?; what will be the direction of biofuels?; how is China going to react with regard to climate change over the coming year?; what new emerging environmental technologies can we expect?; and could weather play a role in the upcoming U.S. elections?