The problem seems simple: More people living in dense, low-lying cities means more people are vulnerable to flooding, storm surge, and sea-level rise. But the solution is not, writes Linda Shi in last month’s most-read story. Efforts to build resilience to the effects of climate change too often exacerbate inequalities, leaving the poorest and most marginalized just as bad off, if not worse, as before.

The spread of the Zika virus in Latin America – and government reactions to it – also highlights the effect poverty can have on people’s vulnerability. Women lacking access to basic reproductive health care are being asked to refrain from getting pregnant for two years in El Salvador. Jennifer Dabbs Sciubba explores the potential demographic implications of the virus and prospects of such a ban being successful (hint: they’re not good).

1. Adapting to Climate Change in Cities May Require a Major Rethink, Linda Shi

2. Water and Security Hotspots to Watch in 2016 [Infographic], Gracie Cook

3. Zika Virus Prompts El Salvador and Others to Discourage Pregnancy – What Are the Potential Consequences?, Jennifer Dabbs Sciubba

4. What’s Behind West and Central Africa’s Youthful Demographics? High Desired Family Size, Elizabeth Leahy Madsen

5. Climate Change, Disasters, and Security: Unconventional Approaches to Building Stability, Gracie Cook

6. The Commander in Chief, Congress, and Climate Security: Who Has the Authority?, Mark P. Nevitt

7. Breaking Out of the Dome: Can Energy Efficiency Help Chinese Cities Conquer Air Pollution?, Qinnan Zhou

8. India’s Thirst for Palm Oil, New South-South Trade Patterns Cast Doubt on Sustainability Initiatives, Philip Schleifer

9. How Successful Were the Millennium Development Goals? A Final Report, Josh Feng

10. Will China’s New Air Law Solve its Pollution Crisis?, Cai Jingjing and Joyce Tang