WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE

WRI’s mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth’s environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.

We embrace the motto of “count it, change it, scale it” to create lasting impact. We start with rigorous research, test evidence-based approaches globally and in focus countries, and mobilize unique partnerships to affect change around the world. Some key elements of our strategic approach include:

We put three interconnected goals for people, nature and climate at the center of all we do. We work to meet people’s essential needs; protect and restore ecosystem health; and hold global warming to 1.5 degrees C and build climate-resilient communities.

We seek systemic change. We combat the main drivers of inequity, ecosystem degradation and climate change by transforming the way the world produces and uses food and energy and designs its cities — including by shifting the economics, finance and governance that underpin these three human systems.

We support transitions in key countries. In addition to global projects, we have a coordinated regional presence in Africa and Europe and dive deep in 12 focus countries: Brazil, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and the United States. We selected these nations because they house some of the largest populations of vulnerable people, hold much of the world’s remaining natural landscapes and produce significant greenhouse gas emissions.

We focus on impact. We measure our success not by internal benchmarks, but by whether we’ve markedly improved the world for people, nature and the climate. We root our work in evidence-based theories of change, clear targets and a process for assessing, adjusting and scaling progress.