World Resources Institute
 | |
| Formation | 1982 |
|---|---|
| Founder | James Gustave Speth |
President & CEO | Andrew Steer |
Chairman of the Board | James A. Harmon |
| Mission | 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. |
| Website |
www |
The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a non-governmental global research organization which seeks to create equity and prosperity through sustainable natural resource management.[1] It was established in 1982 with funding from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation[2] under the leadership of James Gustave Speth.[3] WRI is an independent, non-partisan and nonprofit organization with a global staff of more than 450 scientists, economists, policy experts, business analysts, statistical analysts, mapmakers, and communicators developing and promoting policies with the intention of protecting the Earth and improving people’s lives.[1]
The efforts of the WRI are focused on six key areas—climate, clean energy, food, forests, water, and sustainable cities.[4] In 2014, Stephen M. Ross, an American real estate developer, gave the organization US$30.5 million to establish WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.[5]
Initiatives
Some of the major initiatives of WRI include:
- ACT 2015 is a relatively new project, designed as an international climate change agreement towards a low-carbon, climate resilient world.[6]
- EMBARQ, the sustainable urban mobility initiative of WRI, founded in 2002, collaborates locally and nationally to implement environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable urban mobility solutions to improve the quality of city life. EMBARQ is part of WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities.[7]
- Aqueduct, an initiative to measure, map and understand water risks around the globe.[8]
- The CAIT Climate Data Explorer is a suite of online data and visualizations tools that support the many dimensions of climate policy making.[9]
- The Environmental Democracy Index (EDI) tracks national progress in promoting environmental democracy in law and practice.[10]
- Global Forest Watch, an online forest monitoring and alert system.[11]
- WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities galvanizes action that will help cities grow more sustainably and improve quality of life in developing countries around the world.[12]
- World Resources Report, is WRI's flagship report.[13] For example, the latest edition of World Resources was titled "Creating a Sustainable Food Future" and addressed the question "How can the world adequately feed more than 9 billion people by 2050 in a manner that advances economic development and reduces pressure on the environment?". The report is produced together with the World Bank, United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Development Programme.
References
- 1 2 "About WRI". World Resources Institute. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
- ↑ Broder, John M. (March 14, 2012). "Climate Change Envoy to Lead Influential Institute". New York Times: Green Blog. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ↑ "James Gustave Speth". World Resources Institute. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ↑ "Mission & Goals". World Resources Institute. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ↑ Pogrebin, Robin. "Developer Gives $30 Million to Establish City Planning Center". New York Times: ArtsBeat Blog. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Aqueduct initiative official page
- ↑ CAIT Climate Data Explore official site
- ↑ Environmental Democracy Index official site
- ↑ Global Forest Watch official site
- ↑ WRI Cities official site
- ↑ World Resources Report official page
External links
- World Resources Institute global website
- WRI Brasil
- WRI China
- WRI India - an independent Indian welfare and charitable trust governed by an autonomous board of trustees
- WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities website