WRI is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people’s lives.

Today’s environmental challenges are complex and global in nature. They call for visionary and ambitious action grounded in sound science and objective analysis–the kind of action that has distinguished WRI for 25 years.
Our 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 organize our work around four key programmatic goals:

• People & Ecosystems. Reverse rapid degradation of ecosystems and assure their capacity to provide humans with needed goods and services.
• Governance. Empower people and support institutions to foster environmentally sound and socially equitable decision-making.
• Climate Protection. Protect the global climate system from further harm due to emissions of greenhouse gases and help humanity and the natural world adapt to unavoidable climate change.
• Markets & Enterprise. Harness markets and enterprise to expand economic opportunity and protect the environment.

A fifth goal—Institutional excellence—supports and enhances WRI’s ability to achieve results.