World Resources Institute

WASHINGTON, D.C.

WRI Summary

The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a policy research center created in late 1982 to help governments, international organizations, and private businesses address a fundamental question: How can societies meet basic human needs and nurture economic growth without undermining the natural resources and environmental integrity on which life, economic vitality, and international security depend?

Two dominant concerns influence WRI's choice of projects and other activities:

The destructive effects of poor resource management on economic development and the alleviation of poverty in developing countries; and
The new generation of globally important environmental and resource problems that threaten the economic and environmental interests of the United States and other industrial countries and that have not been addressed with authority in their laws.

The Institute's current areas of policy research include forests, biological diversity, sustainable agriculture, energy, climate change, atmospheric pollution, economic incentives for sustainable development, and resource and environmental information.

WRI's research is aimed at providing accurate information about global resources and population, identifying emerging issues, and developing politically and economically workable proposals.

In developing countries, WRI provides field services and technical program support for governments and nongovernmental organizations trying to manage natural resources sustainably.

WRI's work is carried out by an interdisciplinary staff of scientists and experts augmented by a network of formal advisors, collaborators, and cooperating institutions in 50 countries.

WRI is funded by private foundations, United Nations and governmental agencies, corporations, and concerned individuals.

WRI Locations

World Resource Institute
1709 New York Ave.
Washington, DC 20006
USA

Tel: 1-202-638-6300
Fax: 1-202-638-0036

e-mail: info@wri.org

WRI Datasets and Resources

WRI's books and reports present information about global resources and environmental conditions, analyses of emerging issues, and creative yet workable policy responses. To deepen public understanding, the institute also undertakes briefings, seminars, and conferences and offers material for use in print and broadcast media.

WRI's World Resources report is a definitive reference on the global environment with the latest information on essential economic, population, and natural resource conditions and trends for nearly every country in the world.

Datasets from other organizations containing environmental, earth science, and global change information can be located through CIESIN's Gateway.

Related Organizations

Information about other organizations may be located through CIESIN's Organizational Guides.

Sources

World Resources Institute. 1992. World resources 1992-1993. New York: Oxford University Press.