EarthTrends: Environmental Information

Based on the World Resources series, EarthTrends is a free on-line resource that highlights the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world. The site offers the public a comprehensive collection of vital statistics, maps, and graphics for more than 200 countries.

Much of the environmental information on the internet is fragmented, buried, or only available at a price. EarthTrends gathers data from more than 40 of the world’s leading statistical agencies, along with WRI-generated maps and analyses, into a single repository for rapid searching and retrieving. EarthTrends supplements its content with detailed metadata that reports on research methodologies and the information’s reliability. All of these resources are made available to the public at no charge.

Site usage has dramatically increased in the last 12 months, with a record 296,000 visitor sessions in May, 2006. Roughly one-half of our users are students, teachers, professors, and researchers; the remainder work in international organizations, national governments, private industry, journalism, or non-governmental organizations. EarthTrends’ information has been cited in major news media, incorporated into school curricula, translated by international organizations, and utilized in briefings and strategy sessions at all levels of government.

EarthTrends celebrated its 5-year anniversary in July, 2006. WRI is proud to report that the site has remained a consistent, credible, and independent source of information for users in more than 190 countries and territories, demonstrating that information and communications technologies are enormously powerful tools for development.