President’s Letter

2025 was an exceptionally tough year for people, nature and climate. Countries across the world faced increasing pressures, from escalating conflicts to destructive climate impacts, trade wars and a sharp drop in overseas development assistance. Yet even in the face of such challenges, we saw evidence of on-the-ground progress happening in critical areas of impact.

The transition to a more efficient, resilient and cleaner economy was well-underway in 2025. In India, small automotive businesses were being equipped to train workers in EV manufacturing, opening doors for women in an industry long dominated by men. In Brazil and Colombia, growing numbers of farmers were earning sustainable livelihoods restoring land while growing açaí and other deforestation-free crops in the Amazon.

And at COP30, countries recognized their collective capacity to set an ambitious new target: tripling adaptation finance by 2035. These are not isolated wins. They are signs of systemic shifts, both locally and globally, gaining momentum.

Throughout this year of strain and uncertainty, WRI’s expertise and collaborative approach helped turn ambition into action. In a more divided landscape, we doubled down on partnerships, and our ability to orchestrate change within and across countries proved resilient and effective. That commitment enabled us to stay focused on tackling the world’s greatest challenges by improving people’s livelihoods, health and overall quality of life.

WRI celebrated major milestones in 2025, all with our partners.

Every day, thousands of children in Rio de Janeiro travel to school along streets crowded with fast-moving traffic, unsafe crossings and narrow or nonexistent sidewalks. WRI Brasil worked with the city to assess road safety risks and design practical improvements — from expanded sidewalks and safer crosswalks to traffic calming and connected cycling routes. This not only helps reduce air pollution and greenhouse gases, but makes daily journeys safer for children and their families.

The February launch of the WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition elevated our ambition to shape the future of energy systems. By the end of the year, our team had engaged hundreds of influential actors — banks, companies, utilities, governments and civil society — committed to overcoming barriers to energy transformation.

In September, we introduced Global Nature Watch, an AI-driven platform that transforms groundbreaking land monitoring data into intelligence to understand Earth’s landscapes and reveals unprecedented insights into land-based carbon.

And in November, WRI and partners convened ministers, mayors and governors to advance CHAMP, a coalition of 77 countries — representing 37% of global emissions — pledging to closing the gap between national strategies and local initiatives.

These developments are exciting, but they also represent only a fraction of our work. WRI remains laser-focused on helping key countries and regions build a global practice for implementing economic transitions that are good for people, nature and climate. Even as the funding landscape shifted, we adapted while staying grounded in rigorous evidence and strong partnerships. To sustain our impact, we have launched the Campaign for People, Nature and Climate to ensure our teams have financial resources at scale and critical enterprise funding to continue delivering results where they matter most.

WRI’s foundation is rigorous, independent research. We turn evidence into action by working alongside governments, businesses, communities, philanthropies, and others to transform the systems that can drastically improve people’s lives — now and for generations to come.

Thank you to our partners; WRI would not be where we are today without your generous support and unwavering dedication to building a better future for people, nature and climate. In a year that tested resolve, you helped demonstrate what is possible. I look forward to building on this progress in 2026.

Warm regards,

Ani Dasgupta

Ani Dasgupta
President & CEO
World Resources Institute