WRI Ross Center’s goal is to help cities transform their physical infrastructure, institutions and mindsets.
Our unique Deep Dive Cities approach of multi-year, multi-sector engagement with places like Bengaluru, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro allows us to build coalitions, work across political administrations and implement strategic projects that catalyze urban transformation.
From project inception to financing, implementation and lessons learned, we help cities not only create change but sustain it.
Cities are complex, living systems; single-sector solutions do not always address the full scope of urban problems. We focus on an integrated approach across three areas that form the backbone of cities: land use and economic development, mobility, and energy and resource efficiency. We have found solutions that cut across multiple sectors are most effective, with the greatest potential to trigger systemic, lasting change.
WRI Ross Center’s value is that we can bring these road-tested and data-proven solutions to scale, from the local to the global level. Our unique strategy allows us to effect change from neighborhood projects to municipalities, national legislation and global coalitions.
Building sustainable solutions for the world’s 5,000+ largest and fastest-growing cities requires collaboration on a global scale. We are committed to partnerships as a central tenet to how we reach more people and therefore actively seek them out to help accomplish strategic goals. By engaging a range of stakeholders, we elevate our impact to more cities and support global efforts to build sustainable solutions for people and the planet.
WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities works on urban mobility, urban development, and urban efficiency & climate. Explore all projects in depth.
Urban Mobility
Visit ProjectImproving quality of life, health and opportunity in cities through sustainable and safe transport and urban design.
Part of CitiesUrban Development
Visit ProjectCreating livable neighborhoods that build resilience, improve health, and equitably connect people and opportunities.
Part of CitiesUrban Efficiency & Climate
Visit ProjectHelping cities adopt an integrated approach to improve the built environment, clean the air and tackle climate change.
Part of Cities
All Projects
Urban Heat and Passive Cooling
Visit ProjectProviding policymakers and urban planners with the data, tools and insights to cool down cities
Part of CitiesHeat and Health in Brazilian Cities
Visit ProjectA multi-sector research and community engagement collaboration addressing the health impacts of extreme heat in Belo Horizonte and Campinas.
Part of CitiesCoalition for High Ambition Multilevel Partnerships (CHAMP)
Visit ProjectHelping countries deliver more ambitious climate action by supporting enhanced collaboration with subnational governments through multilevel partnerships
Part of CitiesAll in for a Net Zero Built Environment
Visit ProjectMainstreaming net zero carbon and resilient buildings into national and local policies
Part of CitiesScaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectHelping urban communities develop and implement gender-responsive nature-based solutions to address water risks
Part of CitiesREHOUSE (Resilient, Equitable Housing, Opportunities and Urban Services)
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectAccelerating progress towards more equitable and climate-smart cities through resilient and affordable housing and basic services in informal settlements.
Part of CitiesSubnational Climate Action Leaders Exchange (SCALE)
Visit ProjectA platform to accelerate progress on subnational climate action through enhancing multi-level collaboration and mobilizing resources.
Part of CitiesIntegrated Climate Action
Visit ProjectAccelerating urban climate action through collaborative and integrated planning and implementation
Part of CitiesMulti-Level Governance Atlas
Visit ProjectEnhancing climate action though examples of multi-level partnerships from around the world.
Part of CitiesTransforming Transportation
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectAn annual convening of high-level decision-makers and cutting-edge thinkers exploring sustainable, equitable transportation solutions for the developing world.
Part of CitiesIntegrated Transport
Visit ProjectFostering multi-modal transport that connects people to opportunity and reduces emissions.
Part of CitiesData for Cool Cities
Visit ProjectFilling data gaps, enabling insights and scaling infrastructure investment to reduce extreme heat in cities.
Part of Cities