
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
Improving quality of life, health and opportunity in cities through sustainable and safe transport and urban design.
Part of CitiesUrban Development
Creating livable neighborhoods that build resilience, improve health, and equitably connect people and opportunities.
Part of CitiesUrban Efficiency & Climate
Helping cities adopt an integrated approach to improve the built environment, clean the air and tackle climate change.
Part of Cities
All Projects
Zero Emission & Resilient Buildings (ZERB) Accelerator
Visit ProjectEnabling collaboration between national and subnational governments to accelerate decarbonization and resilience of the buildings and construction sector.
Part of CitiesPartnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions: Coastal Cities Indonesia
Visit ProjectSupporting Indonesia’s transition to sustainable, inclusive, low-carbon transportation through pilot projects, policy development and collaborative platforms.
Part of CitiesUrban Heat Solutions Accelerator
Visit ProjectHelping cities secure finance for extreme heat adaptation projects.
Part of CitiesUrban Analytics & Data Innovation
Visit ProjectEquipping decision-makers and researchers with datasets, analysis and guidance for more resilient cities.
Part of CitiesBloomberg Cities Idea Exchange
Visit ProjectAccelerating the spread of successful road safety solutions among cities around the world.
Part of CitiesGreen-Gray Infrastructure Accelerator
Visit ProjectOffering technical assistance to 11 cities in sub-Saharan Africa to increase nature-based solutions and green-gray infrastructure to build climate resilience, fill infrastructure gaps, and deliver green jobs and public health benefits.
Part of CitiesAccess to Climate Finance for Transport
Visit ProjectConnecting research and practice to finance low-carbon transport in low- and middle-income countries.
Part of CitiesElectrifying Kenya’s Two- and Three-Wheelers
Visit ProjectAccelerating the transition towards electric mobility while creating green jobs and industrial growth.
Part of CitiesCities for Smart Surfaces
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectInforming policy and action for urban heat mitigation by mapping urban surfaces and how they affect temperatures.
Part of CitiesUrban Heat & 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 Cities
