Ensuring a Global Transition to Clean, Reliable and Affordable Energy for Everyone
WRI works around the world to change how energy is produced and delivered to improve lives and safeguard the environment.
Our Challenge
Energy and modern life are closely intertwined; energy powers homes, hospitals, schools and more. When people have access to clean, affordable and reliable energy, they have greater opportunities for healthy and prosperous lives.
But the world’s current energy system needs improvement. More than 745 million people globally still lack access to electricity — if all of these people formed a country, it would be the third largest in the world. At the same time, energy is responsible for 73% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
people worldwide lacked access to electricity in 2023
people lacked access to clean cooking fuels in 2022
of global emissions come from energy consumption
USD per year needed in clean energy investments
Our Approach
A worldwide energy transition is happening. People everywhere seek energy that’s affordable and reliable with less pollution.
At WRI, we focus on ensuring that this energy transition happens quickly and with a responsible approach for people, nature and climate. We support the global commitment to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030 and to transition away from fossil fuels.
We focus on:
1. Expanding Clean Energy Supply
WRI’s work will increase clean energy supply to help deliver the 11 terawatts of renewable power needed by 2030. This means new clean energy projects as well as investments in a climate-resilient grid and distributed off-grid energy infrastructure.
2. Decarbonizing Energy Consumption
The solution to the energy crisis isn’t just more energy — it’s changing the type of energy we use and shifting away from fossil fuel, using energy more productively and reducing energy costs by boosting efficiency. WRI expands markets for clean, efficient technologies and energy service solutions in industry, transportation and buildings.
3. Energy Access and Equitable Development
WRI’s energy transition efforts also help bring into focus communities and institutions that remain reliant on dirty, polluting fuel sources. WRI’s tools and partnerships improve access to energy for unserved and underserved communities through local planning, health care electrification and renewable energy deployment in agriculture. We bring local community voices into decision-making and champion opportunities for people who can benefit from clean energy jobs.
4. Energy Minerals and Circularity
The energy transition will require scaling up minerals used in batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and grids, while protecting delicate ecosystems and local communities from the negative impacts of mining. WRI will focus on system changes needed to responsibly close the gap between projected minerals demand and current supply. This includes accelerating circularity practices such as reuse and recycle, as well as helping countries transition to responsible mineral production.
WRI's energy work addresses a number of topics including clean energy supply, decarbonized energy consumption, buildings, energy access and equitable development, and energy minerals and circularity. Explore all projects in depth.
Energy Access Explorer
An open-source data platform that provides mapping and tools to support inclusive, locally led approaches to achieving energy access for all people.
Part of EnergyAfrican Energy Dialogues: Energising the Future Together
African Energy Dialogues is a platform for evidence-based energy discourse across the African continent. It convenes public and private sector stakeholders, research institutions, civil society and development partners to support African-led design and implementation of African countries' energy pathways.
Part of EnergyClimate Solutions Partnership
A five-year philanthropic collaboration to scale climate solutions by combining HSBC’s financial expertise with the knowledge and experience of WRI, WWF and a network of local partners
Part of BusinessClean Energy for Large Buyers
Working with large energy buyers to implement renewable energy alternatives.
Part of Energy
Featured Energy Resources
Distributed Solar Keeps Hospital Operational During Kenya’s Longest Power Blackout
Insights October 31, 2023Exploring Technologies for the Clean Energy Transition of Tamil Nadu
Working Paper September 20, 2023A Path Across the Rift: Informing African Energy Transitions by Unearthing Critical Questions and Data Needs
Issue Brief September 5, 2023