Publications
WRI is committed to producing high-quality research, including reports, issue briefs, working papers, and technical notes. Our publications are subject to peer review, and are held to traditional "academic" standards of excellence, such as objectivity and rigor. We also ensure that all of our publications are timely, fit for audience, and rooted in a strategic plan for achieving positive change in the world. If you notice an error in one of our publications or have concerns about the quality of our research, please contact the authors and copy Vice President for Science and Research Janet Ranganathan.
All of our publications are available to download.
The World Resources Report is the flagship publication of World Resources Institute. The inaugural edition, An Assessment of the Resource Base that Supports the Global Economy, was published in 1986. Subsequent editions have been published at regular intervals and have provided in-depth analyses of issues ranging from human health and the environment to climate change, ecosystem services and environmental governance. Every World Resources Report builds on a strong evidence base to develop fresh insights that can help decision-makers evaluate and implement the most effective solutions.
Creating a Sustainable Food Future
Sustainably feeding nearly 10 billion people by 2050 is possible – but it will require significant innovation and investment by the public and private sector.
Towards a More Equal City
The World Resources Report: Towards a More Equal City focuses on helping cities in rapidly urbanizing regions alter their development trajectories as demand for infrastructure and services grow.
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A Global Database of Power Plants
by , , , , , and -The Global Power Plant Database is a comprehensive, open source database of power plants around the world. It centralizes power plant data to make it easier to navigate, compare and draw insights for one’s own analysis. Each power plant is geolocated and entries contain information on plant...
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Reducing Risk, Addressing Climate Change Through Internal Carbon Pricing: A Primer for Indian Business
by and -A growing number of businesses around the world are turning to internal carbon pricing as a tool to manage climate-related risks and transition to a low-carbon economy. There are early signs that internal carbon pricing is making inroads into progressive Indian businesses as well. But the early...
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A Fair Share for Women: Toward More Equitable Land Compensation and Resettlement in Tanzania and Mozambique
by and -Tanzania and Mozambique — countries of vast mountain ranges and open stretches of plateaus — now face a growing land problem. As soil degradation, climate change and population growth place enormous strains on the natural resources that sustain millions of people, multinational companies are...
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Mapping Public Water Management by Harmonizing and Sharing Corporate Water Risk Information
by , , and -In response to water crises across the globe, data on biophysical conditions associated with water risk have increasingly been collected and understood. However, a complete assessment of water risk also requires an understanding of public water management. Currently there is a lack of global...
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A Guide to Selecting Ecosystem Service Models for Decision-Making: Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa
by and -Over 80 modeling tools for mapping ecosystem services have been developed to help decision-makers better understand their local systems. These often consist of a set of models, each representing a particular ecosystem service. However, the usefulness of these modeling tools to support decision-...
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The Business of Planting Trees: A Growing Investment Opportunity
by , , , and -In recent years, hundreds of companies have entered the restoration industry. They represent a wide range of business models that deliver financial returns for investors while restoring forests and agricultural lands. This report profiles 14 businesses that are part of an emerging restoration...
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Parched Power: Water Demands, Risks, and Opportunities for India’s Power Sector
by , and -This paper aims to help decision-makers understand the magnitude of water issues for the thermal power sector in India with quantitative evidence. There is a significant data gap in power plant water use in India. The authors used data science techniques and innovative methodologies and...
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International Case Studies on Public Communication and Consultation Strategies for Low Emission Zones and Congestion Charging Schemes
by , , , and -The working paper will be part of the “Low Emission Zone/Congestion Charge (LEZ/CC) Public Communication Strategies” series of papers to offer a comprehensive package of public communication strategies to safeguard successful implementation. It is the first paper in the series, and studies 10...
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Sustainable and Safe: A Vision and Guidance for Zero Road Deaths
by , , , , , , , , and -More than 1.25 million people are killed on roads each year, the majority in developing countries, making traffic fatalities the tenth leading cause of death worldwide. Children, elderly and poor people are particularly vulnerable. Are drivers and pedestrians always to blame? Research from WRI...
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A Methodology to Estimate Water Demand for Thermal Power Plants in Data-Scarce Regions Using Satellite Images
by , and -Thermal power generation is thirsty, but disclosure of power plant water usage is not required in many countries. WRI has created a new methodology to calculate water usage for thermal power plants, even those in data-scarce regions. Plant cooling and fuel type, identified through satellite data...
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Roots of Prosperity: The Economics and Finance of Restoring Land
by , , , , , , , and -This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the benefits and costs of restoring forests and landscapes in countries around the world, demonstrating how smart policies and innovative financing can help governments meet their restoration targets. The authors find that finance, both public and...
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Pathways for Meeting India’s Climate Goals
by , , , , , , , , and -Over the past decade, India has taken several steps to address climate change while supporting long-term development objectives. This paper analyzes the climate change mitigation goals that have been set and the key policies that have been and are being implemented. The objective is threefold:...
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Places to Watch: Identifying High-Priority Forest Disturbance from Near–Real Time Satellite Data
by , , and -Places to Watch is a new workflow to automatically identify concerning areas of recent deforestation using satellite-based forest change information. The method uses the density of deforestation alerts and the presence of intact and protected forests to automatically select the Places...
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Connected Urban Growth: Public-Private Collaborations for Transforming Urban Mobility
by , , , , , , and -New mobility services could improve the lives of all urban inhabitants. This first ever global survey finds that applying three types of new mobility services – electric, on-demand minibuses, subsidized shared rides, and trip-planning and ticketing apps – can make public transport more...
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Can Renewable Energy Jobs Help Reduce Poverty in India?
by , , and -India launched a massive renewable energy push in 2014 — a move that could bring electricity and jobs to poor, rural communities across the country. The government set ambitious...
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Bus Rapid Transit in China: A Comparison of Design Features with International Systems
by , , , , , and -As the recent white paper on China’s transport for the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016–2020) states, China must set higher standards for the transport development to “realize the Chinese Dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” (State Council Information Office 2016). In this...
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Enhancing NDCs by 2020: Achieving the Goals of the Paris Agreement
by , , and -Much has changed since countries first developed their NDCs. All Parties have the opportunity to communicate new or updated NDCs by 2020, informed by the outcomes of a facilitative dialogue in 2018, and incorporating advances in renewable energy, technology and policy developments in key sectors...
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Designing the Enhanced Transparency Framework, Part 2: Review Under the Paris Agreement
by , , , , and -The Project for Advancing Climate Transparency (PACT) consortium supports the design and development of robust and effective transparency and accountability rules and processes for the Paris Agreement on climate change. This working paper examines the technical expert review and facilitative,...
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Designing the Enhanced Transparency Framework Part 1: Reporting under the Paris Agreement
by , , , and -The Project for Advancing Climate Transparency (PACT) consortium works to support the design and development of robust and effective transparency and accountability rules and processes for the Paris Agreement on climate change. This working paper examines the five streams of information to be...
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Turning Points: Trends in Countries’ Reaching Peak Greenhouse Gas Emissions over Time
by and -This paper assesses each of the world’s countries in terms of whether their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have peaked, when they have peaked, and whether they have a commitment that implies an emissions peak in the future. The paper finds that an encouraging trend is emerging: the number of...
