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.
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From Doing Better to Doing Enough: Anchoring Corporate Sustainability Targets in Science
by , , , and -Sustainability is an increasingly salient business issue as population growth and rising incomes put unprecedented strain on the ecosystems that are essential to human wellbeing. Most companies set environmental performance targets, but they often aim for what is feasible or competitive rather...
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Towards a More Equal City: Framing the Challenges and Opportunities
by , and -Cities are growing differently today than before. As much as 70 percent of people in emerging cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America is under-served. Furthermore, cities face challenges in four areas:
- Highest rates of urbanization are in sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast ...
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Climate Benefits, Tenure Costs
The Economic Case For Securing Indigenous Land Rights in the Amazon
by , , , , , and -A new report offers evidence that the modest investments needed to secure land rights for indigenous communities will generate billions in returns—economically, socially and environmentally—for local communities and the world’s changing climate. The report, Climate Benefits, Tenure Costs:...
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Can Transport Deliver GHG Reductions at Scale? An Analysis of Global Transport Initiatives
by , and -This paper examines seven global transport initiatives to reduce emissions. The initiatives are among fifteen presented as part of the Paris Process on Mobility and Climate and the Lima-Paris Action Agenda—both platforms for mobilizing non-state actors under the auspices of the UN Framework...
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Examining the Alignment between the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and Sustainable Development Goals
by , , , and -The year 2015 was a significant turning point for both the sustainable development and climate agendas with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Paris Agreement on climate change. National governments are now facing the challenge of implementing these two deeply...
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Domestic Processes for Joining the Paris Agreement
by and -The Paris Agreement will enter into force when at least 55 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) accounting for at least 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions deposit their instruments of ratification, acceptance, or approval with the UN Secretary-...
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Putting Accountability Into Practice In REDD+ Programs
by and -This paper presents practical ideas for REDD+ countries to consider as they implement activities that establish or strengthen accountability mechanisms. It presents a general framework for evaluating the institutions, standards, and oversight mechanisms that most countries are developing as part...
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Global Forest Watch Water Metadata Document
by , , , and -This document explains the underlying science and assumptions of natural infrastructure for water, describes data layers and information, documents data sources, and details the methodology used to generate watershed risk scores in Global Forest Watch Water. All data and maps are publicly...
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MRV 101: Understanding Measurement, Reporting, and Verification of Climate Change Mitigation
by , and -When it comes to climate action, effective measurement, reporting and verification (MRV) of emissions and emissions reductions is critical to help countries understand GHG sources and trends, design mitigation strategies, enhance credibility and take other policy actions.
The challenge...
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Universality, Integration, and Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development: Early SDG Implementation in Selected OECD Countries
by , , , , and -This paper synthesizes a number of case studies on early experience with implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It focuses on OECD countries and how they are applying the principles of universality – an agenda for all countries and all stakeholders – and integration – the...
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Water Stress Analysis and Recommendations for Water Resources Management in Ningxia
by , , , and -This report is aimed at helping governments and corporations gain a better understanding of water stress associated with local economic development and its impact on socio-economic development in Ningxia. It first analyzes water resources profiles, water resources management and current water...
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Making Women’s Voices Count In Community Decision-Making On Land Investments
by and -Research by WRI and other organizations has shown that while national laws governing commercial land-based investments often mandate community participation in decision-making processes, in practice community participation remains weak, particularly for women. Women’s specific vulnerabilities,...
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Indonesian Climate Policy and Data in CAIT Indonesia Climate Data Explorer (PINDAI)
by , , , and -Indonesia Climate Data Explorer, or Platform Interaktif untuk Data Iklim (PINDAI) is an open, bilingual (Bahasa Indonesia and English) online platform featuring Indonesian national- and provincial-level climate policy information and data, including historical and projected emissions,...
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PALM Risk Assessment Methodology: Prioritizing Areas, Landscapes, and Mills
by , and -The PALM Risk Tool (Prioritizing Areas, Landscapes and Mills) is a simple to use and automated way to assess the risk of deforestation associated with a palm oil mill and its supply base. This global tool prioritizes mills within a company’s supply chain to guide improvements toward zero-...
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Opportunities To Enhance Non-Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Gas Mitigation In China
by , , , , and -China is making significant progress in the fight against climate change, including a commitment to peak its carbon emissions around 2030. From ramping up its carbon intensity target to limiting coal use to implementing an emissions trading scheme, recent signs show that the country is already...
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Baseline Water Stress: China
by , and -This technical note describes the data and methodology used to calculate BWS-China.
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Global Forest Watch Climate: Summary of Methods and Data
The Global Forest Watch (GFW) Climate online platform catalyzes action on climate change by providing timely and credible answers to questions about the impacts of tropical deforestation on global climate change. Its wealth of data and analytical tools allow researchers, governments, donors,...
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Encroaching on Land and Livelihoods: How National Expropriation Laws Measure Up Against International Standards
by -Encroaching on Land and Livelihoods examines whether national expropriation laws in 30 countries across Asia and Africa follow the international standards established in Section 16 of the Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the...
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Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard
by , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and -The Food Loss and Waste Accounting and Reporting Standard (or FLW Standard) is a global standard that provides requirements and guidance for quantifying and reporting on the weight of food and/or associated inedible parts removed from the food supply chain—commonly referred to as “food...
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Staying on Track from Paris
Advancing the Key Elements of the Paris Agreement
by , , , , , , , and -The Paris Agreement is a hugely significant step towards reaching a zero-carbon and resilient world. But challenges remain if we are to limit temperature rise and increase capacity to adapt to climate impacts. Those challenges include: the alignment of financial flows towards zero-carbon and...
