Our Approach

WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities builds upon WRI’s successful track record in urban activities, introducing game-changing solutions that create more prosperous, livable cities. Our approach translates rigorous research into tangible practice at the scale and pace cities in the developing world need, leveraging a global network of trusted experts in urban economics, engineering, planning, finance, and policy.

We work closely with leading financial, business, and city institutions—like the World Bank and regional development banks, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), C40, ICLEI, and UN-HABITAT—to expand our influence and expedite the shift to sustainable cities. Through these partnerships, we provide objective information and practical proposals for policy and institutional change. WRI partnered with the WBCSD to introduce the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the gold standard for greenhouse gas accounting; with General Electric, Goldman Sachs, and the Aqueduct Alliance on Aqueduct, an interactive tool to evaluate water risks; and with the world’s largest multilateral development banks to secure a $175 billion, 10-year commitment to investing in sustainable transport.

WRI’s unique approach positions us to fill the gap between knowledge and practice, creating tangible impact on the ground. We monitor this impact and tap into our network of partners to scale up our successful pilot projects globally. Through a mix of deep engagement, targeted influence, and dissemination of tools and best practices, we turn ideas into action to advance the sustainability of cities worldwide.