Exploring WRI Ross Center’s Experience in Mexico City: A Deep City-Level Engagement Approach

The WRI Ross Center's long-term engagement in Mexico City, beginning in 2002, demonstrates that combining technical expertise with a deep understanding of the local political landscape can drive transformative urban change. A primary example is the 2006 implementation of the Metrobús Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The organization identifies three critical success factors for such urban transformation: trust with city officials, knowledge of the political and institutional ecosystem, and flexible funding and institutional structures. Additionally, collaboration through global initiatives like the Building Efficiency Accelerator has enabled WRI to expand its technical expertise into new sectors such as building efficiency.

• The successful 2006 implementation of the Metrobús Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Mexico City was driven by the combination of WRI Mexico's technical expertise and its understanding of the local political landscape, contributing to transformative change in the city's transportation network.
• WRI Ross Center has expanded its technical capabilities into sectors like building efficiency by utilizing global projects, such as the Building Efficiency Accelerator, which require deep collaboration between international offices, programs, centers, and other institutions.
• Three primary factors are identified as essential for sparking transformative change in Mexico City's transportation sector and other areas: maintaining trust with city officials, possessing a deep understanding of the city's political and institutional ecosystem, and having flexible institutional structures and funding to support innovation.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Exploring WRI Ross Center’s Experience in Mexico City: A Deep City-Level Engagement Approach. https://www.wri.org/research/exploring-wri-ross-centers-experience-mexico-city-deep-city-level-engagement-approach

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Exploring WRI Ross Center’s Experience in Mexico City: A Deep City-Level Engagement Approach. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/exploring-wri-ross-centers-experience-mexico-city-deep-city-level-engagement-approach.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Exploring WRI Ross Center’s Experience in Mexico City: A Deep City-Level Engagement Approach |url=https://www.wri.org/research/exploring-wri-ross-centers-experience-mexico-city-deep-city-level-engagement-approach |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendexploring, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Exploring WRI Ross Center’s Experience in Mexico City: A Deep City-Level Engagement Approach}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/exploring-wri-ross-centers-experience-mexico-city-deep-city-level-engagement-approach}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }