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This guide details the methodology and data sources used by the World Resources Institute (WRI) to create the Atlas of Forest Landscape Restoration Opportunity. The atlas identifies global areas of forest loss and evaluates the feasibility of restoration by contrasting potential forest coverage with current coverage and human pressure.

This briefing examines the role of accountability tools in land-use planning and permitting through case studies in Brazil and Indonesia to provide recommendations for the design of national REDD+ programs.

The World Resources Institute and collaborators developed a geospatial dataset providing benchmark land use change (LUC) and land occupation (LO) emission factors for 42 major crops for the period 2020–24. The dataset aims to harmonize corporate GHG reporting by providing standardized, jurisdiction-level metrics. 2024 national averages reveal high variability in emissions per tonne of crop, such as soy in Brazil (1.67 tCO₂e) versus the US (0.40 tCO₂e), and highlight that subnational data is necessary to identify emission hotspots.

The report argues that dedicated land use for bioenergy is unsustainable and unrealistic because it competes directly with food production, animal feed, and carbon storage. It recommends phasing out crop-based biofuels and those requiring dedicated land, suggesting that solar photovoltaics offer a far more land-efficient alternative for energy generation.

This research paper by the World Resources Institute analyzes global trends in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions peaking, tracking the number of countries that have peaked or committed to peaking between 1990 and 2030.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) has released a guidebook detailing a standardized MRV approach for local land restoration. By combining local expertise with high-resolution satellite imagery and the DINOv3 AI model, the framework can reduce verification costs by up to 98%. Tested across 200+ projects in Africa and adapted for use in India and Brazil, the system uses nine indicator categories to provide the data transparency needed to unlock outcome-based finance for small and medium-sized restoration organizations.

This World Resources Institute working paper provides guidance for Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on designing national mitigation commitments for the post-2020 period. The document focuses on maximizing the 'measurability' of emissions reductions to enhance transparency, accountability, and the tracking of global progress toward limiting warming to 2°C.

The '2050 is Now' consortium issued a joint communiqué in October 2025 urging the global community and the COP30 presidency to prioritize Long-term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS). The document argues that LT-LEDS are essential for aligning short-term Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with the 1.5°C goal of the Paris Agreement and for catalyzing the finance and policy action needed for a just transition to net-zero emissions.

This document is the 2004 IRS Form 990 tax return for the World Resources Institute (WRI), an environmental think tank. It details the organization's financial status, including total revenue of $18,646,375 and total expenses of $20,108,387 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. The return outlines WRI's program service accomplishments across eight thematic areas, its governance structure, and its asset holdings, including $39,503,429 in securities.

This working paper, produced by the Agreement on Climate Transformation 2015 (ACT 2015) consortium, proposes a framework for the 2015 Paris Agreement. It suggests a structure based on two long-term goals, three continuous improvement cycles (mitigation, adaptation, and support), and a foundation of transparency and accountability to drive a global transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.

This case study by the World Resources Institute examines how Chile can integrate the non-carbon biophysical effects of forests—such as albedo, evapotranspiration, surface roughness, and aerosols—into its national climate policies. The document argues that while Chile has ambitious climate goals, its current frameworks primarily focus on carbon, overlooking the significant local cooling and rainfall regulation provided by forests. It suggests specific improvements for Chile's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), Long-Term Climate Strategy, and REDD+ programs to better account for these biophysical benefits.

This case study by the World Resources Institute examines how Chile can integrate the non-carbon biophysical effects of forests into its national climate policies. It argues that while carbon sequestration is the primary focus of climate strategies, biophysical processes—such as albedo, evapotranspiration, surface roughness, and aerosols—significantly influence local and global temperatures and precipitation. The document analyzes Chile's forest loss, the resulting local temperature increases, and provides specific recommendations for enhancing the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the Long-Term Climate Strategy, and REDD+ frameworks to account for these effects.

This report by the World Resources Institute (WRI) examines how Chile can integrate the non-carbon biophysical effects of forests into its national climate policies. It argues that forests influence climate stability through processes like albedo, evapotranspiration, surface roughness, and aerosols, which can significantly impact local and regional temperatures and rainfall beyond the global carbon cycle. Using Chile as a case study, the document identifies opportunities to enhance the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), long-term climate strategies, REDD+ frameworks, and subnational development plans to better account for these biophysical cooling effects and mitigate the warming caused by deforestation.

This fact sheet from the World Resources Institute describes Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) as a middle-ground strategy for restoring degraded land at scale, contrasting it with waiting for native vegetation to grow or planting new trees.

This briefing summarizes the third session of a Global Dialogue on responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis, focusing on energy transitions and industry bailouts. The document outlines strategies to ensure economic recovery is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement, emphasizing the need to prioritize green technologies over fossil fuels.

This executive summary outlines a global dialogue on ensuring that the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. It argues that the pandemic serves as a warning for the climate and biodiversity crises and advocates for a 'green and resilient recovery' that prioritizes people, nature-based solutions, and the phase-out of high-carbon industries.

This report by the World Resources Institute argues that current carbon markets systematically undervalue tropical forests by focusing exclusively on greenhouse gas emissions and ignoring critical non-carbon biophysical effects that contribute to global, regional, and local climate stabilization.

This document is the IRS Form 990 return for the World Resources Institute (WRI) for the tax year beginning October 1, 2006, and ending September 30, 2007. It details the organization's financial status, including total revenue of $27,179,487 and total expenses of $23,176,502, as well as its program service accomplishments across seven thematic areas focused on environmental protection and sustainable development.

This document is the 2011 IRS Form 990 tax return for the World Resources Institute (WRI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It details the organization's financial activities, governance, and program accomplishments for the tax year ending September 30, 2012.

This document is the consolidated financial statements and independent audit report for the World Resources Institute (WRI) and its subsidiaries for the fiscal years ending September 30, 2016, and 2015. It details the organization's financial position, activities, cash flows, and the legal structure of its global entities, including offices in India, China, and Europe.