World Resources Institute - History

History

  • 1982. James Gustave (Gus) Speth launches WRI with an investment from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
  • 1984. WRI convenes the Global Possible Conference of 75 experts and leaders in science, government, industry, agriculture, energy, and environmental studies from 20 countries to develop a set of practical proposals to address pressing global environmental and development issues.
  • 1985. WRI helps organize the first international meeting in Villach, Austria, on the build up of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
  • 1986. Recognizing a serious gap in information about the condition of the world's natural resources, WRI launches World Resources, a biennial global assessment of environmental conditions and trends that for the first time provides country by country environmental data.
  • 1988. The North American office of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED-NA) merges with WRI to become the Center for International Development and Environment and the largest program within the Institute.
  • 1990. The United Nations Development Programme commissions a feasibility study by WRI which lays the foundation for creation of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
  • 1992. WRI and its partners launch the Global Biodiversity Strategy which played a major role in the development of the Convention on Biological Diversity, signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
  • 1993. Jonathan Lash becomes WRI's new President after Gus Speth leaves WRI to become Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.
  • 1993. WRI co-chairs the President's Council on Sustainable Development, a group of industry, environmental and labor CEOs joined by five cabinet secretaries.
  • 1996. The Management Institute for Environment and Business (MEB) merges with WRI.
  • 1999. WRI moves to a greener office space' and becomes the first NGO to commit to reducing its own carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to net zero.
  • 2000. WRI launches Global Forest Watch, the first independent on-line network for monitoring forests.
  • 2000. WRI convenes a core team of civil society organizations from around the world to establish The Access Initiative (TAI). TAI is the only global movement committed to improving citizen access to information, participation, and justice in decisions that affect the environment.
  • 2001. WRI launches EarthTrends, an online collection of data and information regarding the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world.
  • 2001. WRI and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) convene 50+ companies to establish the GHG Protocol, an international standard for measuring and reporting emissions of greenhouse gases.
  • 2003. WRI's Green Power Market Development Group, a partnership of Fortune 500 companies dedicated to building corporate markets for renewable energy, completes the larges commercial and industrial purchases of renewable energy in U.S. history.
  • 2004. WRI convenes the first major conference aimed at addressing ways in which business can reduce global poverty by meeting the needs of the world's poorest people at the "base of the economic pyramid." WRI continues the dialogue online through NextBillion.net.
  • 2005. Mexico City launches its first Bus Rapid Transit Corridor. The bus system is the centerpiece of a unique partnership between Mexico City and EMBARQ: The WRI Center for Sustainable Transport.
  • 2006. WRI's New Ventures project engages leading sustainable investment funds to increase the flow of capital to small and medium size business in emerging economies, resulting in the transfer of more than $19 million to 140 companies.
  • 2007. The United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) calls on the federal government to quickly enact strong national legislation that requires significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Coalition members include WRI, NRDC, Environmental Defense, Pew Center, Alcoa, BP America, Caterpillar, Duke Energy, DuPont, FPL Group, GE, Lehman Brothers, PG&E, and PNM Resources.
  • 2008. WRI began plans for an eco-friendly Green Roof for their building in downtown Washington D.C.
  • 2010. ""WRI announces"" that Jonathan Lash resigned as President to become President of Hampshire College. Manish Bapna appointed Acting President.
  • 2011 (February). WRI and a network of more than 25 partners launches Reefs at Risk Revisited, a comprehensive, global analysis of the status and threats to coral reefs.
  • 2011 (October). New Greenhouse Gas Protocol tools are launched - the Corporate Value Chain (Scope 3) and Product Life Cycle Standards. The new standards were developed by WRI and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
  • 2012 (March). WRI Board names World Bank Economist and Special Envoy for Climate Change Andrew Steer as 3rd President of the Institute.

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