WRI Ross Center’s goal is to help cities transform their physical infrastructure, institutions and mindsets.
Our unique Deep Dive Cities approach of multi-year, multi-sector engagement with places like Bengaluru, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro allows us to build coalitions, work across political administrations and implement strategic projects that catalyze urban transformation.
From project inception to financing, implementation and lessons learned, we help cities not only create change but sustain it.
Cities are complex, living systems; single-sector solutions do not always address the full scope of urban problems. We focus on an integrated approach across three areas that form the backbone of cities: land use and economic development, mobility, and energy and resource efficiency. We have found solutions that cut across multiple sectors are most effective, with the greatest potential to trigger systemic, lasting change.
WRI Ross Center’s value is that we can bring these road-tested and data-proven solutions to scale, from the local to the global level. Our unique strategy allows us to effect change from neighborhood projects to municipalities, national legislation and global coalitions.
Building sustainable solutions for the world’s 5,000+ largest and fastest-growing cities requires collaboration on a global scale. We are committed to partnerships as a central tenet to how we reach more people and therefore actively seek them out to help accomplish strategic goals. By engaging a range of stakeholders, we elevate our impact to more cities and support global efforts to build sustainable solutions for people and the planet.
Center focuses on a number of specific initiatives, including projects on Air Quality, Energy Access, Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, Climate Governance, Environmental Rights, and Gender. Explore all projects in depth.
Urban Mobility
Visit ProjectImproving quality of life, health and opportunity in cities through sustainable and safe transport and urban design.
Part of CitiesUrban Development
Visit ProjectDesigning and influencing urban spaces that build resilience, improve health, and equitably connect people and opportunities.
Part of CitiesUrban Efficiency & Climate
Visit ProjectHelping cities adopt an integrated approach to improve the built environment, clean the air and tackle climate change.
Part of Cities
All Projects
REHOUSE (Resilient, Equitable Housing, Opportunities and Urban Services)
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectAccelerating progress towards more equitable and climate-smart cities through resilient and affordable housing and basic services in informal settlements.
Part of CitiesSubnational Climate Action Leaders Exchange (SCALE)
Visit ProjectA platform to accelerate progress on subnational climate action through enhancing multi-level collaboration and mobilizing resources.
Part of CitiesIntegrated Climate Action
Visit ProjectAccelerating urban climate action through collaborative and integrated planning and implementation
Part of CitiesMulti-Level Governance Atlas
Visit ProjectEnhancing climate action though examples of multi-level partnerships from around the world.
Part of CitiesTransforming Transportation
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectAn annual convening of high-level decision-makers and cutting-edge thinkers exploring sustainable, equitable transportation solutions for the developing world.
Part of CitiesIntegrated Transport
Visit ProjectFostering multi-modal transport that connects people to opportunity and reduces emissions.
Part of CitiesData for Cool Cities
Visit ProjectFilling data gaps, enabling insights and scaling infrastructure investment to reduce extreme heat in cities.
Part of CitiesDeep Dive Cities
Visit ProjectDriving transformative change through long-term, cross-sectoral, data-driven engagement in cities to create a healthier, more resilient and sustainable urban environment for all.
Part of CitiesReimagining Public Transport
Visit ProjectAdvancing public transport as a climate and development solution through global engagement and innovations to improve quality of service, financing and technology.
Part of CitiesSustainable Urban Transport Network Turkey
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectEnabling policy change and an engaged civil society in Turkey through a sustainable urban transport network.
Part of CitiesSustainable Cities Challenge
Launch PlatformLaunch Platform Visit ProjectUniting cities and innovators to expand safe, inclusive and sustainable urban mobility solutions fit for the future.
Part of CitiesEquitable Clean Energy for Communities
Visit ProjectWorking to expand clean energy access to all communities, especially those who are climate-vulnerable and have historically had the least access to the benefits of clean energy due to systemic inequities.
Part of Energy