Worldwatch Institute
Encyclopedia
The Worldwatch Institute is a globally focused environmental research organization based in Washington, D.C.
Worldwatch was named as one of the top ten sustainable development
research organizations by Globescan
Survey of Sustainability Experts.
Worldwatch Institute develops and disseminates data, analysis, and strategies to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs and confronts the 21st century challenges of climate change, resource degradation, population growth, hunger and poverty
.
Worldwatch’s priority programs include:
Worldwatch also monitors human health
, population, water resources
, biodiversity
, governance, and environmental security
.
Worldwatch's work relies on the generosity of its donors.
, Hilary French
, Gary Gardner, Brian Halweil, Yingling Lui, Mia MacDonald, Eric Martinot
, Alice McKeown, Danielle Nierenberg, Sandra Postel
, Michael Renner, Payal Sampat, Janet Sawin, Molly O'meara Sheehan, and Victor Vovk.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Worldwatch was named as one of the top ten sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
research organizations by Globescan
GlobeScan
Not to be confused with the British airline company 'Globespan' or the American semiconductor company 'Globespan'.GlobeScan is a Canadian-based company that does research and polling in public opinion as well as of private groups. It used to be known as Environics International...
Survey of Sustainability Experts.
Mission
The Worldwatch Institute helps to inform policymakers and the public about the complex links between the world economy and its environmental support systems. Research conducted by the Institute is integrative or interdisciplinary in nature and global in scope.Worldwatch Institute develops and disseminates data, analysis, and strategies to create an environmentally sustainable society that meets human needs and confronts the 21st century challenges of climate change, resource degradation, population growth, hunger and poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
.
Worldwatch’s priority programs include:
- Building a Low-Carbon Energy System that dramatically reduces the use of fossil fuels and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
- Creating a Healthy Future for AgricultureAgricultureAgriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
that provides a healthy, nutritious diet for all while sustaining the land, water, and biological resources on which life depends. Current projects include the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded, Nourishing the PlanetNourishing the PlanetIn July of 2009, the Worldwatch Institute received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to launch a two-year research project assessing agricultural innovations that nourish people and the planet...
, a comparative analysis of environmentally sustainable agriculture innovations to alleviate poverty and hunger. - Developing a Sustainable Global Economy that meets human needs, promotes prosperity, and is in harmony with nature.
Worldwatch also monitors human health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, population, water resources
Water resources
Water resources are sources of water that are useful or potentially useful. Uses of water include agricultural, industrial, household, recreational and environmental activities. Virtually all of these human uses require fresh water....
, biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
, governance, and environmental security
Environmental security
Environmental security examines the threat posed by environmental events and trends to national power, as well as the impact of human conflict and international relations on the environment....
.
Worldwatch's work relies on the generosity of its donors.
History
- 1974—The institute was founded by Lester Brown.
- 1975—The first Worldwatch Paper was published.
- 1984—First State of the WorldState of the World"State of the World" is the eighth and final single from American R&B and pop singer Janet Jackson's fourth studio album, Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 .Jackson has only included the song on her Rhythm Nation World Tour.-Chart performance:...
published. - 1988—World Watch Magazine was launched.
- 1992—Vital Signs, Worldwatch's third annual series, was premiered.
- 2000—Christopher FlavinChristopher FlavinChristopher Flavin is the President of the Worldwatch Institute, an independent research organization focused on natural resource and environmental issues, based in Washington, DC...
became President of Worldwatch in October. - 2008—Worldwatch hosted the 20th Anniversary of the James E. Hansen hearings.
- 2011—Robert EngelmanRobert EngelmanRobert Engelman is an author and former journalist who writes about the environment and population and serves as the vice president for programs at the Worldwatch Institute...
became President of Worldwatch in October.
Publications
Worldwatch Institute publications have been published in more than three dozen languages by its global partners in 40 countries. Worldwatch publications include:- The State of the WorldThe State of the WorldThe State of the World is a series of books published annually since 1984 by the Worldwatch Institute. The series attempts to identify the Earth’s most significant environmental challenges...
report is an annual assessment of urgent global environmental problems and the innovative ideas proposed and applied across the globe to address them.
- State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet
- State of the World 2010: Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to SustainabilityState of the World 2010: Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to SustainabilityState of the World 2010: Transforming Cultures: From Consumerism to Sustainability is a book by Worldwatch Institute, published by W. W. Norton & Company...
- State of the World 2009: Into a Warming World ISBN 978-0-393-33418-0
- State of the World 2008: Innovations for a Sustainable Economy
- State of the World 2007: Our Urban Future
- State of the World 2006: China and India
- State of the World 2005: Redefining Global Security
- State of the World 2004: The Consumer Society
- Vital Signs tracks social, environmental and economic trends and publishes data and analysis.
- Vital Signs 2011 is a book that documents the trends that are shaping our future in concise analysis and clear tables and graphs.
- World Watch Magazine
- Inspiring Progress: Religion’s Contributions to Sustainable Development
- Eat Here: Defending Homegrown Pleasures in a Global Supermarket
- American Energy Report
- Global Progress on Sustainable Biofuels
- Powering China’s Development: The Role of Renewable Energy
- Oceans in Peril: Protecting Marine Biodiversity
- Winged Messengers: The Decline of Birds
- Financing the Earth
- Beyond Disasters: Creating Opportunities for Peace
- Venture Capitalism for a Tropical Forest: Cocoa in the Mata Atlantica
- Sustainable Aquaculture
- Catch of the Day: Choosing Seafood for Healthier Oceans
- Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry
- Liquid Assets: The Critical Need to Safeguard Freshwater Ecosystems
- Biofuels for Transport
Current Researchers and Fellows
Erik Assadourian, Christopher Bright, Zoe Chafe, Ambika Chawla, Amanda Chiu, Robert EngelmanRobert Engelman
Robert Engelman is an author and former journalist who writes about the environment and population and serves as the vice president for programs at the Worldwatch Institute...
, Hilary French
Hilary French
Hilary French is a prominent environmental analyst. She is currently a Program Officer at the United Nations Environment Programme's Regional Office for North America. She is on leave from Worldwatch Institute, where she has served in many capacities, including as Vice President for Research, as...
, Gary Gardner, Brian Halweil, Yingling Lui, Mia MacDonald, Eric Martinot
Eric Martinot
Eric Martinot is research director with the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Tokyo, Japan. From 2005 to 2008 he resided in Beijing as visiting faculty at Tsinghua University, where he taught classes on sustainable energy. He remains an affiliate of the Tsinghua-BP Clean Energy Research...
, Alice McKeown, Danielle Nierenberg, Sandra Postel
Sandra Postel
Sandra Postel is the director and founder of the Global Water Policy Project. She is a world expert on fresh water issues and related ecosystems. From 1988 to 1994 she served as the Vice President for Research at the Worldwatch Institute. In 2002, Scientific American magazine named her as one of...
, Michael Renner, Payal Sampat, Janet Sawin, Molly O'meara Sheehan, and Victor Vovk.
See also
- Lester R. BrownLester R. BrownLester Russel Brown is a United States environmental analyst, founder of the Worldwatch Institute, and founder and president of the Earth Policy Institute, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C...
, founder of Worldwatch Institute - Ed AyresEd AyresEd Ayres is the founding editor and publisher of Running Times magazine and former editor of Worldwatch, a bimonthly global-trends magazine frequently quoted by textbooks and the mainstream news media...
, former editor of Worldwatch - Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable developmentSustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
- Environmental MovementEnvironmental movementThe environmental movement, a term that includes the conservation and green politics, is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues....
- List of environmental organizations
- World Nuclear Industry Status ReportWorld Nuclear Industry Status ReportThe World Nuclear Industry Status Report is a yearly report that explores the global challenges facing the nuclear power industry. The reports show that the share of nuclear-generated electricity in the overall global energy production has decreased in the 2000s...
External links
- Worldwatch Institute
- Worldwatch Europe
- Worldwatch Brazil
- Worldwatch Japan
- Work on biofuels
- Renewables 2010 Global Status Report
- Renewables 2011: Global Status Report
- http://www.worldwatch.org/sow09 endorsements for "State of the World 2009" by Bill McKibbenBill McKibbenWilliam Ernest "Bill" McKibben is an American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College...
and Alex SteffenAlex SteffenAlex Steffen is an American writer, editor, public speaker and futurist most noted for his bright green ideas.Steffen co-founded and ran the online magazine Worldchanging from its start in 2003 until its closure in 2010... - The End of Nuclear, Worldwatch Institute, 2011.