Economics
WRI’s Economics Center and the New Climate Economy project make the economic case for better environmental management and climate action.
The global economy, people’s health, and development and employment opportunities depend on the availability of natural resources and healthy ecosystems.
At the same time, the costs of unsustainable resource use continue to rise. Roughly 7 million people die of air pollution every year. The health impacts of China’s air pollution are valued at more than 10 percent of GDP. And with each decade that the United States delays taking action of climate change, it is estimated that the cost of mitigation increases by 40 percent.
WRI’s Economics Center helps provide a better understanding of the value that ecosystems provide to the economy. We use an economics lens to analyze problems and solutions at the intersection of environment and human well-being.
We conduct in-depth economic assessments of the value of terrestrial and marine ecosystem services, renewable energy investments, the impact of climate vulnerability for communities and their livelihoods and more. We develop tools and guidance to help decision-makers understand the economic and social trade-offs of investing in and protecting natural resources.
The New Climate Economy, a flagship project of the Global Commission on Economy and Climate, produces groundbreaking research to show how economic development and climate action can go hand-in-hand. WRI is the managing partner.
Top Economics Outcomes
What's a top outcome?
Top outcomes are WRI's biggest success stories. They occur when our analysis, solutions, or partnerships result in significant change in the world.
Featured Expert
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Helen Mountford
New in Economics
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Experts
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Helen Mountford
Vice President, Climate & Economics -
Aaron Adkins
Special Assistant, Climate and Economics -
Juan-Carlos Altamirano
Economist -
Elizabeth Benyishay
Chief of Staff, Climate and Economics -
Milan Brahmbhatt
Senior Fellow, New Climate Economy -
Jessica Brand
Senior Manager, Strategic Communications -
Ella Clarke
Communications Intern, The New Climate Economy -
Giulia De Giovanni
Program Coordinator and Research Analyst -
Maggie Dennis
Research and Report Coordinator, P4G -
Helen Ding
Environmental Economist -
Beakal Fasil
Communications and Engagement Specialist, The New Climate Economy, WRI Africa -
Solomon Tsehay Feleke
Senior Economist, The New Climate Economy -
Leonardo Garrido
Lead Senior Economist, The New Climate Economy -
Nick Godfrey
Director, Coalition for Urban Transitions -
Erin Gray
Associate III -
Catlyne Haddaoui
Global Research and Policy Coordinator, Coalition for Urban Transitions -
Arya Harsono
Research Coordinator, The New Climate Economy -
Karl Hausker
Senior Fellow -
Stacy Hong
Special Assistant, Climate & Economics -
Joel Jaeger
Research Associate II, Climate Program -
Sebastian Keneally
Research and Engagement Coordinator, The New Climate Economy -
Anjali Mahendra
Director of Global Research, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities -
K. N. Ninan
Senior Fellow, Economics Center, WRI India -
Mikayla Pellerin
Special Projects Coordinator, Climate and Economics -
Rajat Shrestha
Research Analyst I -
Rachel Spiegel
Communications Specialist II, The New Climate Economy -
Freya Stanley-Price
Communications Manager, Coalition for Urban Transitions -
Madhu Verma
Chief Economist, WRI India -
Laura Villegas Ortiz
Economist -
Tian Yu
Junior Economics Analyst -
René Zamora Cristales
Senior Associate, Initiative 20x20