Our Values

Our mission and values define WRI as an institution. Our values are not rules, but shared ideals and understanding that bind us together. Along with our mission and our commitment to excellence in everything we do, they articulate who we are and what we believe, influence our goals, guide our actions, and help us to explain our aspirations to others.

Integrity

Honesty, candor and openness must guide our work to ensure credibility and to build trust.

• We encourage examination of our methods, analyses, and conclusions. Learn more about our research review procedures.
• We share information and ideas with our colleagues and partners.
• We recognize all who have contributed to our work.

Innovation

To lead change for a sustainable world, we must be creative, forward-thinking, entrepreneurial, and adaptive.

• We are willing to risk failure to achieve substantial impact. We nurture and reward new ideas and excellence in pursuing them.
• We reinvigorate our own ideas and approaches through continuous learning.

Urgency

We believe that change in human behavior is urgently needed to halt the accelerating rate of environmental deterioration.

• We seek the greatest impact by responding swiftly, decisively, and strategically to opportunities and challenges.
• We work on issues that matter where we believe we can make a unique difference.

Independence

Our effectiveness depends on work that is uncompromised by partisan politics, institutional or personal allegiances, or sources of financial support.

• We take pride in the independence of our ideas and work.
• We convey to partners and funders our commitment to unbiased judgment.

Respect

Our relationships are based on the belief that all people deserve respect.

• We encourage diversity of experience, culture, ideas, and opinions among our staff and partners.
• We seek to ensure and to recognize that each of us can take responsibility and create opportunities.
• We help each other to reach our fullest potential.
• We treat others with fairness regardless of their views on our work.