The Worldwatch Institute was a globally focused
environmental research
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography (including ecology, chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology and physical geogra ...
organization based in
Washington, D.C.
)
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, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, founded by
Lester R. Brown. Worldwatch was named as one of the top ten
sustainable development research organizations by
Globescan Survey of Sustainability Experts.
Brown left to found the
Earth Policy Institute
Earth Policy Institute was an independent non-profit environmental organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was founded by Lester R. Brown in 2001 and functioned as an environmental think tank, providing research and anal ...
in 2000. The institute terminated in 2017, after publication of its last ''
State of the World Report''. Worldwatch.org was unreachable from mid 2019.
Mission
The mission of the Institute read: "Through research and outreach that inspire action, the Worldwatch Institute works to accelerate the transition to a
sustainable world that meets human needs. The Institute's top mission objectives are universal access to
renewable energy and
nutritious
Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical structures. Failure to obtain sufficient nu ...
food, expansion of
environmentally sound jobs and development, transformation of cultures from
consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts. With the Industrial Revolution, but particularly in the 20th century, mass production led to overproduction—the su ...
to sustainability, and an early end to
population growth through healthy and intentional
childbearing."
The Worldwatch Institute aimed to inform policymakers and the public about the links between the
world economy and its environmental support systems. Research conducted by the institute was integrative or interdisciplinary and global in scope.
Worldwatch's priority programs included:
*Building a
low-carbon energy system that dramatically reduces the use of
fossil fuels and lowers
greenhouse gas emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities strengthen the greenhouse effect, contributing to climate change. Most is carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels: coal, oil, and natural gas. The largest emitters include coal in China and ...
.
*Nourishing the Planet - methods that create a
sustainable food production system that provides a healthy, nutritious diet for all while sustaining the land, water, and
biological resources In biology and ecology, a resource is a substance or object in the environment required by an organism for normal growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Resources can be consumed by one organism and, as a result, become unavailable to another organi ...
on which life depends. The project resulted in the Worldwatch Institute's flagship publication, ''State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet''.
*
Transforming economies,
cultures
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tylo ...
, and societies that meets human needs, promotes
prosperity, and is in harmony with
nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is the physical world or universe. "Nature" can refer to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general. The study of nature is a large, if not the only, part of science. Although humans are ...
.
Worldwatch also monitored human
health
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organiza ...
,
population
Population typically refers to the number of people in a single area, whether it be a city or town, region, country, continent, or the world. Governments typically quantify the size of the resident population within their jurisdiction using a ...
,
water resources,
biodiversity
Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variety and variability of life on Earth. Biodiversity is a measure of variation at the genetic (''genetic variability''), species (''species diversity''), and ecosystem (''ecosystem diversity'') l ...
,
governance
Governance is the process of interactions through the laws, norms, power or language of an organized society over a social system ( family, tribe, formal or informal organization, a territory or across territories). It is done by the gove ...
, and
environmental security Environmental security examines threats posed by environmental events and trends to individuals, communities or nations. It may focus on the impact of human conflict and international relations on the environment, or on how environmental problems c ...
.
History
* 1974—The institute was founded by Lester Brown.
* 1975—The first ''Worldwatch Paper'' was published.
* 1984—First
State of the World published.
* 1988—''World Watch Magazine'' was launched.
* 1992—''Vital Signs'', Worldwatch's third annual series, was premiered.
* 2000—
Christopher Flavin became President of Worldwatch in October.
* 2000
Lester R. Brown left, to found the
Earth Policy Institute
Earth Policy Institute was an independent non-profit environmental organization based in Washington, D.C., in the United States. It was founded by Lester R. Brown in 2001 and functioned as an environmental think tank, providing research and anal ...
in 2001.
* 2008—Worldwatch hosted the 20th Anniversary of the
James E. Hansen hearings.
* 2010. July/August edition of ''World Watch magazine'' was the last.
* 2011—
Robert Engelman became President of Worldwatch in October.
* 2014—Ed Groark became Acting Interim President of Worldwatch.
* 2017 Ceased operations after its last ''State of the World'' report was published.
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 World'' report is an annual assessment of urgent global environmental problems and the innovative ideas proposed and applied across the globe to address them.
* ''Vital Signs'' tracks social, environmental and economic trends and publishes data and analysis.
See also
*
Lester R. Brown, founder of Worldwatch Institute
*
Ed Ayres, former editor of ''Worldwatch'', which ceased publication in 2010.
*
Sustainable Development
*
Environmental Movement
The environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement), also including conservation and green politics, is a diverse philosophical, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists a ...
*
List of environmental organizations
*
World Nuclear Industry Status Report
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Environmental organizations based in Washington, D.C.
Organizations established in 1974
1974 establishments in Washington, D.C.
Think tanks based in the United States
Human overpopulation think tanks
Population concern advocacy groups
Population concern organizations