The Global Advisory Council

What The Global Advisory Council does

The Global Advisory Council is the advisory body of the World Resources Institute (WRI), a global research nonprofit founded in 1982 and headquartered in Washington, DC. WRI employs 2,000+ staff across more than 50 countries through regional offices in Africa (Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Kigali, Kinshasa), Europe (The Hague, London, Bonn), Latin America (Mexico City, Bogotá, São Paulo, Porto Alegre), and Asia (Beijing, New Delhi, Jakarta), and operates 200+ active projects, coalitions, and initiatives spanning climate, cities, energy, food, forests, freshwater, and ocean verticals.

Its core technical assets are open-source data platforms and applications: Global Forest Watch (near-real-time satellite-based forest monitoring with anomaly detection), Aqueduct (water risk mapping and forecasting), Energy Access Explorer (energy access mapping), Resource Watch and Data Explorer (open data infrastructure with APIs, code, and frameworks), TerraMatch (geolocation-based tree-planting boundary mapping), CityMetrics (open data on 60 cities), and Forest Watcher (mobile field application). In 2026 WRI added Global Nature Watch, an AI-powered chat-style research interface, and stood up an Applied AI Group with a Responsible AI Use Framework. Sub-brands WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition focus on urban and energy-transition advisory.

WRI does not sell products or services. Revenue comes from donations processed via GoFundMe Pro and philanthropic partnerships such as the flagship five-year Climate Solutions Partnership with HSBC and WWF. All datasets, applications, and publications are freely available under WRI's Open Data Commitment, making its GTM motion a hybrid of donor-funded nonprofit operations and partnership-led policy influence rather than a commercial sales motion. End beneficiaries include national and city governments, businesses (e.g., restaurant chains via Coolfood), environmental NGOs, and local communities worldwide.

Name

The Global Advisory Council

Legal name

World Resources Institute

Website

https://wri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

World Resources Institute (The Global Advisory Council) is a Washington-based global research nonprofit that develops open-source environmental data platforms (Global Forest Watch, Aqueduct, Energy Access Explorer) used by governments, businesses, and NGOs across 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research & Sustainability

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nature & Biodiversity Reporting (TNFD, natural capital) (EUAHAJAM), Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Environmental research
• Climate policy
• Open data platforms
• Sustainability research
• Forest monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: WRI is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of donors to turn research into action. Donors can make gifts or explore other ways to give. The organization does not sell, share, or trade donors' names or identifying personal information with other entities.
2. Philanthropic Partnerships: WRI collaborates with philanthropic organizations and institutional donors who fund specific projects and initiatives, such as the Climate Solutions Partnership with HSBC, WWF and local partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

The Global Advisory Council is a select body of business, philanthropic, and civic leaders within the World Resources Institute that supports WRI's mission of producing independent research and operating open-source data platforms (such as Global Forest Watch, Aqueduct, and Energy Access Explorer) to help governments, businesses, and communities address environmental, climate, and sustainability challenges. All research, datasets, and applications are made freely available under WRI's Open Data Commitment, with revenue derived from donations and philanthropic partnerships rather than product sales.

Product overview

WRI operates as a global research organization offering a platform of interconnected data products, applications, and research services focused on environmental and climate challenges. The core product portfolio includes Global Forest Watch (near-real-time forest monitoring via satellite and remote sensing), Aqueduct (water risk mapping and analysis), Energy Access Explorer (energy access mapping), Resource Watch (open data infrastructure), TerraMatch (tree planting boundary mapping), and Global Nature Watch (experimental AI-powered research system). These are complemented by the Data Lab division and Open Data Commitment that make WRI's research, datasets, code, frameworks, and APIs available for public use. WRI also operates two major sub-brands: the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities and the WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition, which focus on urban sustainability and energy transition respectively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities: WRI's program dedicated to shaping a future where cities work better for everyone. Creates resilient, inclusive, low-carbon places.
• WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition
• Global Forest Watch
• Aqueduct
• Energy Access Explorer

Products and services

• Global Forest Watch Online platform providing near-real-time data and tools for monitoring forests using satellite and remote sensing technology to show near real-time data on tree cover loss.
• Aqueduct Uses open-source, peer-reviewed data to map water risks such as floods and scarcity around the world, revealing areas facing the greatest water-related threats and advising governments and companies on strategic water management.
• Energy Access Explorer Open-source data platform providing mapping and tools to support inclusive, locally-led approaches to achieving energy access for all people.
• Resource Watch Open data infrastructure that WRI makes available for others to leverage, including code, frameworks, and APIs to build their own applications on top of WRI's environmental datasets.
• TerraMatch Application that allows users to map the boundaries of tree planting projects by enabling collection of geolocation information on mobile devices.
• Global Nature Watch Experimental, open, AI-powered system combining research from Land & Carbon Lab and Global Forest Watch in a chat-style interface for natural environment research.
• Data Explorer Platform for discovering and accessing WRI's datasets under the organization's Open Data Commitment, supporting API-based data access and exploration of open environmental data.
• Forest Watcher Mobile application that helps stakeholders turn data into action for forest monitoring in the field.

Quantifiable outcome

• 408,000 direct beneficiaries since 2017 of new national housing guidelines in Brazil
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability10 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and notable.

• GoFundMe ProcoreTechnology or IntegrationWRI has partnered with GoFundMe Pro as a third-party service provider to process online donations. Personal information is shared between WRI and GoFundMe Pro as necessary to complete donations, communicate about donations, and comply with legal obligations.
• GoFundMe ProcoreTechnology or IntegrationWRI's donation processing partner that handles online donation transactions. Information provided to GoFundMe Pro is not used by WRI for any other purposes.
• WWFflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Climate Solutions Partnership alongside HSBC, combining financial expertise with environmental knowledge to scale climate solutions through local partners.
• Global Forest Watch PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffering the latest data, technology and tools that empower people everywhere to better manage and protect forest landscapes through an online platform with near-real-time satellite and remote sensing technology.
• NDC PartnershipcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA global initiative to help countries achieve their national climate commitments and ensure financial and technical assistance is delivered as efficiently as possible.
• P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerP4G helps early-stage climate businesses implementing solutions across food, water and energy systems to become investment ready.
• UrbanShiftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA global program transforming cities for people and planet through sustainable, integrated and inclusive approaches to urban development.
• Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA community of organizations and individuals committed to the urgent need for food and land use transformation to create a healthier planet and healthier people. WRI Europe hosts the secretariat of FOLU.
• CoolfoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHelps people and organizations reduce the climate impact of their food through shifting toward more plant-rich diets. Works directly with European businesses and businesses abroad to reduce climate footprint of operations.
• Platform for Accelerating the Circular Economy (PACE)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPACE catalyzed global leadership from business, government and civil society to accelerate the transition to a circular economy.
• Champions 12.3coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInspiring ambition and mobilizing action to reduce food loss and waste globally.
• Open Timber Portal PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Open Timber Portal promotes compliance with legal requirements in timber harvest and trade by compiling information from governments, private sector and third-party forest monitors in producer countries.
• NUMO AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal alliance for sustainable urban development working on mobility and urban transformation.
• The Land AcceleratorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA curated network and accelerator program for entrepreneurs who restore degraded forests and farmland.
• CIFORcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for the Open Timber Portal providing third-party forest monitoring information.
• GovernmentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRI partners with governments at national and local levels to pilot innovative solutions and scale successes nationally, regionally and globally.
• CommunitiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRI works with communities to pilot innovative solutions with widespread potential, starting locally and monitoring progress to learn what works.
• CompaniescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWRI partners with companies to develop and implement solutions that can scale from pilot projects to national and global adoption.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits, working on conservation, climate, and water globally. Highly comparable to WRI in mission, scale, and operating model as a science-based nonprofit with global field operations.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation nonprofit with operations across 100+ countries. Directly comparable to WRI as a fellow climate/conservation peer and an actual co-convener with WRI and HSBC in the Climate Solutions Partnership.
• Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): US-headquartered environmental nonprofit combining science, economics, and policy advocacy. Comparable to WRI in applying rigorous research to influence markets, policy, and corporate behavior on climate and nature.
• Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major US-based environmental advocacy organization with science, policy, and international programs. Overlaps with WRI on climate, energy, cities, and water research used to inform policy and corporate action.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Science-based advocacy nonprofit that produces independent technical analysis on climate and energy. Comparable to WRI's role as a nonpartisan, peer-reviewed research voice influencing climate and energy policy.
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Global nonprofit running the leading environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, and investors. Closely comparable to WRI's open data platforms (Global Forest Watch, Aqueduct) and corporate sustainability advisory work.
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): Independent international organization providing the world's most widely used sustainability reporting standards. Comparable to WRI in setting environmental disclosure norms and convening corporates and policymakers.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Independent research organization working on environment and development policy across multiple continents. Comparable to WRI as a peer research nonprofit producing open environmental data and policy analysis.
• Resources for the Future (RFF): Independent, nonprofit research institution focused on energy, environmental, and natural resource issues. Comparable to WRI in applying rigorous economic and policy research to climate, energy, and environmental questions.

Broad incumbents

• BloombergNEF: Commercial provider of clean energy, climate, and commodity intelligence. Comparable to WRI's Energy and Climate work (Aqueduct, Polsky Center) as a broader incumbent providing data, analysis, and policy insight to corporate and government clients.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/worldresources
• YouTubeyoutube.com/WorldResourcesInst
• Facebookfacebook.com/worldresources
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/world-resources-institute
• Instagraminstagram.com/worldresources

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Global Advisory Council