Ensuring a Global Transition to Clean, Reliable and Affordable Energy for Everyone

Energy and modern life are closely intertwined; energy powers homes, hospitals, schools and more. When people have access to clean, affordable and reliable energy, they have greater opportunities for healthy and prosperous lives.

But the world’s current energy system needs improvement. More than 745 million people globally still lack access to electricity — if all of these people formed a country, it would be the third largest in the world. At the same time, energy is responsible for 73% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

A worldwide energy transition is happening. People everywhere seek energy that’s affordable and reliable with less pollution.

At WRI, we focus on ensuring that this energy transition happens quickly and with a responsible approach for people, nature and climate. We support the global commitment to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency by 2030 and to transition away from fossil fuels.

We focus on:

1. Expanding Clean Energy Supply

WRI’s work will increase clean energy supply to help deliver the 11 terawatts of renewable power needed by 2030. This means new clean energy projects as well as investments in a climate-resilient grid and distributed off-grid energy infrastructure.

2. Decarbonizing Energy Consumption

The solution to the energy crisis isn’t just more energy — it’s changing the type of energy we use and shifting away from fossil fuel, using energy more productively and reducing energy costs by boosting efficiency. WRI expands markets for clean, efficient technologies and energy service solutions in industry, transportation and buildings.

3. Energy Access and Equitable Development

WRI’s energy transition efforts also help bring into focus communities and institutions that remain reliant on dirty, polluting fuel sources.  WRI’s tools and partnerships improve access to energy for unserved and underserved communities through local planning, health care electrification and renewable energy deployment in agriculture. We bring local community voices into decision-making and champion opportunities for people who can benefit from clean energy jobs.

4. Energy Minerals and Circularity

The energy transition will require scaling up minerals used in batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and grids, while protecting delicate ecosystems and local communities from the negative impacts of mining. WRI will focus on system changes needed to responsibly close the gap between projected minerals demand and current supply. This includes accelerating circularity practices such as reuse and recycle, as well as helping countries transition to responsible mineral production.