Worldwatch Institute facts for kids
 |
|
| Formation | 1974 |
|---|---|
| Dissolved | 2017 |
|
Founder
|
Lester R. Brown |
| Website | https://worldwatch.org |
The Worldwatch Institute was an organization that studied the environment. It was based in Washington, D.C. in the United States. Lester R. Brown started it in 1974.
Worldwatch was known for its research on how to create a "sustainable world." This means finding ways for people to live well today without harming the planet for future generations. Experts from a group called Globescan even said Worldwatch was one of the best organizations for this kind of research.
Lester R. Brown left Worldwatch in 2000 to start another group called the Earth Policy Institute. The Worldwatch Institute stopped its work in 2017. This happened after they published their very last State of the World Report. Their website, worldwatch.org, has not been working since mid-2019.
What Worldwatch Wanted to Do
The main goal of the Worldwatch Institute was to help create a world where everyone's needs are met in a way that protects our planet. They wanted to inspire people to take action.
Their main goals included:
- Making sure everyone could get renewable energy, like solar or wind power.
- Helping people get healthy and nutritious food.
- Creating jobs that are good for the environment.
- Changing cultures so people focus less on buying things and more on living sustainably.
- Helping families plan when to have children in a healthy way.
Worldwatch also wanted to teach leaders and the public about how the world's economy affects our environment. Their research looked at many different topics around the world.
Key Areas of Focus
Worldwatch worked on several important programs:
- Clean Energy: They wanted to build energy systems that use much less fossil fuels, like coal and oil. This would help lower the amount of greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change.
- Healthy Food Systems: They looked for ways to grow food that is good for the planet and provides healthy meals for everyone. This meant protecting land, water, and all living things. Their work led to a special book called State of the World 2011: Innovations that Nourish the Planet.
- Changing Societies: They aimed to help economies, cultures, and societies change. The goal was to meet human needs and help people do well, all while living in harmony with nature.
The institute also kept an eye on human health, how many people live on Earth, water resources, and the variety of life on Earth (called biodiversity). They also studied how governments manage the environment and keep it safe.
Worldwatch History
Here are some important dates for the Worldwatch Institute:
- 1974: Lester R. Brown started the institute.
- 1975: The first Worldwatch Paper was published. These were special reports on environmental topics.
- 1984: The first State of the World report was published. This became a very important yearly book.
- 1988: World Watch Magazine began.
- 1992: Vital Signs, another yearly series from Worldwatch, was first released.
- 2000: Christopher Flavin became the President of Worldwatch in October.
- 2000: Lester R. Brown left the institute. He went on to start the Earth Policy Institute in 2001.
- 2008: Worldwatch hosted an event to mark 20 years since important hearings by scientist James E. Hansen.
- 2010: The July/August edition of World Watch magazine was the last one.
- 2011: Robert Engelman became President of Worldwatch in October.
- 2014: Ed Groark became the temporary President of Worldwatch.
- 2017: The institute stopped its work after publishing its final State of the World report.
See also
In Spanish: Worldwatch Institute para niños
- Lester R. Brown, who founded the Worldwatch Institute
- Ed Ayres, a former editor of Worldwatch magazine
- Sustainable Development
- Environmental Movement
- List of environmental organizations
- World Nuclear Industry Status Report
