Worldwatch Institute was founded in 1974 by Lester Brown as an independent research institute devoted to global environmental concerns. Worldwatch works on innovative solutions to intractable problems, emphasizing a blend of government leadership, private sector enterprise, and citizen action that can make a sustainable future a reality.

Its mission statement reads:

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 food, expansion of environmentally sound jobs and development, transformation of cultures from consumerism to sustainability, and an early end to population growth through healthy and intentional childbearing.

Worldwatch publishes:

• An auhtoritative annual report State of the World

• Worldwatch Reports

• Vital Signs