Founded in 1974 by Lester Brown as an independent research institute devoted to global environmental concerns, Worldwatch was quickly recognized by opinion leaders around the world for its foresight and accessible, fact-based analysis. Worldwatch develops 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. Worldwatch leverages a network of international partners in more than a dozen countries for maximum global impact. Research findings are disseminated in more than 20 languages via innovative use of print and online media.

Island Press publishes Worldwatch Institute’s flagship publication, State of the World, an annual report that covers topics from environmental conservation and urban sustainability, to global security, health, and agriculture. 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.