Global Program on Sustainability

Latest Publications

Nature's Paradox Cover

publication

Nature's Paradox: Stepping Stone or Millstone?

This report is about the intersection of two major crises of the 21st century—the sustainability crisis and the social exclusion and inequality crisis.

Report cover on green background Accelerating Access to Clean Air on a Livable Planet

report

Accelerating Access to Clean Air

Halving the number of people exposed to high levels of outdoor air pollution globally by 2040 can be both feasible and affordable.

India. Photo: © Ray Witlin / World Bank

Paper

Groundwater use in agriculture in South Asia: the role of technology

This is a draft version of the paper that was submitted to Agricultural Economics on 1 August 2024. A revised version of this paper was accepted for publication on January 30, 2025.

Agricultural Economics

Global Program on Sustainability Annual Report

Report

GPS FY24 Annual Report

This year's report showcases the breadth of our work: GPS is simultaneously harnessing the power of analytics and partnerships and shifting the intellectual discourse through groundbreaking research, while increasingly emphasizing social inclusion.

Report

Video

Supporting Private Trees for Nepal’s Green, Resilient, and Inclusive ...

Private tree planting on farms can also help build forest cover and boost livelihoods in Nepal. Nepal’s forest cover has expanded from 25% to 46% over the last 25 years.

Watch the video

CWON launch event

Report

The Changing Wealth of Nations 2024

The World Bank’s The Changing Wealth of Nations (CWON) program provides the most comprehensive wealth database currently available, which can provide insights on the sustainability of economic progress, complementing GDP.

Learn more in this report

Adoption of land restoration activities in Ethiopia

This report examines the gender-labor dimensions of the adoption of land restoration activities by smallholder agricultural households in rural Ethiopia.

Read more

How to Measure the Sustainability of Economic Progress

American University’s Stefanie Onder and the World Bank’s Diego Herrera discuss measures of a nation’s economic status that are more effective than GDP.

Learn more

All Publications

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Data
Reports
Blogs
Feature Stories
Videos
Other Publications

Data
Adjusted Net Saving Database
Annually updated (August 2022) database with a quick country tool (forthcoming) for quick assessment of whether countries are re-investing resource rents sustainably. Those working on country policy and research will find it useful.
Sovereign Environmental, Social, and Governance Data
Resources on environmental, social and governance indicators
Environment, Social and Governance Data
The World Bank’s ESG Data Draft dataset provides information on 17 key sustainability themes spanning environmental, social, and governance categories.
The Changing Wealth of Nations
(CWON 2021, data visualization tool, country, and regional profiles)
The complete global wealth database and visualisation tool to inform economic and enivornmental policy-relevant analysis. The tool provides trends by country, by sector and provides country benchmarking.
Reports

Assessing the Feasibility and Socioecological Benefits of Climate-Smart Practices at the Watershed Scale.
The Effects of Implementing Three Climate-Smart Practices with an Integrated Landscape Approach on Functional Connectivity and Carbon Storage
Unlocking Local and Regional Development through Nature-Based Tourism: Exploring the Potential of Agroforestry and Regenerative Livestock Farming in Mexico | Spanish
Rwanda Country Economic Memorandum : Pathways to Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in Rwanda
The Effects of Implementing Three Climate-Smart Practices with an Integrated Landscape Approach on Functional Connectivity and Carbon Storage
Applying the G-20 Principles for Sustainable Finance Alignment with a Focus on Climate Change Mitigation
ACTIVATING ALIGNMENT: Applying the G-20 Principles for Sustainable Finance Alignment with a Focus on Climate Change Mitigation
The Changing Wealth of Nations 2024: Revisiting the Measurement of Comprehensive Wealth
Circular Economy as an Opportunity for Central Asia, Report in English| Report in Russian
BUILDING BACK A GREENER BANGLADESH: 2023 Country Environmental Analysis, Full report | Executive Summary
Framework for Implementing: Green Growth in Bangladesh 2023
ESG Integration at the Government Pension Fund of Thailand, January 2024
Integrating the Values of Nature into Policy and Investment Decisions: Wealth Accounting of Ecosystem Services (WAVES PLUS CLOSE-OUT REPORT), 2023
ESG Disclosure Assessment of Thailand’s Listed Companies and Recommendations for Policy Development, December, 2023
Assessment of the Impact of 2022/23 - Government Investments on Natural Capital in Uganda Using a Rapid Environment Economic Assessment Model, March 2023
Jordan Climate and Nature Financing Analysis, February 2023
Kenya Climate and Nature Financing Options Analysis, February 2023
Uganda Adjusted Macroeconomic Indicators Report - 2021 Edition, January 2023
Valoración de Servicios Ecosistémicos Clave en Cuencas de México, December 2022
Annual Reports
2023 Annual Report
2022 GPS Annual Report
2021-2022 GPS Annual Report
2019 GPS-WAVES Annual Report
All Reports >>
Revisiting comprehensive wealth: Insights from The Changing Wealth of Nations 2024, March 2025
How to Measure the Sustainability of Economic Progress, December 2024
What’s the Forest-at-Risk? A forward-looking deforestation dashboard for Brazil’s Legal Amazon, May 2024
Accounting for the diverse values of nature to inform biodiversity policies, March 2024
Navigating the opportunities and risks of solar irrigation: The importance of comprehensive accounting and smart regulations, January 2024
Investing in nature can improve equity and economic returns, June 2023 (NB: This article is behind a paywall — please subscribe to access its content.)
5 ways the World Bank is leading by example on nature, March 2023
Three ways Serbia can create greener and more resilient growth, December 2022
Data brings new perspectives to watershed conservation, August 2022
Striking the right note: Key performance indicators for sovereign sustainability-linked bonds, January 2022
New pieces for the puzzle? Geospatial insights into droughts and employment in Brazil, January 2022
All Blogs >>
Healing Armenia's Land: A Strategic Approach to Landscape Restoration, March 2025
Greening the Desert: The Role of Landscape Restoration in Uzbekistan's Battle Against Sand and Dust Storms | Russian Version, December 2024
Harnessing Biodiversity: Integrating Natural Capital Accounting for a Sustainable Future, November 2024
To Grow Strong, Grow Green| Spanish version | French version, May 2024
6th Policy Forum on Natural Capital Data for Better Decision Making, December 2022
World Bank Relaunches Sovereign ESG Data Portal, December 2022
In Zambia, Natural Capital Accounts Ensure Future Prosperity for All, November 2022
Taking a Comprehensive View of Wealth to Meet Today’s Development Challenges, October 2021
Mythbusters: Uncovering Nature’s Economic Value, June 2021

All Feature Stories >>
Supporting Private Trees for Nepal’s Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Development, January 2025
Indonesia’s Mangroves for the World, Best Practices in Mangroves Management, June, 2022
Beyond GDP: Measuring the Wealth of Nations for Green, Inclusive, and Resilient Growth, October 2021
Five Big Ideas for Mobilizing Private Sector Financing for Biodiversity, Summer 2020
The Wealth of a Wetland: It Matters When you Measure It, June 2019
All Videos >>
Land Use Policy Paper: Adoption of land restoration activities in Ethiopia: Understanding gender-labor dimensions, January 2025
GPS Brochure, 2023
Brief: Uganda Wood Asset and Forest Resources, 2020
Brief: Updated Country Brief: Uganda, 2020
Guidance Notes: Wellbeing and Sustainability Task Team
Press Release: Uganda launches a national plan for NCA and the first set of land and water accounts, November 2019
WAVES Partnership website | WAVES Knowledge Center
Natural Capital Accounting at the World Bank

The Changing Wealth of Nations 2024 World Bank report cover blue

The Changing Wealth of Nations 2024: Revisiting the Measurement of Comprehensive Wealth