Andrew Steer

WRI’s President and CEO Dr. Andrew Steer will be departing the institute to become President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund. Steer leaves after more than eight years at the helm of WRI, where he oversaw an era of expanded growth, reach and impact. Guided by Steer’s strong vision and leadership, the institute’s staff grew 5-fold and its budget quadrupled between 2012 and 2021. As the President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, Steer will set the strategic vision and oversee the distribution of grants from the $10 billion fund. The fund’s large scale and commitment to address climate, nature and social justice in an integrated manner offers scope for truly transformative change this decade. It will work with scientists, NGOs, activists, and the private sector to spur new technologies, investments, policy change and behavior. Since climate change disproportionately hurts poor and marginalized communities, the fund will have a strong emphasis on supporting environmental justice organizations. In November 2020, the first round of Bezos Earth Fund grants were announced, with 16 not-for-profit organizations receiving $791 million in grants, including $141 million going to four organizations with deep roots and expertise in environmental justice. During his tenure at WRI, Steer guided the institute on an impressive run, refocusing its work around seven inter-related global challenges: food, forests, water, energy, cities, climate and the ocean. Steer placed a greater emphasis on economics and equity, and he expanded WRI’s connection with world leaders and CEOs. Steer oversaw the development of more than a dozen impactful, high-profile coalitions and major initiatives, including working with leading economists to reshape understanding around the economics of climate change, mobilizing a global commission to elevate climate adaptation on the political agenda, and launching a $10 million per year initiative to support over 100 countries in implementing their national climate plans. Other initiatives that have thrived during Andrew’s watch, include accelerating landscape restoration in Africa and Latin America, enlisting more than 1,500 companies to commit to science-based emissions targets, and partnering with the World Economic Forum to accelerate a global shift to a circular economy. Steer encouraged the organization to expand its global reach. When he arrived at WRI in 2012, most of WRI’s staff were based in Washington, DC. Today, the majority of its 1,400 staff are based outside the United States. WRI has opened offices in Indonesia, the UK, and Colombia, as well as regional hubs for Africa in Ethiopia and for Europe in the Netherlands. The institute has also enhanced is capacity in existing offices in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Mexico.