Since it was founded in 1991, the Wuppertal Institute has been an integral part of the national and international research landscape and a key player in shaping the debate on issues relating to climate, energy and resources. The German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is the sole shareholder in the non-profit limited company (gGmbH).
The Wuppertal Institute sees itself as a think tank for sustainability research focused on impacts and practical application. The organisation’s activities are centred on developing transformation processes aimed at shaping a climate-friendly and resource-efficient world. The overriding goal of the Institute’s work is to help to ensure that the planetary boundaries are respected. The Wuppertal Institute has put this goal into concrete terms with a guiding vision a "climate-neutral and resource light society" by 2050.
