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European Climate Foundation aims to promote climate and energy policies that greatly reduce Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions and help Europe play an even stronger international leadership role in mitigating climate change.


What We Do

The European Climate Foundation is dedicated to developing and implementing well-crafted climate and energy policies that greatly reduce Europe's global greenhouse gas emissions. Key elements of a sustainable energy future include: (1) a substantial increase in energy efficiency, (2) a successful transition from conventional to renewable energy; (3) maintenance of the earth’s ecological systems and the life-supporting services they provide; and, (4) equitable distribution of energy services to different members of the population, both internationally and within nations.  We can take significant steps toward that future today.

Why Europe?

Europe is a critical arena in the fight against climate change for two reasons.  Firstly, it is one of the largest sources of global warming pollution, second only to the U.S. and China. Second, Europe has shown leadership in tackling climate change, both internally and internationally, and much of the world is following Europe’s lead.

European governments appear to be committing to sizeable emissions reductions, leading global regulation and promising political commitment.  Despite these commitments, the steps being taken by most European countries are insufficient.

If Europe meets its current level of commitments and continues to improve them, it will serve as an example to the world. Conversely, if Europe backtracks it will severely undercut global efforts to meet the climate challenge.

Translating Europe’s policy targets into real greenhouse gas emission savings requires stringent legislation and sustained, often complex implementation. Turning exemplary leadership into inspiring real-world results will demand sustained, informed attention and campaigning from NGOs, political leaders, the media and the public.


How We Work

The European Climate Foundation is a proactive, analytical, results-oriented organisation. We identify policy priorities based on the tons of potential greenhouse gas emission reductions and the probability of success in securing that policy change. We seek to maintain a reputation for objective, high-quality work that is neither ideological nor politically biased.

We build alliances among a wide range of partners in government, business and the NGO sector. Programme staff collaborate with grantees and experts from the field to design and fund sophisticated, campaign-style strategies based on a thorough understanding of the decision-makers, decision-making processes and political pressure points for each policy target.

The majority of the European Climate Foundation's fund is re-granted to NGOs engaged in trying to bring about meaningful policy change. When we see an unfulfilled need we also engage in direct initiatives, such as commission papers, convene meetings or launch a new organisation. We seek no public attention for our efforts and instead prefer to highlight the success of those who are actually doing the work.

We have identified four major areas for immediate intervention within Europe:

Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Industry  

Low-Carbon Power Generation


EU Climate Policies and Diplomacy