Climate-Alliance Germany
Climate-Alliance Germany is a German civil-society network that coordinates advocacy for socially just and ambitious climate policy.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Climate-Alliance Germany, known in German as Klima-Allianz Deutschland, is a German civil-society alliance focused on climate-policy advocacy, public education and coordination among organizations with environmental, social, developmental, religious, labor, consumer, health, youth and cultural interests. Founded in 2007, it is not a commercial consumer brand but a network that seeks to create a common political voice on climate action and to influence federal decision-makers. The alliance brings together roughly 150 member organizations, including major environmental groups such as WWF and BUND, the German affiliate of Friends of the Earth, as well as the ver.di trade union. Its membership model gives the organization a broad constituency extending beyond conventional environmental campaigning. Climate policy is framed not only as an ecological issue but also as a question of social justice, public health, economic transformation, international responsibility and protection for communities affected by fossil-fuel extraction. Coal phase-out has been one of the alliance's most visible priorities. From 2008 to 2013, it coordinated an anti-coal campaign opposing proposed coal-fired power stations in Germany. Working with local initiatives, environmental organizations and other civil-society actors, the campaign reported that 17 planned projects were stopped during that period. The alliance has continued to call for an ambitious coal exit, restrictions on new open-cast lignite mines, protection for villages and landscapes threatened by mining, and publicly supported structural transformation in lignite regions. The organization also develops policy proposals intended to connect climate targets with concrete measures. It coordinated a civil-society Climate Protection Plan 2050 published in 2016 by more than 50 organizations, and subsequently coordinated a Climate Protection 2030 Action Programme supported by more than 60 organizations. These initiatives called for stronger and legally binding climate objectives, earlier coal retirement, faster changes in transport and agriculture, and an effective carbon price. The work was presented as a civil-society response to what the alliance considered insufficient ambition in Germany's official climate planning. Other activities have included the Berlin Climate Talks, held several times a year since November 2015 with changing thematic focuses and participation from member organizations, politicians and public officials. The alliance also initiated a Climate Manifesto in 2016, organized nationwide demonstrations connected with the Global Climate Day of Action between 2007 and 2015, and held an Alternative Energy Summit annually from 2010 through 2015. It provides networking, tactical exchange and training opportunities for its members in addition to public campaigning. Organizationally, major political decisions are made by a plenary meeting held at least twice a year. A secretariat implements those decisions in cooperation with a speakers' council of up to ten representatives elected by the members. Climate-Alliance Germany became a registered non-profit association in 2022; from 2014 to 2021, its legal structure was represented by the Forum Ecological-Social Market Economy. Its work is supported through membership income, project funding and grants from public bodies and foundations. The alliance remains an advocacy and coordination platform rather than a product business, with its influence derived from coalition-building, research, public communication and political engagement.
History
Climate-Alliance Germany was founded in 2007 as a national coalition intended to unite different parts of German civil society behind stronger climate action. Its membership has included environmental and development organizations, churches, trade unions, consumer associations, health and welfare bodies, youth and education groups, and cultural organizations. This breadth distinguishes the alliance from a single-issue environmental campaign group: it presents climate protection as closely connected to fairness, health, economic change, international development and democratic participation. During its first years, the organization concentrated heavily on opposing the construction of new coal-fired power stations. Between 2008 and 2013 it coordinated an anti-coal campaign with citizens' initiatives, environmental associations and activist groups. The campaign used political discussions, public events, media work, demonstrations, research and policy arguments to challenge the climate, environmental and health effects of coal generation. The alliance reported that 17 proposed coal-power projects were halted during the campaign period. It subsequently broadened its coal work to include opposition to new open-cast lignite mines, demands for the reduction rather than expansion of existing mining areas, and calls for public support for structural change in affected regions. The coalition also participated in public debate about lignite's long-term environmental and financial consequences. In 2014 it co-published work identifying Europe's most polluting coal plants and calling for their closure. In 2016 it joined BUND, the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation in publishing research on the aftermath of lignite mining in Germany. The report questioned whether the operators associated with German lignite extraction had adequately secured the resources required to repair mining damage. Alongside campaigning, Climate-Alliance Germany developed recurring forums for policy exchange. It organized the Alternative Energy Summit from 2010 to 2015 and began the Berlin Climate Talks in November 2015. The latter brought together civil-society representatives and political figures around changing climate-policy subjects. The organization also coordinated nationwide Global Climate Day of Action demonstrations from 2007 to 2015, using them to criticize insufficient environmental action and mobilize public support. Policy coordination became especially prominent after the Paris Agreement. In November 2016, more than 50 organizations published a civil-society Climate Protection Plan 2050 coordinated by the alliance. The plan argued that Germany needed more ambitious objectives and legally binding implementation. A later Climate Protection 2030 Action Programme, supported by more than 60 organizations, translated the coalition's position into demands covering coal, transport, agriculture and carbon pricing. The alliance also initiated a Climate Manifesto in 2016, linking climate policy to the Paris goals, sustainable development and the responsibility of industrialized countries for historically fossil-fuel-intensive prosperity. The alliance's internal structure is based on member participation. A plenary meeting, convened at least twice a year, makes fundamental political decisions. A speakers' council of up to ten elected representatives handles decisions between plenary meetings, while the secretariat carries out the agreed annual programme. The legal structure changed in 2022, when Climate-Alliance Germany became a registered non-profit association; between 2014 and 2021, the Forum Ecological-Social Market Economy served as its legal entity. Funding has come from membership fees, project grants, donations and support from public institutions and foundations. Its continuing role is to coordinate organizations, formulate shared positions, develop policy research and maintain public and political pressure for a rapid, socially just climate transition.
- 2023
Institutional public funding reported
[1]The alliance began receiving institutional support from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.
- 2022
Registered non-profit association established
[1]Climate-Alliance Germany adopted its current registered non-profit association structure.
- 2016
Civil-society Climate Protection Plan 2050 published
[1]More than 50 organizations issued a coordinated plan calling for stronger and binding German climate policy.
- 2016
Climate Manifesto presented
[1]The alliance presented a manifesto connecting climate action with the Paris Agreement, sustainable development and global solidarity.
- 2015
Berlin Climate Talks begin
[1]The organization started recurring Berlin discussions with member groups and political participants.
- 2013
Anti-coal campaign period concludes
[1]The campaign's initial 2008–2013 phase ended after coordinated opposition to new coal projects; the alliance reported 17 projects stopped.
- 2010
Alternative Energy Summit launched
[1]The alliance began an annual summit on energy and climate policy, held through 2015.
- 2008
Anti-coal campaign begins
[1]The alliance began a coordinated campaign against proposed new coal-fired power stations in Germany.
- 2007
Climate-Alliance Germany founded
[1]A German civil-society network was established to coordinate advocacy for ambitious and socially just climate policy.
Products and positioning
A broad German civil-society climate network that combines environmental advocacy with social justice, development, labor, health and consumer perspectives.
Policy platform · 2016
Civil-society Climate Protection Plan 2050
A coalition policy document coordinated by Climate-Alliance Germany and published in November 2016 with participation from more than 50 organizations. It argued that Germany's climate targets needed greater ambition and binding legal implementation, presenting civil-society recommendations in response to perceived shortcomings in the government's Climate Protection Plan 2050.
Policy platform
Climate Protection 2030 Action Programme of German Civil Society
A broad demands paper coordinated by the alliance with contributions from more than 60 organizations. It addressed the measures needed for Germany to meet its 2030 climate target, emphasizing an early coal exit, rapid transformation in transport and agriculture, and an ambitious carbon price.
Policy forum · 2015
Berlin Climate Talks
A recurring event series launched in November 2015 and organized with member organizations. Topics vary over time, and participants have included federal ministers, state secretaries, party leaders and civil-society representatives. The first event focused on proposals for a more climate-compatible German air-transport policy.
Public campaign · 2008
Anti-Coal Campaign
A coordinated campaign opposing new coal-fired power stations in Germany. Between 2008 and 2013, Climate-Alliance Germany supported local initiatives, environmental groups and wider activist networks through political advocacy, research, media work, demonstrations and public events. The alliance reported that 17 proposed projects were stopped during this period.
Manifesto · 2016
Climate Manifesto
A 2016 statement initiated by Climate-Alliance Germany with involvement from member organizations. It described climate change and resource consumption as urgent global challenges and connected climate action with the Paris Agreement, sustainable development, international cooperation and the special responsibility of industrialized countries.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Climate Manifesto
Germany
Climate-Alliance Germany initiated a manifesto developed with member organizations and presented it at a Berlin event before the following Bundestag election.
Outcome. The manifesto articulated a shared vision for climate policy based on climate justice, the Paris goals and global cooperation.
- 2015Berlin Climate Talks
Germany
The alliance began hosting several Berlin policy discussions each year in cooperation with its members, covering changing climate-policy subjects.
Outcome. The series established a recurring dialogue between civil society and political decision-makers.
- 2013Lusatia lignite-mining petition support
Germany
Following a Greenpeace action concerning lignite mining in Lusatia, an alliance energy-policy representative supported a petition delivered to regional authorities opposing a new open-cast mine.
Outcome. The petition reportedly collected 112,157 signatures, described by the alliance representative as an especially successful mobilization against a proposed German open-cast mine.
- 2008Anti-Coal Campaign
Germany
The alliance coordinated opposition to new coal-fired power stations and supported local campaigns, research, public actions and political engagement.
Outcome. The alliance reported that 17 proposed coal-power projects were stopped between 2008 and 2013.
- 2007Global Climate Day of Action
Germany
Climate-Alliance Germany organized nationwide demonstrations from 2007 to 2015 to criticize insufficient climate action by political and economic actors and to encourage stronger measures.
Outcome. The campaign created a recurring national mobilization platform during its active period.
Brand decisions
2022
Adopt registered non-profit association structureStrategyBackground
The alliance had operated from 2014 to 2021 through the Forum Ecological-Social Market Economy as its legal entity.
Action taken
Climate-Alliance Germany became a registered non-profit association.
Aftermath
The organization continued its network, advocacy and project activities under its own non-profit association structure.
2016
Coordinate a civil-society Climate Protection Plan 2050StrategyBackground
The alliance considered Germany's official climate-planning approach insufficiently ambitious and sought a common position across a broad civil-society coalition.
Action taken
It coordinated a participatory process involving more than 50 organizations and published a joint plan calling for stronger targets and binding implementation.
Aftermath
The plan became a reference point for the alliance's subsequent policy advocacy and coalition work.
- Coordinate the Climate Protection 2030 Action ProgrammeStrategy
Background
The alliance sought to translate broad climate targets into sector-specific measures for Germany's 2030 objective.
Action taken
More than 60 organizations contributed to a demands paper covering coal, transport, agriculture and carbon pricing.
Aftermath
The programme broadened the coalition's advocacy from long-term targets to near-term implementation measures.
Sources2 sources
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