Climate Reality Project
A United States-based nonprofit organization that educates the public about climate change and organizes advocacy for climate solutions.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The Climate Reality Project is a nonprofit organization focused on climate-change education, public communication, grassroots organizing, and advocacy for policies and technologies intended to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. It was formed through the consolidation of two organizations founded by former United States Vice President Al Gore: the Alliance for Climate Protection and The Climate Project. The combined organization initially retained the Alliance for Climate Protection name before adopting The Climate Reality Project name in July 2011. The organization combines public-facing communications with a distributed network of trained climate communicators. Its work is based on the premise that scientific information about climate change should be translated into accessible presentations, community activity, civic engagement, and support for practical emissions-reduction measures. Its advocacy has generally emphasized clean energy, reductions in fossil-fuel pollution, stronger climate policy, and opposition to new fossil-fuel development. The group presents climate action as both an environmental and public-interest issue, linking emissions to energy systems, extreme weather, health, economic risk, and community resilience. A central element of the organization is the Climate Reality Leadership Corps, a network of people trained to explain climate science and climate solutions and to organize or participate in local advocacy. The network developed from The Climate Project's earlier model, under which selected participants were trained to deliver presentations based on Gore's climate presentation. By 2009, the predecessor project reported more than 3,000 participants who had delivered tens of thousands of presentations to millions of people. The modern leadership network operates internationally; the organization has stated that it has trained leaders from many countries and has maintained activity across a large number of national branches and territories. The Climate Reality Project is also known for 24 Hours of Reality, an annual or recurring global broadcast designed to communicate climate information continuously across time zones. The event uses presentations, interviews, music, celebrity participation, political discussion, and scientific commentary. Its themes have included the cost of carbon, climate-related weather impacts, pathways to clean energy, public communication, and the movement from climate awareness to action. The inaugural 2011 broadcast used a 24-hour format with presenters in multiple locations and languages. Later editions expanded the online and social-media components and addressed the relationship between fossil-fuel pollution and weather events. The organization's predecessor bodies also established several notable advocacy campaigns. The Alliance for Climate Protection's We campaign sought broad civic support for climate action and used bipartisan political imagery, including an advertisement featuring Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich. Repower America promoted a transition of American homes toward clean energy and supported climate legislation. The Reality Coalition, created with several environmental organizations, used advertising and grassroots communication to challenge claims about the ability of coal pollution controls to eliminate climate harms. The Climate Project concentrated more directly on training speakers and expanding climate education. The organization is not a conventional consumer brand or commercial product company. Its principal offerings are educational programs, speaker training, public broadcasts, campaign materials, volunteer and leadership networks, and advocacy initiatives. As of 2021, it reported operations through 10 branches worldwide and activity in 170 countries. Its publicly described long-term objectives include supporting a net-zero future by 2050 and substantially reducing global emissions by 2030. Al Gore remains chairman of the board according to the referenced encyclopedia material.
History
The Climate Reality Project emerged from two organizations created by Al Gore in 2006. The Alliance for Climate Protection was established in California to encourage civic and political action on climate change. It later moved to Menlo Park and then to Washington, D.C. The organization operated as a nonprofit structure and also developed an affiliated advocacy arm, the Climate Protection Action Fund, for grassroots activity and lobbying. Early financial support included proceeds associated with Gore's climate documentary and book An Inconvenient Truth, personal contributions by Gore, and support connected with the Live Earth concerts. These resources helped fund public communication and policy-oriented campaigns. The Alliance's early advocacy sought limits on greenhouse-gas emissions and greater use of low-carbon energy. In 2008 it launched the We campaign, which attempted to frame climate action as a broad civic responsibility rather than an issue belonging to one political faction. One of its best-known advertisements showed Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich appearing together in support of a response to climate change. The campaign worked with organizations including the Girl Scouts of the United States of America, the United Steelworkers, and the National Audubon Society. The Alliance also launched Repower America, a campaign advocating a rapid transition toward clean energy in American homes and supporting climate legislation. The Alliance participated in the creation of the Reality Coalition with the National Wildlife Federation, the League of Conservation Voters, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Sierra Club. The coalition used television, print, online advertising, and local events to challenge claims that coal pollution could be adequately addressed without broader changes to the energy system. These campaigns established the Alliance as a public-education and advocacy organization combining professional media with community organizing. The Climate Project, the second predecessor, was founded in Nashville in 2006. Its main purpose was educational: selected members of the public were trained to give presentations about climate science, the effects of climate change, and available responses. The model was closely associated with the presentation popularized through An Inconvenient Truth. By 2009, the project reported more than 3,000 participants internationally and tens of thousands of presentations delivered to millions of people. This speaker-training approach became an important foundation for the later Climate Reality Leadership Corps. The Alliance for Climate Protection and The Climate Project began combining their work in March 2010. The unified organization initially used the Alliance for Climate Protection name, then changed to The Climate Reality Project in July 2011. The merger brought together the Alliance's policy campaigns and communications infrastructure with The Climate Project's international educational network. The resulting organization focused on public understanding of climate change while retaining a strong emphasis on citizen participation and political advocacy. The organization's most recognizable recurring initiative is 24 Hours of Reality. The first event took place in 2011 as a live internet broadcast organized around a full day of presentations in different time zones. It used multiple languages and combined scientific explanation with contributions from public figures, artists, business leaders, and elected officials. Subsequent broadcasts addressed climate-related weather, the economic cost of carbon pollution, reasons for optimism, clean-energy pathways, and the need to turn public knowledge into action. The 2012 edition, subtitled The Dirty Weather Report, expanded the format and received substantial online and social-media attention. Later themes included The Road Forward, Be the Voice of Reality, Truth to Action, and Countdown to the Future. The Climate Reality Leadership Corps continues the organization's emphasis on trained local communicators. Participants are prepared to explain climate issues, organize educational events, and encourage civic action in their communities. The organization has described the network as international, with leaders from numerous countries and activity through branches around the world. It has also promoted school-focused and community-focused initiatives, including a Green Schools Campaign intended to help schools move toward renewable energy. In its current identity, The Climate Reality Project is an advocacy and education nonprofit rather than a commercial product brand. Its public goals include accelerating climate solutions, reducing dependence on fossil fuels, reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, and helping to halve global emissions by 2030. Its work combines broadcasts, presentations, training, campaigns, and network-building, with Al Gore serving as chairman of the board.
- 2021
Organization reports broad international activity
[1]The organization stated that it operated 10 branches worldwide and was active in 170 countries.
- 2012
The Dirty Weather Report broadcast
[1]The second 24 Hours of Reality broadcast focused on connections between fossil-fuel pollution and weather patterns.
- 2011
The Climate Reality Project name is adopted
[1]The consolidated organization changed its name from the Alliance for Climate Protection to The Climate Reality Project.
- 2011
First 24 Hours of Reality event
[1]The organization launched its global 24-hour climate broadcast, using presenters across time zones and multiple languages.
- 2010
Predecessor organizations combine
[1]The Alliance for Climate Protection and The Climate Project began operating as a single organization.
- 2009
The Climate Project reports an international speaker network
[1]The educational predecessor reported more than 3,000 participants who had delivered tens of thousands of climate presentations to millions of people.
- 2008
We and Repower America campaigns launch
[1]The Alliance for Climate Protection introduced campaigns seeking broad public support for climate action and a transition toward clean energy.
- 2008
Reality Coalition is created
[1]The Alliance joined several environmental organizations to challenge public claims about coal pollution and climate mitigation.
- 2006
Alliance for Climate Protection and The Climate Project are founded
[1]Al Gore founded two separate climate organizations: the Alliance for Climate Protection for civic advocacy and The Climate Project for public education and speaker training.
- 2005
Green Schools Campaign is established
[1]A school-focused initiative was created to help schools pursue renewable energy and related sustainability improvements.
Products and positioning
A global climate-education and advocacy nonprofit that turns climate science into public communication, trained local leadership, and support for climate solutions.
Leadership training and grassroots advocacy
Climate Reality Leadership Corps
A global network of trained climate communicators and advocates. Participants learn to explain climate science, discuss practical solutions, deliver public presentations, and support local campaigns or educational events. The program extends the speaker-training model developed by The Climate Project and is intended to connect international climate communication with community-level action.
Public education broadcast · 2011
24 Hours of Reality
A recurring global broadcast presenting climate science, impacts, policy questions, and proposed solutions through a continuous, time-zone-based format. Editions have included presentations by scientists, activists, elected officials, business leaders, musicians, and other public figures. The program is designed to make climate information accessible to an international audience while encouraging action.
Education and public speaking · 2006
Climate education presentations
Educational talks and presentation materials that explain the causes and effects of climate change and describe responses such as clean energy, emissions reductions, and civic engagement. The program grew from The Climate Project's practice of training members of the public to deliver presentations based on Gore's climate communication work.
School sustainability program · 2005
Green Schools Campaign
A school-oriented initiative intended to help educational institutions pursue renewable energy and related sustainability measures. It represents the organization's effort to extend climate action beyond public messaging into practical institutional changes.
Marketing campaigns
- 202024 Hours of Reality: Countdown to the Future
Global
The broadcast presented climate action as a time-sensitive effort involving emissions reduction and the development of a sustainable future.
- 201924 Hours of Reality: Truth to Action
Global
The program emphasized moving from climate knowledge and public recognition toward concrete action.
- 201824 Hours of Reality: Protect Our Planet, Protect Ourselves
Global
The broadcast connected climate protection with human health, safety, and community well-being.
- 201724 Hours of Reality: Be the Voice of Reality
Global
The event highlighted the role of individual communicators and advocates in discussing climate change.
Outcome. The broadcast was reported as having a potential reach of approximately 400 million people.
- 201624 Hours of Reality: The Road Forward
Global
The broadcast focused on future pathways for climate action and clean-energy development.
- 201524 Hours of Reality and Live Earth: The World is Watching
Global
The event combined the 24 Hours of Reality format with Live Earth branding to present a global climate-awareness program.
- 201424 Hours of Reality: 24 Reasons for Hope
Global
The broadcast emphasized reasons for optimism and examples of climate solutions.
- 201324 Hours of Reality: The Cost of Carbon
Global
The annual broadcast focused on the economic and social costs associated with carbon pollution.
- 201224 Hours of Reality: The Dirty Weather Report
Global
A follow-up broadcast examined the relationship between coal, oil, and gas pollution and changing weather patterns.
Outcome. The event attracted a larger online audience than the first broadcast and received multiple Telly Awards.
- 201124 Hours of Reality
Global
The inaugural 24-hour online broadcast presented climate information from locations across time zones and used 24 presenters in 13 languages.
Outcome. The broadcast received substantial online viewing and later received a Silver Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Showing the 10 most recent.
Brand decisions
2011
Rename to The Climate Reality ProjectStrategyBackground
The consolidated organization sought an identity reflecting both climate education and public advocacy.
Action taken
The organization changed its name from the Alliance for Climate Protection to The Climate Reality Project.
Aftermath
The new name became the organization's continuing public identity.
2010
Consolidation of the Alliance for Climate Protection and The Climate ProjectM&ABackground
The two organizations had complementary missions: one emphasized advocacy and civic campaigns, while the other specialized in climate education and speaker training.
Action taken
They combined their operations into a single organization.
Aftermath
The unified organization retained the Alliance for Climate Protection name temporarily and later adopted The Climate Reality Project name.
Recent events
- 2012
24 Hours of Reality: The Dirty Weather Report expands online reach[1]
Campaign · Product generation
The second major broadcast focused on links between fossil-fuel pollution and weather patterns and attracted a larger online audience than the inaugural event.
- 2011
Combined organization adopts The Climate Reality Project name[1]
Other
After operating under the Alliance for Climate Protection name following the consolidation, the organization was renamed The Climate Reality Project.
- 2011
First 24 Hours of Reality broadcast reaches a global online audience[1]
Campaign · Product launch
The organization launched a 24-hour online climate broadcast spanning time zones and multiple languages, with Al Gore presenting from New York at the conclusion.
- 2010
Alliance for Climate Protection and The Climate Project combine[1]
M&A · Other
The two climate organizations founded by Al Gore combined their operations to create a unified organization focused on climate education and grassroots engagement.
Sources2 sources
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