The Climate Group
An international nonprofit that mobilizes companies and subnational governments to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The Climate Group is an international nonprofit organization focused on accelerating climate action by business, governments, and other institutions. Its stated long-term objective is a global economy capable of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Rather than operating as a conventional consumer-facing brand, it functions as a convenor, campaign operator, policy advocate, research and communications organization, and secretariat for collaborative climate initiatives. The organization was founded in 2003 and formally launched in 2004. Its early work grew out of research supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund and was intended to demonstrate that major companies and subnational governments could move faster than national-level negotiations alone. The launch received support from former UK prime minister Tony Blair and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Steve Howard, Jim Walker, and Alison Lucas were among the principal figures involved in establishing the organization. The Climate Group operates internationally, with its headquarters in the United Kingdom and offices or operational presence across Europe, North America, India, and China. It has developed a particularly prominent role in connecting state, regional, provincial, and city governments. In 2005 it created the States and Regions Alliance, and in 2015 it helped establish the Under2 Coalition with California and Baden-Württemberg. The coalition brings together subnational governments committed to keeping global warming below two degrees Celsius, with the ambition of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees and reaching net zero by 2050 or earlier. By 2024, the Under2 Coalition comprised 178 subnational governments, supported by a broader network representing approximately 1.75 billion people and half of the global economy. A second major area of activity is corporate climate action. The Climate Group convenes initiatives including RE100, EP100, EV100, SteelZero, ConcreteZero, and EV100+. These programs use voluntary commitments, peer learning, public reporting, procurement signals, and policy engagement to increase demand for renewable electricity, improve energy productivity, accelerate electric-vehicle adoption, and reduce emissions from steel, concrete, and heavy-duty transport. The programs are designed to influence markets as well as individual members, encouraging suppliers, investors, and policymakers to respond to corporate demand for lower-carbon technologies. The organization is also best known publicly for Climate Week NYC, an annual September program held alongside the United Nations General Assembly in cooperation with the United Nations and the City of New York. Since its first edition in 2009, the event has become a major forum for climate announcements, business commitments, policy discussion, and civil-society engagement. The Climate Group also runs the US Climate Action Summit and the Climate Group Asia Action Summit. The Climate Group is independent of corporate and government ownership. Its income has historically come from philanthropic and foundation grants, government grants, event sponsorship, membership, and partnership income. Its 2022–2023 annual report identified these as its principal funding categories. The organization remains active in climate diplomacy, corporate mobilization, subnational government cooperation, and public communications, particularly through its work around the annual UN climate negotiations.
History
The Climate Group emerged from research and philanthropic discussions about how companies and subnational governments could contribute to climate action more rapidly and practically. It was founded in 2003 and launched in 2004. Steve Howard, Jim Walker, and Alison Lucas were central to its creation, while Tony Blair and Arnold Schwarzenegger supported the launch. From the beginning, the organization sought to complement national climate diplomacy by demonstrating action by businesses, states, provinces, regions, and cities. Its international footprint expanded quickly. A first United States office opened in Oakland, California, in 2006, followed by a New York office in 2007. Offices or operational bases were subsequently established in Beijing, Brussels, and Hong Kong in 2008, India in 2009, and Amsterdam in 2022. This geographic structure supported work across both corporate and government networks. In 2005, the organization launched the States and Regions Alliance at the Montreal climate conference. The alliance created a platform through which subnational governments could exchange policy experience and coordinate their climate ambitions. This work later developed into the Under2 Coalition, formed in May 2015 by California and Baden-Württemberg ahead of the Paris climate conference. The Climate Group acts as the coalition's secretariat. The coalition's purpose is to bring together governments that seek deep emissions reductions and net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. Its first general assembly took place at COP21 in Marrakech in 2016, after which the coalition continued meeting around the annual UN climate process. The Climate Group's business-facing work expanded through a series of sector initiatives. RE100 brought together companies seeking to procure 100 percent renewable electricity. EP100 focused on energy productivity and efficiency. EV100 was designed to accelerate corporate adoption of electric vehicles and charging infrastructure. Later initiatives addressed industrial materials and heavy transport: SteelZero launched publicly in December 2020, ConcreteZero began in July 2022, and EV100+ was introduced in September 2022 for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Climate Week NYC became the organization's most visible recurring event. First held in 2009, it takes place every September alongside the UN General Assembly and is coordinated with the United Nations and New York City. It combines a central summit with hundreds of related meetings, announcements, and public events involving government, business, and civil society. The organization also established the US Climate Action Summit in 2021 and holds the Climate Group Asia Action Summit. Leadership changed in 2011, when Mark Kenber succeeded Steve Howard as chief executive. Kenber resigned in 2016, and Helen Clarkson became chief executive in 2017. The organization has continued to combine public campaigns, corporate membership initiatives, subnational government coordination, climate diplomacy, and communications. It describes its funding as independent of corporate and government ownership, relying on grants, event sponsorship, membership, and partnership income. Its 2022–2023 annual report identified government and foundation grants, event sponsorship, and membership or partnership income as its three principal funding streams.
- 2022
ConcreteZero and EV100+ introduced
[1]New initiatives addressed concrete-sector emissions and zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
- 2021
US Climate Action Summit launched
[2]The organization introduced a Washington, DC forum focused on practical US climate policy and business action.
- 2020
SteelZero publicly launched
[1]SteelZero began as a corporate initiative intended to build demand for net-zero steel.
- 2017
Helen Clarkson becomes chief executive
[1]Helen Clarkson succeeded Mark Kenber as chief executive.
- 2015
Under2 Coalition formed
[1]California and Baden-Württemberg formed the Under2 Coalition, with the Climate Group serving as secretariat.
- 2009
First Climate Week NYC
[1]The first Climate Week NYC summit was held to build momentum for international climate negotiations.
- 2005
States and Regions Alliance launched
[1]A global network for subnational climate cooperation was launched at COP11 in Montreal.
- 2004
Public launch
[1]The organization launched with philanthropic support and backing associated with Tony Blair and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- 2003
Organization founded
[1]The Climate Group was established to encourage faster climate action by major companies and subnational governments.
Products and positioning
Global climate-action convener and nonprofit accelerator connecting corporate commitments with government policy and multilevel climate governance.
Subnational climate-government network · 2015
Under2 Coalition
The Under2 Coalition is a global alliance of states, regions, provinces, and other subnational governments pursuing deep greenhouse-gas reductions and net-zero emissions by 2050 or earlier. The Climate Group serves as its secretariat, supporting coordination, policy exchange, coalition meetings, and engagement in the UN climate process. By 2024, the coalition included 178 subnational governments and a wider network representing about 1.75 billion people and half of the global economy.
Corporate renewable-electricity initiative
RE100
RE100 brings together companies that have made commitments to transition to 100 percent renewable electricity. Its model combines public commitments, progress tracking, peer engagement, and policy advocacy to increase corporate demand for renewable power and encourage the development of cleaner electricity systems.
Corporate energy-efficiency initiative
EP100
EP100 is a business network centered on energy productivity and efficiency. Members commit to measuring and reporting improvements, with the goal of reducing energy use, lowering emissions, and demonstrating that efficiency investment can support business performance as well as climate objectives.
Corporate electric-vehicle initiative
EV100
EV100 connects companies committed to making electric transport more widespread by 2030. Participating businesses use fleet procurement, workplace and customer charging, and policy engagement to increase demand, improve infrastructure, and help normalize electric vehicles across markets.
Industrial decarbonization initiative · 2020
SteelZero
SteelZero is a corporate initiative aimed at accelerating the availability and adoption of net-zero steel. It seeks to use collective purchasing commitments and market signaling to encourage steel producers and policymakers to invest in lower-emission production methods.
Industrial decarbonization initiative · 2022
ConcreteZero
ConcreteZero focuses on reducing emissions associated with concrete procurement and production. It brings together companies seeking lower-carbon concrete and aims to create stronger demand signals for innovation and emissions reductions throughout the sector.
Heavy-transport electrification initiative · 2022
EV100+
EV100+ extends the electric-transport model to medium- and heavy-duty vehicles above 7.5 tonnes. Its stated objective is to support the transition of these fleets to zero emissions by 2040 in OECD markets, China, and India.
Climate conference and convening platform · 2009
Climate Week NYC
Climate Week NYC is an annual September program held alongside the UN General Assembly. It combines a flagship summit with a broad citywide schedule of events involving business, government, civil society, and media, providing a platform for climate commitments, policy discussion, and announcements.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021US Climate Action Summit
United States
A Washington, DC forum intended to connect business, political, and nonprofit leaders around measurable US climate action.
Outcome. Established a recurring platform featuring a leaders' forum, workshops, and roundtables focused on policy and implementation.
- 2017Future Fund
Global
A capacity-building fund supported by Under2 Coalition members for developing and emerging-economy regions.
Outcome. The program reports funding 15 capacity-building projects, supporting 21 secondments, and enabling representatives from developing and emerging economies to participate in international climate events.
- 2015Under2 Coalition
Global
Mobilized state, regional, provincial, and city governments around ambitious emissions reductions and net-zero objectives.
Outcome. By 2024, the coalition included 178 subnational governments and a wider network representing approximately 1.75 billion people.
- 2009Climate Week NYC
United States · Global
An annual global climate-action program convening business, political, and civil-society leaders in New York during the UN General Assembly.
Outcome. Developed into one of the largest recurring climate convening platforms, with a flagship summit and hundreds of affiliated events.
- 2005States and Regions Alliance
Global
Created a network through which subnational governments could exchange climate policy knowledge and coordinate action.
Outcome. Provided an institutional foundation for later subnational climate alliances, including the Under2 Coalition.
Brand decisions
2022
Expand sector programs with ConcreteZero and EV100+Product launchBackground
The organization identified concrete and medium- and heavy-duty transport as sectors requiring additional corporate coordination.
Action taken
ConcreteZero launched in July and EV100+ launched in September, extending the organization's work into lower-carbon concrete and heavy-vehicle electrification.
Aftermath
The initiatives broadened the portfolio beyond renewable electricity, energy efficiency, and passenger or light commercial vehicles.
2020
Launch SteelZeroProduct launchBackground
Heavy industry is a significant source of emissions, while corporate buyers can influence demand for cleaner materials.
Action taken
The Climate Group launched SteelZero as a corporate commitment and market-signaling initiative for net-zero steel.
Aftermath
SteelZero became part of the organization's portfolio of sector-specific corporate climate initiatives.
2015
Support formation of the Under2 CoalitionStrategyBackground
The organization sought to strengthen the role of subnational governments in global climate action ahead of COP21.
Action taken
It supported the coalition's creation by California and Baden-Württemberg and became its secretariat.
Aftermath
The coalition became a major multilevel climate-governance network and continued to engage in annual COP processes.
Recent events
- 2022
ConcreteZero launches[1]
Campaign · Product launch
The Climate Group launched ConcreteZero to encourage corporate demand for lower-emission concrete and support decarbonization of the concrete sector.
- 2022
EV100+ expands focus to heavy-duty vehicles[1]
Campaign · Product launch
EV100+ was introduced as an extension of EV100, focusing on medium- and heavy-duty vehicles above 7.5 tonnes and their transition to zero emissions by 2040 in specified markets.
- 2020
SteelZero launches[1]
Campaign · Product launch
SteelZero publicly launched with an initial group of companies committed to stimulating demand for net-zero steel.
- 2015
Under2 Coalition is formed[1]
Campaign
California and Baden-Württemberg formed the Under2 Coalition with support from the Climate Group to mobilize state, regional, and city governments around deep emissions reductions.
- 2009
Climate Week NYC begins[1]
Campaign
The Climate Group held the first Climate Week NYC summit to build momentum for a stronger international climate agreement ahead of COP15 in Copenhagen.
- 2005
Climate Group launches the States and Regions Alliance[1]
Other
The organization established an international network for subnational governments at COP11 in Montreal, aimed at sharing knowledge and strengthening regional climate action.
Sources5 sources
- 1Climate Groupen.wikipedia.org
- 2The Climate Grouptheclimategroup.org
- 3Flipkart pledges 100 pc transition to electric vehicles by 2030aninews.in
- 4Flipkart pledges 100% transition to electric vehicles by 2030archive.siasat.com
- 5Human After All rebrands the Climate Group to add urgency to its identityitsnicethat.com
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