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TELL WORLD LEADERS: PHASE OUT FOSSIL FUELS AND TRANSITION TO CLEAN ENERGY NOW. TAKE ACTION »
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Strengthening International Cooperation on Climate

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In the race to halve emissions this decade, leadership from major economies matters.

At Climate Reality, we work to build the political will and pass key policies in G20 countries and other key nations to speed the global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy – and make it fair for everyone.

Our Priorities

Develop New National Climate Action Plans to Keep 1.5 Alive
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Reaching the Paris Agreement target of holding warming to 1.5 degrees C will take both major emissions cuts by 2030 and ambitious commitments to climate finance and just energy transition for the decades beyond.

We work to build the political and political will to do it.

Under the Paris Agreement, countries are due to submit national climate action plans for the next decade – known as NDCs 3.0 – in 2025. We aim to seize this moment of opportunity and build demand for aggressive NDCs that can meet our Paris goals and stop rising temperatures.

In particular, we focus on wealthy nations with the responsibility for the bulk of global emissions and the resources to lead on energy transition and climate finance.

Finance a Just Transition
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The world can only meet our Paris Agreement targets together. And yet, too many developing nations – living with devastating climate impacts they did nothing to create – lack access to fair credit terms or finance necessary to pursue clean energy development without adding to crushing debt burdens.

We attack this issue from two angles. First, we work to build pressure on the wealthy G20 nations primarily responsible for greenhouse gas emissions – and mandated to provide climate finance - to increase fair financing for clean energy projects in Global South countries.

Second, we work to reform pivotal financial institutions like World Bank and other multilateral development banks. Our goal is to not only shift funding flows from fossil fuels to clean energy and adaptation projects but also attract greater levels of private investment. All on terms favorable to receiving nations.

Make the COP Fit for Purpose
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In theory, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) creates a process for progress on climate action. Each year, nearly 200 countries party to the UNFCCC meet for UN COP climate talks to discuss and accelerate global efforts toward the Paris Agreement goals of holding warming to 1.5 degrees C.

In practice, the current format allows a small number of petrostates and a growing number of fossil fuel interests attending the talks to limit action on fossil fuels and hold back progress for billions.

We work to expose these conflicts of interest and reform the COP process to become a vehicle for the ambitious climate action the world needs.

Why the G20?

G20 countries collectively will be instrumental in our success or failure on energy transition – and in fighting climate change.

Together, G20 countries:

  • Produce 76% of global emissions.
  • Account for 85% of global GDP.
  • Represent over 75% of global trade.
  • Accounted for nearly 90% of global cumulative clean energy capacity in 2023.
  • Accounted for the vast majority of the $1.77 trillion in low-carbon energy investments in 2023.

The decisions these countries make in powering their economies at home and catalyzing energy transition abroad through climate finance will have an outsize impact on global business and emissions.

The bottom line: Get the policies right here and get leading countries to work together and we can get the world on track to a livable future.

On the Ground at COP 29

Running November 11–22, the UN’s COP 29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, brings nearly 200 countries together to advance the global fight against climate change.

Where we work

Our 11 global branches and 100 US chapters mobilize Climate Reality Leaders and advocates to support breakthrough climate policies in select G20 and other nations worldwide.

Where we work

Measuring Progress: Climate Action Scorecards

Our G20 scorecards track each target nation’s progress in the key policies necessary to stop rising temperatures and reach net zero by mid-century.

The bad news: Today, no G20 country is fully on track to reduce emissions at the speed and scale required to hold warming to 1.5 degrees. Not enough private and public finance is being mobilized for a rapid and just transition to clean energy. And time is running short.

Use the scorecards to see where G20 and other target countries stand on climate commitments and policies.

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