The Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) is an independent, non-profit research group and international climate policy organization established in 2009. It is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with additional offices located across the globe, including Brazil, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. CPI’s fundamental mission is to assist governments, businesses, and financial institutions in achieving economic growth while effectively confronting climate change and the increasing scarcity of resources.
CPI differentiates itself through its profound expertise in both finance and policy. A key focus for the organization is understanding how financial systems can drive the transition towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. They are widely recognized for their thorough tracking and analysis of global climate finance flows, notably through their “Global Landscape of Climate Finance” reports. These reports offer crucial insights into investment trends, existing gaps, and emerging opportunities in climate finance.
The work of CPI encompasses several key areas:
Analysis and Assessments: They conduct in-depth research to identify effective and ineffective approaches in climate and energy policies, with a strong emphasis on the financial aspects. This includes analyzing the true costs associated with transitioning to low-carbon energy systems and evaluating how policy decisions impact the economics of relevant projects.
Advisory and Convening: CPI provides expert advice to decision-makers in both the public and private sectors. They also play a role in bringing various stakeholders together to foster collaboration and facilitate the implementation of solutions. Their partnerships extend to governments, businesses, investors, and foundations worldwide.
Design and Implementation of New Solutions: The organization is involved in developing innovative financial instruments and policy frameworks designed to mobilize investment for climate action. An example of this is the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, which focuses on identifying and launching instruments that encourage private investment in climate resilience initiatives.
Focus on Key Areas: CPI’s research and advisory work extends across several critical domains, including:
Climate Finance: This involves mapping financial flows, identifying investment gaps, and designing innovative financial solutions to address climate change.
Energy Finance: They work to understand the economics of low-carbon energy transitions and design financial vehicles aimed at lowering the costs associated with these transitions.
Land Use: CPI promotes sustainable land management practices that enhance productivity while simultaneously protecting vital carbon stocks. Their “Production & Protection” approach is a notable example in this area.
CPI’s influence is evident in its collaborations with various international bodies, national governments (including those in India, Brazil, Indonesia, Southern Africa, and G7 countries), and private sector partners. They work to translate their research into tangible impacts on the ground. Ultimately, CPI aims to foster a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive global economy by moving from conceptual discussions to concrete actions, all supported by rigorous, evidence-based solutions.
