Carbon Brief
Carbon Brief is a UK-based private climate media and research organization publishing data-driven journalism, factchecks, and analysis on climate science and energy policy for a global readership, supported by the Project Cosmos database of 1.8 million publications and a portfolio of five newsletters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2011
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Carbon Brief does
Carbon Brief is a UK-based, private climate-focused media and research organization founded in 2011 (operating as Carbon Brief Ltd, Company No. 07222041), headquartered in London with 11-50 employees. It publishes data-driven journalism, explainers, factchecks, and interactive data visualizations covering climate science, energy policy, and environmental issues, serving a global readership of over 1 million across the UK, US, China, India, and EU. The core product is Project Cosmos, launched in June 2026 and described as the world's largest database of climate change research, containing over 1.8 million publications linked by 40 million citation relationships across five data pillars (IPCC references, second-order references, IPCC citers, and studies from 22 climate-focused journals), built over 18 months with academic guidance. Supporting products include five newsletter brands (Daily Briefing, DeBriefed, Cited, China Briefing, Cropped) and the Global South Climate Database, all distributed via the carbonbrief.org website, email, social media (Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Bluesky), RSS feeds, and webinars.
The company operates a content-led growth (product-led growth) go-to-market with distribution primarily through self-serve digital channels. Its revenue model is built on reader donations and subscription support, with free access to journalism and analysis content and no publicly disclosed pricing tiers or paid subscriptions. Customer segments are horizontal: general public/climate enthusiasts as primary, with secondary segments in policymakers/government officials and researchers/academics who access the Cosmos database and citation analytics. Carbon Brief does not disclose financials, has no recorded funding rounds, and appears independently owned without a parent company or external PE/VC investment, relying instead on reader-driven revenue and possible institutional grants.
Carbon Brief firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carbon Brief
- Legal name
- Carbon Brief Ltd
- Website
- https://carbonbrief.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2011
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Carbon Brief is a UK-based private climate media and research organization publishing data-driven journalism, factchecks, and analysis on climate science and energy policy for a global readership, supported by the Project Cosmos database of 1.8 million publications and a portfolio of five newsletters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carbon Brief industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Journalism and Analysis
- NAICS
- Information (51), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Benchmarking, Ratings & Stakeholder Reporting Portals (Scorecards, Dashboards) (EUABAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms (EUABAEAB), Carbon Neutrality/Claims Strategy & Communications (claims substantiation, greenwashing risk) (EUABAKAK)
Keywords
Where Carbon Brief is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Carbon Brief business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Donations and Support: Carbon Brief relies on reader support and donations to fund its journalism, with explicit 'Support us' calls-to-action on the website.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Carbon Brief product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carbon Brief is a digital media organization that produces data-driven journalism, analysis, and factchecking on climate science, energy policy, and environmental issues. Its core products include specialized email newsletters (Daily Briefing, DeBriefed, Cited, China Briefing, Cropped) and the Project Cosmos climate research database containing over 1.8 million publications linked by 40 million citation relationships. Content is distributed primarily through its website and email subscriptions, funded through reader donations and support.
Product overview
Carbon Brief is a climate-focused media and research organization offering a portfolio of analysis products and databases. The core product is Project Cosmos, a climate science database containing over 1.8 million publications with 40 million citation relationships. Supporting products include specialized newsletters (Daily Briefing, DeBriefed, Cited, China Briefing) that deliver curated climate analysis to subscribers, and the Global South Climate Database. The organization publishes original analysis, factchecks, explainers, and interactive content across Science, Energy, and Policy categories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- China Briefing: A specialized section providing focused coverage of China's climate and energy policies
- Daily Briefing
- DeBriefed
- Cited
- Cropped
- Project Cosmos
- Global South Climate Database
Products and services
- Project Cosmos The world's largest database of climate change research containing over 1.8 million publications linked by 40 million citation relationships, built with academic guidance using IPCC reports as foundation. Includes five distinct data pillars covering IPCC report references, second-order references, IPCC citers, and studies from 22 climate-focused journals, plus Cosmos 500 rankings. Targeted at researchers, policymakers, and informed readers.
- Daily Briefing Daily email newsletter providing a round-up of key climate news, analysis, and selected articles by Carbon Brief editors for subscribers worldwide.
- DeBriefed Weekly newsletter covering the latest climate science developments and policy updates for general readers.
- Cited Climate science newsletter featuring selected academic publications and research highlights for science-engaged readers.
- China Briefing Specialized newsletter focused on China's climate and energy policies, emissions, and energy transition developments for policy and energy professionals.
- Global South Climate Database Specialized database focusing on climate research and data specifically relevant to Global South countries and regions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 18 months of development invested in Project Cosmos database
Companies that use Carbon Brief
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Carbon Brief technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Carbon Brief partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Academic Institutions and ResearcherscoreProject Cosmos was built with academic guidance from climate researchers and scientists. Carbon Brief is inviting researchers to submit proposals for collaborative studies using the Cosmos database resource.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Carbon Brief competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Climate Central: Climate-focused research and journalism organization producing data-driven climate analysis, visualizations, and reporting. Highly comparable to Carbon Brief in its specialization on climate science communication and data-rich content.
- Inside Climate News: Pulitzer Prize-winning nonprofit climate journalism outlet covering climate science, energy, and policy. Directly comparable to Carbon Brief as a specialized climate journalism organization with similar editorial scope and donor-supported model.
- Yale Climate Connections: Climate communication initiative producing journalism and content connecting climate change to public understanding. Comparable to Carbon Brief in its mission to translate climate science for general audiences through rigorous reporting.
- DeSmog: Investigative journalism outlet focused on climate disinformation and the fossil fuel industry. Comparable to Carbon Brief in climate journalism specialization, with a complementary focus on factchecking and media analysis.
- Grist: Environmental media organization covering climate, energy, and sustainability with a mix of journalism, analysis, and opinion. Comparable to Carbon Brief in climate-focused journalism with nonprofit/reader-supported funding model.
- Mongabay: Environmental science and conservation journalism platform covering forests, oceans, and climate. Comparable to Carbon Brief in its data-driven environmental journalism with global reach and nonprofit funding model.
- Carbon Herald: Digital media outlet covering climate change, clean energy, and environmental policy. Comparable to Carbon Brief in its digital-first climate journalism focus with similar coverage areas in science, energy, and policy.
Broad incumbents
- The Guardian Climate: Major global news outlet with a large, well-funded climate desk. Overlaps with Carbon Brief's coverage of climate science and policy but as part of a much broader news portfolio with significantly larger resources.
- New York Times Climate: Climate coverage vertical of the New York Times with extensive resources and global reach. Overlaps with Carbon Brief's climate journalism but operates as part of a generalist news organization with a much larger team and subscription base.
- Reuters Climate: Global news agency's climate and energy coverage with extensive international reach. Overlaps with Carbon Brief's energy and policy coverage but as part of Reuters' broader news and financial information services.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carbon Brief social profiles
Digital presenceCarbon Brief financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carbon Brief leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Carbon Brief funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carbon Brief M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carbon Brief
What does Carbon Brief do?
Carbon Brief is a digital media organization that produces data-driven journalism, analysis, and factchecking on climate science, energy policy, and environmental issues. Its core products include specialized email newsletters (Daily Briefing, DeBriefed, Cited, China Briefing, Cropped) and the Project Cosmos climate research database containing over 1.8 million publications linked by 40 million citation relationships. Content is distributed primarily through its website and email subscriptions, funded through reader donations and support.
Is Carbon Brief a public or private company?
Carbon Brief is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Carbon Brief founded?
Carbon Brief was founded in 2011. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Carbon Brief based?
Carbon Brief is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Carbon Brief make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Support.
Who are Carbon Brief's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Climate Central, Inside Climate News, Yale Climate Connections, DeSmog, Grist, Mongabay and Carbon Herald. Broad incumbents are The Guardian Climate, New York Times Climate and Reuters Climate.
Does Carbon Brief have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carbon Brief.
What industry is Carbon Brief in?
Carbon Brief's product category is Climate Journalism and Analysis. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAEAJ, Benchmarking, Ratings & Stakeholder Reporting Portals (Scorecards, Dashboards), with a secondary code of EUABAEAB, ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms. Its NAICS code is 51 and its SIC code is 2741.