The Club of Rome

What The Club of Rome does

The Club of Rome is a 57-year-old, Switzerland-headquartered nonprofit think tank founded in 1968 by Aurelio Peccei and Alexander King as a global platform of thought leaders applying systems-thinking methodologies to interconnected planetary challenges. The organization's intellectual core was the 1972 'Limits to Growth' report — the first systemic model of population, agriculture, resources, industry, and pollution — and its current work is organized under two pillars, Material Transformations and Cultural Transformations, delivered through flagship programs including Earth4All, The Fifth Element, and the Collaborative for Systemic Climate Action.

Its product surface consists of publications (Reports to the Club of Rome, policy briefs, annual reports, books including 'Earth4All: A Survival Guide for Humanity' and 'The Limits to Growth'), The Club of Rome Podcast (distributed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, and 6+ other platforms), international conferences and webinars (e.g., the April 2026 Argentina conference convening 200+ leaders), and a Communications Fellowship program. The organization operates through a federated model with national associations in Nigeria, Romania, Serbia, Japan, Canada, Italy, and others, and partner coalitions with UNESCO (IDSSD), Earth Charter International, Wellbeing Economy Alliance, Power Shift Africa, and the International Resource Panel.

The Club of Rome is funded by donations, philanthropy, and institutional foundation grants — including Oak Foundation, Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, and Quadrature Climate Foundation — with all research, events, and podcasts provided free of charge. A small secretariat (1–10 listed employees in Winterthur) supports the broader member network; revenue is not publicly disclosed.

Name

The Club of Rome

Legal name

The Club of Rome

Website

https://clubofrome.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Club of Rome is a Switzerland-based nonprofit think tank founded in 1968 that convenes global thought leaders to apply systems thinking to planetary challenges, publishing influential reports, hosting international conferences, and operating programs such as Earth4All and the Collaborative for Systemic Climate Action.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research Think Tank

NAICS

Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

Keywords

• Systems thinking research
• Global sustainability think tank
• Policy research publications
• Planetary boundaries analysis
• Climate governance research

Headquarters

HQ city

Winterthur

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and philanthropy: The Club of Rome operates as a nonprofit organization relying on donations from individuals and institutions. The website includes a 'Donate' section for supporting the organization's work on global equity and systems thinking.
2. Institutional funding: Related initiative the Collaborative for Systemic Climate Action has secured funding from major institutional donors including Oak Foundation, Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, and Quadrature Climate Foundation.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Club of Rome is a nonprofit think tank that produces systems-thinking research on interconnected global challenges (climate, inequality, resources, governance). It distributes its work through flagship reports, books, policy briefs, the Club of Rome Podcast, international conferences, webinars, and structured programs such as Earth4All and The Fifth Element, all offered free of charge to maximize societal impact.

Product overview

The Club of Rome is a platform of thought leaders addressing global challenges through systems thinking. Its offerings include publications (such as The Limits to Growth, Earth4All reports, and The Fifth Element discussion papers), The Club of Rome Podcast featuring conversations with global experts, international conferences and webinars, and a Communications Fellowship program. The organization also maintains national associations and chapters worldwide, with publications serving as the primary knowledge products and the podcast as a key engagement platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Earth4All: A global initiative providing breakthrough vision on ensuring wellbeing for humankind within biophysical and ethical limits, offering systemic approach to tackling poverty, inequality and environmental degradation.
• The Fifth Element
• The Club of Rome Podcast

Products and services

• The Club of Rome Podcast A podcast series featuring in-depth conversations with leading global experts exploring systems shaping the world, from economy and climate to governance, technology and culture. Distributed free across major podcast platforms.
• Publications and Reports Reports to the Club of Rome, policy briefs, and analysis publications covering topics such as The Limits to Growth, Earth4All, and The Fifth Element programs. Distributed free via the Club of Rome website.
• Events and Webinars International conferences, webinars, and online events addressing global challenges including regeneration, climate action, and systems transformation. Open to global leaders, researchers, and the public.
• The Limits to Growth The landmark 1972 book examining five basic factors that determine and limit growth on this planet: population, agricultural production, resource depletion, industrial output, and pollution. The foundational publication of the Club of Rome.
• The Fifth Element Programme A programme exploring worldview transformation and the interconnection between humans and the living universe, examining relational patterns across all scales of existence. Produces discussion paper series and convenes thought leaders across cultures and generations.
• Earth4All Initiative A major global initiative co-chaired by the Club of Rome that delivers deep-dive reports on transforming economic systems for an equitable future on a finite planet, including country-level studies such as Earth4All: Argentina and papers on Africa's just transition.
• Communications Fellowship A program aimed at increasing diversity of voices covering sustainability issues and supporting early-career communications professionals from underrepresented communities. Fellows participate in activities such as member interviews and communications projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Collaborative for Systemic Climate Action grew from 15 to 29 organizations, seeding systems-change initiatives across Ghana, India, Ireland, New Mexico, and Brazil
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Collaborative for Systemic Climate ActioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Collaborative for Systemic Climate Action began in 2023 with 15 organizations and has grown to 29 members working on systems-change initiatives across Ghana, India, Ireland, New Mexico, and Brazil. It represents an innovative cross-organizational collaboration model for climate action.
• Earth4AllcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarth4All is a major initiative co-chaired by Club of Rome honorary president Sandrine Dixson-Declève. The project produces deep-dive papers on transforming economic systems, including publications on Africa's just transition, Argentina development pathways, and 'Earth4All: A Survival Guide for Humanity'. The initiative represents a central strategic program for the Club of Rome.
• The Fifth ElementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fifth Element is a Club of Rome program exploring worldview transformation and systems thinking. It has produced discussion paper series including 'The unitive science of a living universe' examining how science reveals interconnection. The program convenes thought leaders for mutual learning across cultures and generations.
• Romanian Association of the Club of RomecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational association organizing regional events including 'No Limits to Hope: Sense-making for alternative futures' conference in November 2026. Coordinates Club of Rome activities in Romania.
• Nigerian Chapter of the Club of RomecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational chapter established in 2006 in Abuja, comprising teachers, bankers, and professionals who organize workshops and promote Club of Rome ideas through research and publications in Nigeria.
• Serbian Chapter of the Club of RomecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational chapter founded in 2015 by Nebojša Nešković to promote inclusive, balanced and sustainable development in Serbia. Works to bridge gaps between nations and ideologies.
• Japanese Association of the Club of RomecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational association led by Yoshitsugu Hayashi, President, focusing on sustainable urban planning and systems transformation in Japan.
• Canadian Association for the Club of RomecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational association chaired by Edward (Ted) Manning, working on sustainable tourism and destination management across the Americas.
• Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized webinar on 'Ecocivilisation: Making a world that works for all' with Earth Charter International, Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology, and EcoCivilization Coalition. WEAll co-founder Katherine Trebeck has appeared on the Club of Rome Podcast.
• Earth Charter InternationalstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for Ecocivilisation webinar exploring system-level approaches to planetary wellbeing and sustainability.
• UNESCO International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable DevelopmentstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerClub of Rome contributes to IDSSD initiative led by UNESCO promoting global collaboration through sciences to achieve sustainable future. Member Nebojša Nešković played pivotal role in aligning Club of Rome objectives with IDSSD.
• Aurelio Peccei FoundationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian foundation established in 1986 organizing annual lectures on sustainability issues and coordinating activities of the Italian Club of Rome community. Named after the Club of Rome founder.
• Power Shift AfricastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization led by Mohamed Adow (Club of Rome member) producing Earth4All deep-dive papers on Africa's just transition and decolonizing economic transformation.
• International Resource PanelstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerClub of Rome member Janez Potočnik serves as co-chair. The Panel puts resource management at the heart of sustainability debates globally.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization producing data-driven policy solutions on environment and sustainability. Comparable as a nonprofit producing influential reports and frameworks for global sustainability policy.
• World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF): Large international nonprofit working on conservation and sustainability. Comparable as a global sustainability organization; Club of Rome member Gianfranco Bologna holds an honorary role at WWF Italy.
• RAND Corporation: Established global think tank producing policy research and reports. Comparable as a research-driven nonprofit producing influential reports across global issues, though with significantly larger scale and a broader policy remit.
• Brookings Institution: Major U.S.-based public policy think tank producing influential research and convening leaders. Comparable as a membership-oriented policy research organization with global ambitions.
• World Economic Forum: Larger, broader international platform convening political, business and civil society leaders around global challenges. Comparable as a multistakeholder convening body influencing policy discourse, though operating with a much larger staff and budget.

Direct peers

• Earth Charter Initiative: International nonprofit promoting a global ethical framework for sustainable development. Comparable as a values-driven organization producing ethical/sustainability frameworks and partnered with the Club of Rome on Ecocivilisation.
• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): UK-based international affairs think tank that convenes leaders and publishes research on global challenges. Highly comparable as a membership-driven nonprofit producing research and hosting conferences with a global remit.
• Stockholm Resilience Centre: Research centre advancing systems thinking and planetary boundaries research. Directly comparable as a systems-thinking research organization addressing sustainability and resilience, an area the Club of Rome has long influenced.
• International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): International research institute applying systems analysis to global challenges. Closely aligned with the Club of Rome's pioneering use of systems modeling and global scenario work.

Emerging players

• Wellbeing Economy Alliance (WEAll): Coalition advancing wellbeing economy alternatives to GDP growth. Directly comparable as a co-organizing partner on Club of Rome events and as an emerging player in the post-growth policy space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/1T6XJBciif3Goc66XfJczl
• Xx.com/ClubOfRome
• Facebookfacebook.com/clubofrome
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clubofrome

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Club of Rome