Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative

What Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative does

The Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) was a non-profit impact initiative of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, established in 2016 and formally closed on 31 December 2023 after seven years of operation. Headquartered at 170 E 64th St, New York, C2G was the first dedicated global initiative focused specifically on the governance of large-scale Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). It functioned as a policy think tank and multi-stakeholder convening platform targeting national governments, UN agencies, IPCC-affiliated scientists, and youth climate constituencies (YOUNGO, SRM Youth Watch). It did not build or sell software; its core outputs were expertise, policy briefs, evidence summaries, governance gap analyses, and convening events.

C2G's product surface comprised three branded content series — C2GTalk (one-on-one interviews with practitioners such as Kim Stanley Robinson and Gabriela Ramos), C2GLearn (webinars and informal 'campfire chats' with international experts), and C2GDiscuss (moderated expert panel discussions) — supplemented by a multilingual publications library, a glossary (in English, Spanish, French, and Chinese), infographics, and a Youth Climate Voices program. Distribution was entirely digital and free-of-charge through c2g2.net, YouTube, Facebook (C2G2net), X (@c2g2net), and side events at UNFCCC COPs, HLPF, STI Forum, Asia-Pacific Climate Week, Africa Climate Week, and the Americas Conference on SRM. Notable policy outcomes included support for Mexico's federal prohibition on solar geoengineering experimentation (jointly issued by SEMARNAT, INECC, and CONACYT) and input aligned with UNEP's 2023 'One Atmosphere' report.

Commercially, C2G had no revenue-generating model. It was funded as a philanthropic initiative through the Carnegie Council from external funders; all resources were provided free of charge with no paywall, pricing, or commercial distribution. The entity operated with no independent ownership, no venture or private equity investors, and no public shareholders. Following closure, the Carnegie Council retained ownership of C2G's intellectual property, archived publications, and recorded materials.

Name

Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative

Legal name

Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative

Website

https://c2g2.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Closed

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) was a non-profit impact initiative of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs (2016–2023) that convened governments, UN agencies, scientists, and youth on governance of Carbon Dioxide Removal and Solar Radiation Modification, producing free multilingual publications and events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Governance Policy Research

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH), Offsets & Carbon Removal Procurement Strategy (portfolio design, quality screening) (EUABAKAL), Decarbonization Strategy & Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) Advisory (EUABAKAC)

Keywords

• Climate governance research
• Carbon dioxide removal
• Solar radiation modification
• Environmental policy advisory
• Climate ethics consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation-funded operations (Carnegie Council): C2G was a philanthropic initiative of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, funded by external funders. It produced free public resources including publications, webinars, and multimedia content with no revenue-generating commercial model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) was a non-profit impact initiative that produced research, publications, and convening programs on the governance of large-scale Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). Its core deliverables were three content series — C2GTalk interviews, C2GLearn webinars, and C2GDiscuss panel discussions — alongside a multilingual publications library, glossary, infographics, and a Youth Climate Voices program, all provided free of charge to governments, policymakers, scientists, youth, and UN agencies.

Product overview

The Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) was a non-profit educational initiative of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs that operated from 2016 to 2023. It did not offer a software product or platform, but rather provided knowledge resources and convening services focused on the governance of climate-altering approaches, specifically Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) and Solar Radiation Modification (SRM). Its core offerings consisted of three content series—C2GTalk (interview format), C2GLearn (webinars and educational events), and C2GDiscuss (expert panel discussions)—alongside a publications library, multilingual glossary, infographics, and a Youth Climate Voices program. The initiative closed on December 31, 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• C2GTalk

Quantifiable outcome

• C2G engaged governments including Mexico, Germany, and Latin American/Ibero-American nations in dialogues on SRM governance and supported Mexico's development of a national decree prohibiting solar geoengineering experimentation.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs (CCEIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G was an impact initiative of the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs. Carnegie Council served as the parent organization, providing institutional infrastructure, funding management, and operational support. C2G closed on 31 December 2023.
• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G and UNESCAP co-organized side events including at the 2021 Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW), focusing on CDR approaches and their implications for Sustainable Development Goals in the Asia-Pacific region.
• United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G and UNECA co-organized a side event during the UN High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Carbon Dioxide Removal and Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on Africa and Latin America and Caribbean regions.
• United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (UNECLAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G and UNECLAC co-organized a side event during HLPF on Carbon Dioxide Removal and SDGs, exploring the potential implications of CDR for African and Latin American and Caribbean SDGs.
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G engaged closely with UNEP, which published the 2023 'One Atmosphere' report on SRM governance needs. C2G's work on SRM governance gaps and international governance options aligned with and contributed to UNEP's independent expert review process.
• Government of Mexico (SEMARNAT, INECC, CONACYT)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G engaged with Mexico's Ministry of Environment (SEMARNAT), National Institute of Ecology and Climate Change (INECC), and National Council of Sciences and Technology (CONACYT), which jointly issued a decree prohibiting solar geoengineering experimentation in Mexico. C2G provided governance expertise supporting Mexico's policy position.
• Latin America, Caribbean, and Spanish Climate Action Network (LEDS LAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G and LEDS LAC co-organized webinars on CDR governance, SRM, and net-zero strategies tailored for Latin America and the Caribbean, including events on CDR and SDGs and CO2 removal in the LAC context.
• Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G co-organized the 'Americas Conference on Solar Radiation Modification: Science, Governance and Implications for the Region' with IAI, bringing together regional experts on SRM science and governance.
• Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G and GESAMP co-organized a side event 'Marine Cloud Brightening — A Governance Dilemma' during the 2022 UN Ocean Conference, addressing the governance challenges of ocean-based climate intervention methods.
• African Union CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G engaged with the African Union Commission, including participation by Leah Wanambwa at C2G events, and co-organized side events at Africa Climate Week addressing climate-altering technologies in Africa's energy transition.
• Youth climate organizations (YOUNGO, SRM Youth Watch, Youth Climate Voices)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G's Youth Climate Voices program engaged young climate advocates including Clara Botto (SRM Youth Watch Co-Founder), Nii Noi Omaboe, Marie-Claire Graf (YOUNGO Global Focal Point), and others. C2G supported the development of SRM Youth Watch (SRMYouthWatch.org) as a global youth platform.
• IPCC experts and scientific contributorsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerC2G engaged with IPCC experts and contributors including Thelma Krug (IPCC Vice-Chair), Andy Reisinger, Joeri Rogelj (Imperial College London), and Inés Camilloni for webinars, interviews, and publications analyzing IPCC AR6 findings on CDR and SRM.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• The SilverLining: Non-profit focused on advancing safe climate intervention research, including SRM. Closest peer to C2G in subject matter and convening mission, though it emphasizes research funding advocacy rather than governance frameworks specifically.
• Degrees Initiative: Non-profit supporting SRM research capacity building in the Global South. Operates in the same CDR/SRM research governance space as C2G with a focus on developing-country research access, making it a strong thematic and mission-level peer.
• Climate Action Tracker: Independent scientific analysis tracking government climate action and commitments. Shares C2G's model of producing authoritative, free public analysis to inform policy debate, though focused on mitigation ambition rather than climate intervention governance.
• Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL): International environmental law and policy organization engaged on climate governance issues including geoengineering. Comparable to C2G in working at the intersection of international policy and emerging climate technologies, with a legal and rights-based framing.
• Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy: Academic policy initiative focused on governance of carbon removal approaches. Direct peer to C2G specifically on the CDR side of C2G's mandate, with overlapping subject matter and convening activities in the carbon removal governance space.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Independent climate policy think tank producing analysis and convening stakeholders on climate and energy policy. Comparable to C2G as a climate-focused think tank, but operates at a much broader scope spanning energy transition and mitigation policy rather than climate intervention governance.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization producing climate, energy, and sustainability analysis. Overlaps with C2G in producing accessible policy research and convening governments, though WRI is far larger and more diversified across climate topics.
• Union of Concerned Scientists: Science-based advocacy organization working on climate, energy, and security policy. Comparable as a science-policy intermediary that convenes experts and produces accessible analysis to inform governance, though it operates across a much broader portfolio.
• ClimateWorks Foundation: Major climate philanthropy funding systemic climate solutions globally. Comparable as a funder and convener in the climate space and a potential funder/partner analogue for the type of grant-funded convening work C2G performed.

Emerging players

• The Geoengineering Governance Project: Research initiative examining governance options for geoengineering technologies. Direct peer in the narrow SRM/CDR governance research space, with a more academic and less convening-oriented posture than C2G's multi-stakeholder model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/c2g2net
• Facebookfacebook.com/C2G2net

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative