Center for Climate Strategies

What Center for Climate Strategies does

Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit climate policy consulting organization founded in 2004 by Tom Peterson. The firm provides direct technical assistance, multi-objective planning frameworks, and analytical tools to national and subnational governments, international development agencies, and foundations across more than 20 US states, 40+ subnational jurisdictions, and 20+ countries spanning North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Its core methodology is a proprietary 10-Step Process that integrates climate, energy, and economic objectives into a single collaborative planning framework, delivered alongside specialized tools such as the Excel-based GHG Strategy Tool, the LEAP energy modeling platform, the UNDP Nature Based Solutions cost-benefit tool, a Renewable Energy Implementation Toolkit, and a China Subnational Low Carbon Development Toolkit.

CCS's products and services are positioned as decision-support instruments rather than commercial software. The tools are deployed alongside training, capacity building, stakeholder facilitation, and implementation support, and are made available for independent use after initial training. The organization does not offer APIs, software-as-a-service platforms, or AI-based analytics; its intellectual property resides in the codified methodologies and the institutional knowledge of its technical team.

CCS operates as a private nonprofit funded through three primary channels: fee-for-service government consulting contracts, grants from international development institutions (USAID, World Bank, European Commission, UN agencies), and project-specific foundation support (Abell Foundation, New York Community Trust, Energy Foundation). Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales through direct government relationships, competitive bidding for donor-funded programs, and consortium participation with implementing partners such as RTI International, Winrock, and the Climate Group. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and follows a professional services / cost-reimbursable contract model typical of donor-funded advisory work.

Name

Center for Climate Strategies

Legal name

Center for Climate Strategies

Website

https://climatestrategies.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Center for Climate Strategies is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit consultancy founded in 2004 that provides climate planning frameworks, analytical tools, and technical assistance to national and subnational governments and international development agencies across more than 20 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Policy Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Target-Setting, Transition Planning & Performance Management Platforms (EUABAEAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Finance, Carbon Markets & MRV Systems (BPADALAB), Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH), Carbon Neutrality/Claims Strategy & Communications (claims substantiation, greenwashing risk) (EUABAKAK), Benchmarking, Ratings & Stakeholder Reporting Portals (Scorecards, Dashboards) (EUABAEAJ)

Keywords

• Climate policy consulting
• GHG mitigation planning
• Climate action planning
• Capacity building training
• Renewable energy policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Consulting Services: Direct technical assistance and advisory services provided to national and subnational governments for climate planning, policy development, and implementation support. Revenue generated through fee-for-service contracts with government agencies.
2. International Development Contracts: Work funded by international development agencies including USAID, World Bank, UN agencies, and bilateral donors. Grants and contracts for technical assistance programs in developing countries.
3. Foundation Funding: Project support from foundations such as the Abell Foundation, New York Community Trust, and others for specific climate policy research and demonstration projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) provides climate policy consulting services to national and subnational governments, international development organizations, and foundations. Its work centers on analytical tools, multi-objective planning frameworks, and capacity building programs that help public-sector clients design, implement, and track greenhouse gas mitigation and climate action plans across sectors including energy, transport, buildings, land use, and green finance.

Product overview

Center for Climate Strategies is a climate policy consulting and advisory organization that provides planning frameworks, analytical tools, and capacity building services rather than a unified software platform. Its core offerings include the GHG Strategy Tool (Microsoft Excel-based mitigation scenario development tool), the UNDP NBS Tool for nature-based solutions cost-benefit analysis, the 10-Step Process & Analytical Toolkit for comprehensive climate action planning, the Renewable Energy Implementation Toolkit for South China, and the China Subnational LCD Planning Toolkit. These tools are complemented by training and instruction programs. The organization does not offer commercial software products but provides consulting services, templates, and analytical frameworks to governments and stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PRISM (Policy Recommendations and Implementation Support Model) PRISM is CCS's flagship analytical model that recommends policy packages for governments to meet climate change goals across multiple sectors.
• Climate Action Planning Services Multi-stakeholder climate action planning services for national and subnational governments, covering mitigation pathways, policy design, and implementation support across sectors such as energy, transport, buildings, land use, and green finance.
• Capacity Building and Training Programs Training and capacity building programs, including practitioner manuals, delivered to government officials, ministry staff, and practitioners to support climate policy implementation and GHG accounting.
• LEAF (Local Emission Analysis Framework) Analytical tool for local-level emissions analysis and climate action planning at the city and subnational scale.
• Green Revenue Analysis Services Advisory services for governments on green revenue, fossil fuel subsidies, and fiscal policy instruments tied to climate action, including the FReD-2.0 framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• Led development of 20 comprehensive state climate action plans in the United States
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abell FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for climate leadership research and policy analysis. CCS authored the Abell Foundation report comparing climate leadership actions of Maryland and Massachusetts.
• Energy FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner supporting clean energy and climate policy development in the United States.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)coreTechnology or IntegrationTechnical collaboration on renewable energy and clean energy analysis tools and methodologies.
• Climate GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership under the Under2 Coalition Climate Pathway Project and Green Recovery Alliance for subnational decarbonization pathway development.
• RTI InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on USAID-funded projects including Guatemala LEDS and Eastern Europe Regional LEDS Platform.
• Winrock InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Under2 Coalition Climate Pathway Project supporting LAC region decarbonization pathways.
• George Mason UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for resilience short courses and NSF-funded climate resilience research translating academic expertise into practice.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Nature Based Solutions tool development and Private Investment Mobilization programs in developing countries.
• Global Environmental Institute (GEI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing EcoPartnership on China Low Carbon Development since 2009. Recognized as official US-China EcoPartnership by State Department and NDRC.
• Stockholm Environment InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on climate policy research and analysis methodologies.
• UN Environment Programme (UNEP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Africa LEDS Project and LEDS Global Partnership activities.
• LEDS Global PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional platform support for LEDS development, capacity building, and knowledge sharing.
• Africa LEDS PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional partnership for low emissions development strategies in African countries.
• Border Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Mexico Border States Climate Change Program for cross-border climate action planning.
• University of West IndiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership hosting Private Investment Mobilization training program as incubator for Trinidad and Tobago EV pilot.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carbon Trust: Climate consultancy advising governments and businesses on carbon reduction strategy, climate planning, and policy. Comparable in advisory style, though more commercially oriented than CCS's nonprofit model.
• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute): Independent energy and climate think tank that advises governments on decarbonization pathways and energy transition—comparable to CCS on integrated climate-energy planning and subnational engagement.
• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research organization that develops climate policy analysis, GHG accounting methodologies (CAIT, GHG Protocol), and supports country-level NDC/LEDS planning—directly overlapping CCS's government-facing climate planning work.
• C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: Network of global cities collaborating on climate action planning and decarbonization. Comparable to CCS in driving subnational climate strategy, although C40 focuses specifically on large cities rather than states/provinces.
• Stockholm Environment Institute: Independent research organization working on environment and development policy, with active programs in climate policy, MRV, and energy planning in developing countries. Direct overlap with CCS's international LEDS and capacity-building work.
• South Pole Group: Climate solutions provider offering climate strategy consulting, target setting, and net-zero advisory to corporates and governments. Comparable in net-zero strategy and transition planning offerings.
• ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability: Global network of local and regional governments focused on sustainable urban and subnational climate action planning. Highly comparable to CCS's subnational-government climate planning and capacity-building offerings.
• Climate Group: International NGO that convenes subnational governments through the Under2 Coalition and States & Regions Alliance, with which CCS directly partners. Overlaps significantly in subnational decarbonization pathway work and state-level climate leadership.

Broad incumbents

• Winrock International: International development nonprofit implementing USAID and donor-funded energy, environment, and climate programs. Direct peer on Under2 Coalition LAC decarbonization pathways and Africa LEDS Partnership work.
• RTI International: Large nonprofit research institute that operates as both a partner and competitor on USAID-funded climate and development programs. CCS has co-delivered Guatemala LEDS and Eastern Europe Regional LEDS with RTI, indicating closely comparable delivery capability.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Center for Climate Strategies