What NewClimate Institute does

NewClimate Institute is an independent non-profit climate policy research organization founded in 2006 and based in Germany, co-founded by five individuals who serve as formal shareholders while distributing governance across the broader employee team. The organization generates analysis, tools, and project-based outputs on climate change and sustainability, with a stated mission to raise ambition for climate action and support implementation through research, policy design, and knowledge sharing.

The institute's core products consist of flagship research projects, interactive web platforms, and downloadable analytical tools. Flagship projects include the Climate Action Tracker (science-based country assessment covering approximately 40 countries), the Climate Change Performance Index (annual ranking of 58 largest GHG emitters since 2006), the Net Zero Tracker (open-source review of net zero targets complemented by the ChatNetZero LLM chatbot launched in 2023), the Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor (annual assessment of 55 major companies), the European Climate Neutrality Observatory, the CASE Southeast Asia regional initiative, and the Horizon Europe-funded ACHIEVE project. The analytical tool portfolio spans web-based platforms (CAT Data Explorer, Power Policy Tracker, Performance Distribution Tool) and Excel-based models (TRACE, SCREEN, CLIMTRADE, CBAM Vulnerability Monitor, COMPASS Toolbox, AIRPOLIM tools, Transport Transition Pathway Explorer).

The business model is non-commercial: all research outputs and tools are provided freely as open-access resources. The institute does not sell products or services, and is financed entirely through project-based grants from government institutions (Germany, Netherlands, Norway, France), international organizations (including GIZ and ICAT), and foundations (European Climate Foundation, ClimateWorks Foundation, IKEA Foundation, Allianz Foundation). Customer segments served include national governments, civil society organizations, international development organizations, EU institutions, and media. Co-development partnerships with Germanwatch, CAN International, Climate Analytics, Carbon Market Watch, ICF International, E3G, and Acclimatise anchor consortium-style project delivery across flagship initiatives.

Name

NewClimate Institute

Legal name

NewClimate Institute

Website

https://newclimate.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NewClimate Institute is an independent non-profit climate policy research organization founded in 2006 that produces flagship tracking tools (Climate Action Tracker, CCPI, Net Zero Tracker) and advisory projects serving governments, civil society, international organizations, and EU institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Policy Research and Analysis

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Benchmarking, Ratings & Stakeholder Reporting Portals (Scorecards, Dashboards) (EUABAEAJ), Climate & Emissions Data Management (Data Lake, Integration, APIs) (EUABAEAC), Climate Risk Reporting & Disclosure Analytics (TCFD/ISSB, EU Taxonomy, CSRD, NAIC) (EUABALAG), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)

Keywords

• Climate policy research
• Climate action tracking
• Net zero assessment
• Corporate climate responsibility
• Emissions policy analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NewClimate Institute is an independent non-profit research institute that produces science-based climate policy analysis, country and corporate climate assessments, and open-access data tracking platforms. Its flagship offerings include the Climate Action Tracker, Climate Change Performance Index, Net Zero Tracker, and Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, supported by a portfolio of Excel and web-based analytical tools (TRACE, SCREEN, CLIMTRADE, CBAM Vulnerability Monitor, COMPASS Toolbox, Climate Contribution Hub). All outputs are provided freely to governments, NGOs, international organizations, media, and the public.

Product overview

NewClimate Institute operates as a research and policy organization rather than a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of flagship research projects, interactive web tools, and downloadable analytical tools. The core flagship projects include the Climate Action Tracker (science-based country assessment platform), Climate Change Performance Index (annual ranking of emitters), Net Zero Tracker (with ChatNetZero LLM chatbot companion), Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor (annual corporate assessment), and European Climate Neutrality Observatory. The tool portfolio includes web-based interactive platforms (Climate Action Tracker's Data Explorer, Power Policy Tracker, Climate Policy Database, Performance Distribution Tool), Excel-based analytical tools (TRACE, SCREEN, CLIMTRADE, CBAM-VM, Actor and Policy Mapping Tool, COMPASS Toolbox, AIRPOLIM tools, Transport Transition Pathway Explorer, Policy Impact Assessment Tool), and the Climate Contribution Hub guidance platform. The organization produces annual publications and reports as major deliverables alongside these analytical tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Climate Action Tracker: Science-based assessment providing regularly updated information on countries' emission reduction proposals and policies, tracking progress toward Paris Agreement goals.
• Climate Change Performance Index
• Net Zero Tracker
• Clean Affordable and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia
• Achieving High-Integrity Voluntary Climate Action (ACHIEVE)
• European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO)

Products and services

• Climate Action Tracker Science-based assessment providing regularly updated information on countries' emission reduction proposals and policies, enabling tracking of emission commitments and actions of countries against Paris Agreement 1.5°C and 2°C pathways. Used by governments, researchers, and journalists worldwide.
• Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) Annual instrument evaluating and comparing climate protection performance of the 58 largest emitters globally, based on emission indicators, renewable energy, energy use, and expert policy assessments.
• Net Zero Tracker Open-source independent review of the quantity and quality of net zero targets across countries, regions, cities, and companies, complemented by ChatNetZero, a large language model-powered chatbot companion.
• Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor (CCRM) Annual analysis of major global companies' climate strategies, critically assessing the transparency and integrity of climate pledges with sector-specific deep dives.
• Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia Regional initiative supporting Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam in evidence-based energy transition through expert analysis, stakeholder dialogue, and policy support.
• Achieving High-Integrity Voluntary Climate Action (ACHIEVE) Horizon Europe research project identifying opportunities to strengthen and scale up voluntary climate action to achieve a worldwide net-zero society by 2050.
• European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO) Project monitoring EU progress toward climate neutrality, publishing annual State of EU progress reports and sector-specific analyses on the clean industrial transition.
• Climate Contribution Hub Open-access platform providing step-by-step guidance for small and medium organizations to measure emissions, set reduction targets, and implement climate contributions through a six-step methodology.
• Power Policy Tracker Comparative overview of energy transition policies in the power sector across ASEAN countries, highlighting national targets and planning efforts in renewable electricity, grid development, and electric mobility.
• Net Zero Tracker and ChatNetZero Open-source independent review of net zero targets complemented by ChatNetZero, the world's first net-zero policy and action chatbot powered by large language models (LLMs).
• TRACE - Transport sector climate action co-benefits evaluation tool Excel-based model supporting quantitative evaluation of non-climate impacts from decarbonizing urban transport, assessing congestion, road accidents, fuel use, and linking to health impacts from air pollution.
• SCREEN - Sustainable development and climate action green recovery screening tool Tool providing policymakers with a means of operationalizing a green recovery framework, allowing qualitative evaluation of recovery measures and quantitative analysis of fiscal policy economic impacts using Input-Output tables.
• CBAM Vulnerability Monitor (CBAM-VM) Excel-based tool designed to evaluate the relative vulnerability of countries or regions to the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
• CLIMTRADE - Impacts of climate regulation on trade tool Excel-based tool allowing users to analyze economic impacts associated with carbon border adjustments.
• COMPASS Toolbox Selection of climate scenario modelling tools to assess and understand impacts of climate action and policies.

Quantifiable outcome

• Climate Action Tracker monitors emission reduction progress in approximately 40 countries
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• GermanwatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing co-development partnership for the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI), published annually since 2006. Germanwatch is a leading international climate policy NGO that co-authors the index evaluating climate protection performance of major emitters.
• CAN International (Climate Action Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-publisher of the Climate Change Performance Index alongside Germanwatch and NewClimate Institute. CAN International is a network of over 1,500 civil society organizations working on climate advocacy worldwide.
• Carbon Market WatchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on the Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor (CCRM), addressing gaps in corporate climate accountability and carbon market integrity. Jointly analyzes corporate climate strategies and voluntary carbon markets.
• Climate AnalyticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner for the Climate Action Tracker (CAT), a science-based assessment of country climate policies. Together with Ecofys, the consortium provides comprehensive tracking of global climate action progress.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerImplementing partner for the Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy (CASE) project for Southeast Asia. GIZ provides operational implementation support while NewClimate contributes climate policy expertise.
• Energy Transition Partnership (ETP)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASE project is an aligned programme of the Energy Transition Partnership, an alliance of international donors, philanthropies, and partner governments established to accelerate energy transition in Southeast Asia.
• E3GcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner for EU Climate Diplomacy project. E3G is an independent climate change think tank working on strategic diplomacy and policy analysis.
• ICF InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in EU Climate Diplomacy consortium. ICF provides technical consulting services for climate policy analysis and implementation.
• AcclimatisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner for EU Climate Diplomacy project, providing climate risk and adaptation expertise alongside strategic policy analysis.
• PerspectivescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner for EU Climate Diplomacy project, contributing strategic advisory services for climate policy implementation.
• European Climate Neutrality Observatory (ECNO)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship project assessing EU progress toward climate neutrality, producing annual reports on the state of EU climate action and clean industrial transition.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Germanwatch: Co-developer of the CCPI and a German environmental NGO focused on climate policy advocacy. Operates with a similar non-profit project-funded model, comparable thematic focus, and shared donor ecosystem.
• Climate Analytics: Direct consortium partner within the Climate Action Tracker and a closely aligned non-profit climate science and policy institute producing scientific assessments of country climate action. Highly comparable mission, governance model, and funder base.
• Acclimatise: Consortium partner on the EU Climate Diplomacy project and a climate risk and adaptation advisory firm. Comparable scale and project-based funding model, with closely aligned thematic expertise.
• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Independent research institute producing policy-relevant environmental and climate analysis globally. Comparable non-profit model, multi-region footprint, and emphasis on bridging science, policy, and practice.
• Carbon Market Watch: Partner on the Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor and a non-profit advocacy organization scrutinizing carbon markets and corporate climate claims. Highly comparable in advocacy scope, scale, and funder profile.
• Climate Action Network (CAN) International: Co-publisher of the CCPI and global network of 1,500+ civil society organizations working on climate advocacy. Overlapping mission and broad civil-society reach, though operating at network rather than project level.
• E3G: Independent climate think tank specializing in climate diplomacy and policy analysis, partnering with NewClimate on the EU Climate Diplomacy project. Comparable non-profit structure and focus on influencing government and EU policy.

Broad incumbents

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Much larger, established global research organization working on climate, energy, and sustainable development. Overlaps with NewClimate on corporate climate target analysis and policy tracking but operates broader portfolio and larger budget.
• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Established global disclosure system used by corporates and cities to report environmental data. Overlaps with Net Zero Tracker and corporate climate accountability work but operates at significantly larger commercial scale.
• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): Defines and validates corporate emissions reduction targets aligned with climate science, intersecting directly with CCRM assessments. Larger, more institutionalized, and tightly embedded in corporate climate workflows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/newclimateinst
• Facebookfacebook.com/newclimateinstitute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about NewClimate Institute