What Climate Neutrality Foundation does

Climate Neutrality Foundation (Stiftung Klimaneutralität), operating through its legal entity Stiftung Denkfabrik Klimaneutralität gGmbH, is a Berlin-based non-profit policy think tank founded in 2020 that develops scientifically grounded strategies for achieving climate neutrality in Germany. The foundation's core work centers on producing flagship research studies and sector-specific policy recommendations, with the "Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2050" study (2020) and "Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2045" study (2021) serving as landmark reference documents that outline pathways for decarbonization across energy, industry, transport, buildings, and agriculture. Its technical platform is built on scenario modeling and policy analysis conducted in collaboration with leading German research institutes (Prognos, Öko-Institut, Wuppertal Institut) and adjacent think tanks (Agora Energiewende, Agora Verkehrswende), supplemented by legal advisory from law firms and environmental law foundations.

The foundation serves three primary constituent groups: German federal and state governments seeking scientifically defensible climate policy frameworks; energy-intensive industries (steel, chemicals, cement, manufacturing) needing decarbonization strategies and regulatory guidance; and civil society and academia requiring independent, accessible analysis. Its offerings include flagship studies, topic-area research (Energy, Transport, Industry, Buildings, Agriculture, Resilience), concrete policy proposals (Carbon Floor Price, Hydrogen Strategy 2.0, Onshore Wind Energy Act, aviation tax reform), and convening forums (Klimakonferenz, Politikforum, Forum Klimaneutralität). The leadership team comprises Directors Thomas Losse-Müller, Silja Pieh, Rainer Baake (former State Secretary), and Regine Günther.

The business model is that of a German gemeinnützige GmbH (non-profit limited liability company): revenue is generated through institutional grants, commissioned research partnerships, and collaborative funding rather than commercial product sales. All publications are made freely available in German and English on the foundation's website. The organization operates on a small headcount of approximately 12 employees from a single headquarters in Berlin, distributing research through publications, conferences, newsletters, social media, and direct media engagement. No parent company, venture funding, or commercial revenue streams are disclosed.

Name

Climate Neutrality Foundation

Legal name

Stiftung Denkfabrik Klimaneutralität gGmbH

Website

https://stiftung-klima.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Climate Neutrality Foundation (Stiftung Klimaneutralität) is a Berlin-based non-profit think tank that produces policy research and regulatory recommendations for Germany's climate neutrality by 2045, serving federal and state governments, energy-intensive industries, and civil society through flagship studies and policy proposals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Policy Research

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory & Disclosure Strategy (CSRD/ESRS, ISSB/IFRS S2, SEC, TCFD) (EUABAKAH), GHG Accounting & Net-Zero/Decarbonization Planning (Scopes 1–3) (EUAHAJAC), Carbon Neutrality/Claims Strategy & Communications (claims substantiation, greenwashing risk) (EUABAKAK)

Keywords

• Climate policy research
• Decarbonization strategy
• Energy transition consulting
• Regulatory framework analysis
• Scenario modeling research

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

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. Research Funding and Grants: As a non-profit think tank (gGmbH - gemeinnützige Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung), the foundation operates primarily through research funding, institutional grants, and collaborative partnerships with other climate policy organizations. Revenue is generated through commissioned studies, institutional support, and partnership arrangements rather than commercial product sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Climate Neutrality Foundation is a non-profit think tank that produces policy research, scientific studies, and regulatory recommendations for achieving climate neutrality in Germany by 2045. It develops sector-specific decarbonization pathways (energy, transport, industry, buildings, agriculture), publishes flagship studies in collaboration with Prognos, Öko-Institut, and Wuppertal Institut, and convenes forums and conferences that bring together policymakers, industry, and academia. All publications are made available as free downloads.

Product overview

Climate Neutrality Foundation (Stiftung Klimaneutralität) is a non-profit think tank that develops scientifically grounded strategies for achieving climate neutrality in Germany. Rather than a software product company, it operates as a policy research organization offering studies, publications, and concrete policy recommendations. The core offerings include flagship research studies ('Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2045' and 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2050') produced in collaboration with research institutes Prognos, Öko-Institut, and Wuppertal Institut; sector-specific topic areas covering Energy, Transport, Industry, Buildings, Agriculture, and Resilience; and actionable policy recommendations including carbon pricing for vehicles, hydrogen strategy, wind energy expansion proposals, and aviation tax reform. The organization also convenes annual forums and conferences for dialogue between politics, business, and society. Publications are available as free downloads in German and English.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2045 (Climate-Neutral Germany 2045) Landmark scientific study showing how Germany can achieve climate neutrality by 2045, developed with Prognos, Öko-Institut, and Wuppertal Institut. Contains sector-specific pathways for energy, industry, transport, buildings, and agriculture with a three-step approach and is used by policymakers and industry stakeholders as a reference document.
• Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2050 (Climate-Neutral Germany 2050) Foundational study commissioned in cooperation with Agora Energiewende and Agora Verkehrswende showing how Germany can achieve climate neutrality by 2050, with cost-effectiveness, adherence to investment cycles, and societal acceptance as core criteria.
• Smart Carbon Pricing for Cars (Intelligente CO2-Bepreisung für Pkw) Policy proposal for restructuring annual motor vehicle tax based on CO2 emissions to create cost parity between electric and combustion engine vehicles, including a legal opinion from Becker Büttner Held, targeted at German federal policymakers.
• Hydrogen Strategy 2.0 (Wasserstoffstrategie 2.0) Policy proposal for accelerating hydrogen market ramp-up based on an Öko-Institut study, covering sector allocation, hydrogen supply, certification, infrastructure, and funding programs to achieve climate targets, targeted at German policymakers and industry.
• More Land for Wind Energy (Mehr Flächen für Windenergie) Regulatory proposal for increasing wind energy expansion through planning law reforms, including a 'Windenergie-Beitragswert' methodology for allocating land to municipalities, supported by a legal opinion from Professor Martin Kment.
• Security of Supply study (Versorgungssicherheit) Study by Prognos evaluating supply security in the German power market through 2030 under climate neutrality scenarios, examining market-driven demand flexibility and controllable power plant capacity.
• Carbon Floor Price proposal Proposal for introducing a national carbon floor price for the electricity sector to hedge carbon-price risk and create planning security, based on an Öko-Institut study and a legal opinion by Stiftung Umweltenergierecht.
• Climate Protection and Species Conservation Proposal for resolving conflicts between wind energy expansion and species protection through legally regulated exceptions and bird population conservation programs, supported by a species conservation report and legal assessment.
• Reducing Fiscal Privileges of Aviation Policy proposal for eliminating tax privileges of aviation including VAT exemption and energy tax exemption and raising aviation tax to offset disadvantages, based on an Öko-Institut study.
• Onshore Wind Energy Act (draft bill) Draft bill proposal for accelerating wind energy approvals by creating a technology-specific approval regime separate from the Federal Immission Control Act, with streamlined procedures.
• Forum Klimaneutralität (Forum Climate Neutrality) Annual dialogue event and study presentation bringing together policymakers, industry, and academia to discuss pathways to climate neutrality in Germany.
• Securing Green Hydrogen for the German Power Sector study Commissioned study with DNV examining three hydrogen value chains in terms of costs and technological maturity for the German power sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 55 policy instruments recommended for next German government to achieve raised interim 2030 target
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• DNVmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 October 2024Commissioned study 'Securing Green Hydrogen for the German Power Sector' examining three hydrogen value chains in terms of costs and technological maturity.
• Agora VerkehrswendecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2021Joint study with Stiftung Klimaneutralität on electromobility market ramp-up in Germany, analyzing electric vehicle market development and charging infrastructure requirements.
• Prognos AGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2021Lead research partner for the 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2045' study. Conducted comprehensive scenario modeling and economic analysis for Germany's path to climate neutrality. Also contributed to supply chain resilience study.
• Öko-InstitutcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2021Research partner for 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2045' study, focusing on environmental impact assessment and regulatory analysis. Also commissioned for hydrogen strategy 2.0 study and aviation fiscal privileges analysis.
• Wuppertal InstitutcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2021Research partner for the 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2045' and 2050 studies, providing expertise on sustainability transitions and structural economic change analysis.
• Becker Büttner HeldsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2021Law firm providing legal opinions on climate policy instruments. Produced expert opinion on national instruments for accelerating electromobility adoption (bonus-malus system, vehicle taxation).
• Stiftung UmweltenergierechtsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 April 2021Environmental energy law foundation providing legal assessment on carbon floor price implementation for electricity sector.
• Agora EnergiewendecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Long-standing collaboration on flagship climate neutrality studies. Jointly commissioned the 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland 2050' study with Prognos, Öko-Institut, and Wuppertal Institut. Continued partnership on subsequent 2045 study and ongoing policy research.
• Agora VerkehrswendecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Collaborative partner on transport sector climate neutrality research. Jointly commissioned major studies including 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland' series. Co-develops policy recommendations for sustainable mobility transition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• E3G: European climate think tank operating across multiple geographies. Comparable as a policy think tank producing climate strategy and political engagement, though with a broader pan-European rather than German federal focus.
• Germanwatch e.V. German environmental and development NGO focused on climate policy advocacy. Comparable as a civil-society voice producing policy studies and campaigns, but with more advocacy-led positioning than the foundation's research-heavy approach.
• Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC): Berlin-based research institute working on climate, economic, and policy questions. Comparable as a German-based think tank producing policy-relevant climate research for public and political audiences.

Direct peers

• Agora Verkehrswende: German mobility-focused think tank and partner of Stiftung Klimaneutralität on transport policy. Operates the same model of commissioned research, policy recommendations, and convening events targeting federal policymakers.
• Wuppertal Institut: Research institute for sustainability transitions and structural change. Co-author of the foundation's flagship climate neutrality studies, contributing expertise on industrial transformation and decarbonization pathways.
• Agora Energiewende: German think tank developing evidence-based climate and energy policy. Direct peer: co-commissioned the flagship 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland' studies with the foundation and shares the same Berlin policy ecosystem and target audience.
• Öko-Institut: Leading German applied research institute for environment and sustainability. Co-authored the 'Klimaneutrales Deutschland' studies and provides the foundation with technical environmental and regulatory analysis on hydrogen, aviation, and carbon pricing.
• Prognos AG: European research and consulting firm with deep energy and climate practice. Lead research partner for the foundation's flagship scenario modeling, including supply security and equity capital analyses for German utilities.

Broad incumbents

• European Climate Foundation: Major philanthropic foundation funding climate action across Europe. Relevant as a funder and strategic coordinator of many think tanks the foundation partners with; potential peer at the level of policy-influence aggregation.
• Heinrich Böll Foundation: German political foundation affiliated with the Green party running extensive climate and energy policy programs. Adjacent peer as a funder and producer of climate policy research and convening in the German political space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@stiftungklimaneutralitat
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stiftung-klima

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Climate Neutrality Foundation