Center for Climate Strategies

CCS collaborates with national, provincial and state governments worldwide to develop climate action plans, low carbon development plans, and low emissions development strategies. Through this assistance, CCS offers startup assistance, coaching, quality control, coordination, capacity building, training, education, technical and facilitative assistance, information exchange, and institutional partnerships. Our international program includes projects in China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Union, Guatemala, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Ukraine. Click the map to find out more about CCS' work with international partners.  

UNFCCC

CCS is an official observer with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and has been active in hosting formal Side Events and delegations at meetings of the Conference of Parties (COP), as well as bilateral and other multilateral meetings. In this role CCS provides information exchange, technique development, and policy dialog between officials and institutions on key aspects of climate change policy. For more information, please click here.

In preparation for COP21 Paris in December 2015, participating countries have agreed to publicly outline their climate actions plans post-2020. These plans, better known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs), will help dictate the outcome of the conference and whether member states are able to create an ambitious 2015 climate agreement. Several countries, including the EU, the United States, China and Russia, have already submitted their COP21 pledges. CCS has been carefully tracking each INDC and has created a chart that easily compares the stringency of each plan.  Our team will be updating the chart as additional INDCs are expected in the upcoming months.  To view or download the chart, please click here.

LEDS GP & LEDS REAL

CCS works with the Low Emission Development Strategy Global Partnership (LEDS GP) to provide technical assistance to government leaders on start up and design of LEDS action planning processes that are aligned with national vision and local priorities.

LEDS GP connects country teams to an extensive network of low emission development strategy (LEDS) professionals to provide virtual consultation and advice through its Remote Expert Assistance on LEDS (REAL) service. The REAL service supports requests from developing country government agencies or initiatives, as well as their consultants, technical institutions, and non-government organizations, working on LEDS plans and implementation.

Under LEDS GP, CCS is currently working in Macedonia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and preparing for assistance in other countries. CCS also supports the LEDS GP through participation and technical contribution in its Working Groups, including the Finance Work Group.

EC-LEDS

Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) is a flagship U.S. government effort that assists partner countries in developing and implementing LEDS. The program, which advances the international goals of the U.S. Climate Action Plan, enhances partner country efforts by: Providing targeted technical assistance, and Building a shared goal knowledge base on LEDS. CCS is supporting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Municipal Energy Reform Project’s (MERP) Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC LEDS) program in Ukraine as a subcontractor to International Resources Group (IRG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Engility Corporation.   

Low Carbon Development Planning

China's Low Carbon Development Planning is an essential part of the CCS international program. CCS has been working in China since 2009 supporting the development of a Low Carbon Development Planning and Analysis Toolkit and scale up program and state to provincial information exchange. CCS partners with the Beijing-based Global Environment Institute (GEI) to support China's advancement of climate change action. In 2011 the U.S. State Department and China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) formally recognized this U.S.-China partnership as an official EcoPartnership.

Green Growth

In 2013, The Global Green Growth Initiative commissioned a team of international experts, including CCS, to deliver a global report "Green Growth in Practice: Lessons from Country Experiences"   on best practices and techniques to expand awareness and understanding of the techniques and conditions for success needed to advance green growth in unique locations worldwide  

By Region

Central America

CCS works collaboratively with USAID and other partners in North and Central America on low carbon development, climate action planning, and low emissions development strategies, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Guatemala. Since 2007 CCS has helped the six Border States of Mexico develop greenhouse gas emissions baselines and climate action plans in partnership with the Border Environment Cooperation Commission, state agencies in the region, and other partners.

European Union

In December 2015, CCS concluded a two-year Transatlantic Research and Debate Project funded by the European Union to enhance existing and new EU-US dialog and collaboration mechanisms on current and emerging low-carbon and clean energy policy actions and issues. The project focused on high volume/high velocity market penetration of renewable energy for power generation and related transatlantic collaboration. It included specific focus on cost, technology, and investment barriers, and transatlantic collaboration response mechanisms at the national/regional and State/Member State levels that could effectively target renewable electricity expansion, carbon reductions, as well as economic and energy security benefits.

The project culminated with a Report - developed by European Union and United States experts as a result of conferrals and engagements with high-level government officials and agency representatives – that lays down key findings and recommendations for enhanced transatlantic collaboration to expand and accelerate renewable energy. 

Asia and Pacific Islands  

China's Low Carbon Development Planning is an essential part of the CCS international program. CCS has been working in China since 2009 supporting the development of a Low Carbon Development Planning and Analysis Toolkit and scale up program and state to provincial information exchange. CCS partners with the Beijing-based Global Environment Institute (GEI) to support China's advancement of climate change action. In 2011 the U.S. State Department and China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) formally recognized this U.S.-China partnership as an official EcoPartnership.

CCS also successfully partnered with USAID to provide third party review of greenhouse gas inventories and forecasts and verification of Climate Action Plans in the Philippines.   

Ukraine

CCS is supporting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Municipal Energy Reform Project’s (MERP) Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC LEDS) program in Ukraine as a subcontractor to International Resources Group (IRG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Engility Corporation. The USAID-funded project is designed to enhance Ukrainian energy security by working with national and sub-national authorities toward increased end-use energy efficiency, improved energy planning and increased use of clean energy from renewable sources. 

Africa

CCS is partnering with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Environment to provide outreach, capacity building, and startup assistance for a national Green Growth Plan and Low Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS).