Climate Policy Initiative
CPI is an analysis and advisory organization that assesses, diagnoses, and supports national efforts to achieve low-carbon growth. Our analysis looks at implemented policy in both the developed and developing world, deriving lessons to help policymakers fast-track best practices.
Company details
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- Business Type:
- Research institute
- Industry Type:
- Air and Climate - Air Science and Research
- Market Focus:
- Globally (various continents)
- Year Founded:
- 2009
- Employees:
- 11-100
History
Professor Thomas C. Heller founded Climate Policy Initiative on the idea that nations building low-carbon economies need support in developing and implementing effective climate and energy policies. Professor Heller, a veteran of climate mitigation efforts and negotiations, had paid close attention over the past decades to the needs of policymakers and the private sector. His vision was to create an independent, objective organization that would conduct world-class analysis to help policymakers make the best decisions for low-carbon growth.
With the support of financier and philanthropist George Soros, Professor Heller launched CPI in the fall of 2009, starting with a San Francisco office and followed over the next year and a half by offices in Berlin, Venice, Beijing, and Rio de Janeiro. Today, Climate Policy Initiative’s more than 50 analysts and staff are working to answer the questions faced by policymakers: What climate and energy policies exist around the world? Do they work? Why or why not? How can a nation improve its policies and programs to achieve a smooth transition to a low-carbon economy?
Sustainability
As an institution dedicated to helping nations achieve low-carbon development, CPI seeks to lead by example by reducing the impact of its own operations worldwide. Our global headquarters are located in a LEED Platinum Certified office in the historic Russ Building in downtown San Francisco. The office features renewable building materials, natural lighting, cross-ventilation, and the latest energy and resource efficiency technology. Our international offices are also committed to low-carbon emissions, whether through CPI Berlin’s energy-efficient cooling ceilings or a unique, low-energy heating system at CPI Beijing. CPI recognizes the potential carbon impact of day-to-day operations and encourages all employees to utilize mass transit when commuting to and from work. We emphasize sustainable printing practices, recycling, and minimal energy usage in all of our offices. Wherever we can, we offer retirement investment options that are sustainable and socially responsible, and make a conscious effort to track and reduce carbon emissions that are a result of CPI travel.
Where-We-Work
Climate Policy Initiative’s headquarters are in San Francisco, and we have regional offices in Beijing, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, and Venice. We located each CPI office in a key region of carbon emissions generation to help our teams gather information
and interact with leading decision-makers. Our offices partner with world-renowned research and policy institutions in each of these locations, which enables us to draw on significant resources and expertise.
In addition to our regional offices, CPI has projects in India and Indonesia. In India, we partner with the Centre for Emerging Markets Solutions (CEMS) at the Indian School of Business to analyze the effectiveness of energy and climate policies. CPI India
and ISB will officially open the CPI-ISB Energy and Environment Program in 2012. In Indonesia, we are working with the national REDD+ taskforce to develop a financial mechanism to efficiently and effectively allocate REDD funds, and with national and
provincial governments to develop institutional frameworks that support green growth.