Tracking, evaluation and comparison of climate change mitigation policies and actions from a wide range of national, subnational, corporate and civil society stakeholders.
Action to combat climate change is diverse. National governments, as well as regions, cities, companies and individuals embark on the challenge to reduce emissions. We monitor those players’ actions and develop and apply methods to compare them between peers and to the objective of holding global warming below 2/1.5°C.
NewClimate Institute staff has years of experience in evaluating mitigation commitments and policies and identifying their impact on emissions. We connect to policy makers and researchers all over the world to identify best practice options and understand differences between geographical regions and stakeholders. Besides government policies, we also monitor activities of companies and other institutions.
Associated projects
Climate Action Tracker
Climate Action Tracker provides regularly updated information on countries’ emission reduction policies. It reflects the latest status of the progress being made at international climate negotiations on mitigation commitments. Latest news from the CAT Return to all expertise and projects The Climate Action Tracker is a science-based assessment that provides regularly updated information on countries’… Read More
Mitigation responsibilities under a 2015 international climate agreement
Analysis of options for mitigation commitments post-2020 under the new international climate agreement to be finalised in 2015. Return to all expertise and projects A new international climate agreement is to be finalised in 2015. It is to enter into force in 2020 and to include – besides other aspects such as finance and adaptation-… Read More
Modelling climate policies of major emitters
Technical background report on analysis of current and potential climate policies for enhancing mitigation ambition in the major emitting countries. Return to all expertise and projects This project identifies important climate policies of the major emitters and estimates their impact on emissions. The analysis, conducted together with PBL, IIASA and Ecofys for the European Commission,… Read More
UNEP emissions gap reports
Since 2010, UNEP synthesises information on the gap between current trend in greenhouse gas emissions and where they would have to be in order to stabilize global temperature increase at 2°C. Return to all expertise and projects Since 2010, UNEP synthesises information on the gap between current trend in greenhouse gas emissions and where they… Read More
How much more could Germany achieve through non-state action?
Quantifying the possible contribution of International Cooperative Initiatives to the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in Germany
The contribution of energy efficiency to reducing the cost of decarbonisation
How can energy efficiency policies lower the costs of decarbonisation?
Climate Policy Database
Assessment of good practices in the implementation of climate change policies. NewClimate Institute analyses which major emitting countries are implementing good practice policies or policies from a policy menu to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Top 30 emitting countries which cover 82% of global GHG emissions are analysed. The project first establishes a package of… Read More
Mitigation impacts of energy efficiency and renewable energy actions under the One Gigaton Coalition
Quantifying GHG emission reductions resulting from renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives and programmes in developing countries. NewClimate Institute, together with Yale University, has set up a comprehensive framework to quantify the impact of energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) actions in developing countries that are attributable to the One Gigaton Coalition. The One… Read More
International Cooperative Initiatives (ICIs) outside the UNFCCC
Evaluation of the impact of global, regional and national initiatives outside UNFCCC on greenhouse gas emissions. The German Environmental Agency (UBA) commissioned a consortium of NewClimate Institute, Öko-Institut and Fraunhofer ISI to analyse the impact of international, regional and national initiatives outside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on greenhouse gas emissions.… Read More
Climate Transparency
Climate Transparency is an open global consortium with a shared mission to stimulate a ‘race to the top’ in climate action through enhanced transparency. For this purpose, comprehensive, comparable and credible information about government climate action is spread by bringing together the most important actors in assessing and communicating climate action for the benefit of key influencers and decision makers.
Further reading
2020: The Climate Turning Point Apr 2017 - Download report “2020: The Climate Turning Point” – the campaign will highlight why the 2020 turning point is necessary, and importantly how it can be realistically achieved, thanks to exponentially growing climate action. The new report, a collaboration between Yale University, Carbon Tracker and Climate Action Tracker (a consortium of Ecofys, New Climate Institute and… Read More
Assessing the ambition of post-2020 climate targets: a comprehensive framework Mar 2017 - One of the most fundamental questions surrounding the new Paris Agreement is whether countries’ proposals to reduce GHG emissions after 2020 are equally ambitious, considering differences in circumstances between countries. This research article reviews a variety of approaches to assess the ambition of the GHG emission reduction proposals by countries. 
International Climate Initiatives – A way forward to close the emissions gap? Nov 2016 - This study analyses the potential impact of the most ambitious International Climate Initiatives (ICIs) on GHG emissions in comparison to INDCs, identifies good practices shared by these initiatives, and further discusses the relationship between these initiatives and the UNFCCC.
Greenhouse gas mitigation scenarios for major emitting countries Nov 2016 - This report provides an overview of projected greenhouse gas emissions in 25 major emitting countries/regions up to 2030, taking into account the emission trajectories based on current policies and the implementation of (I)NDCs.
The Emissions Gap Report 2016: A UNEP Synthesis Report Nov 2016 - The objective of this seventh UNEP Emissions Gap Report is to provide an up-to-date scientific assessment of the global progress towards the emissions reductions required to be on track to meet the long-term goal of the UNFCCC.
1 Gigaton Coalition Report: Renewable energy and energy efficiency in developing countries Nov 2016 - Renewable energy and energy efficiency projects implemented in developing countries from 2005 to 2015 will reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by almost half a gigatonne by 2020, according to the second report by the 1 Gigaton Coalition.
What does the Paris Agreement mean for climate policy in the Netherlands? Oct 2016 - In this study, we have translated the global ambition of the Paris Agreement into concrete sectoral targets applicable to the Netherlands. Climate policy must be strengthened substantially in order for the Netherlands to be in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Climate initiatives, national contributions and the Paris Agreement May 2016 - This draft discussion paper evaluates the GHG mitigation contribution of global, regional and national initiatives in relation to nationally determined contributions.