Global Climate & Development Institute (GCDI)
works on local to global climate and energy issues of our times.
Our goal is to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities for climate action and energy transition globally. Topics of the GCDI’s work span from achieving net zero in states and ensuring a just transition for fossil fuel regions to climate finance. Extensive engagement with stakeholders is a key aspect of the GCDI’s involvement in various climate and energy-related issues.
As a policy catalyst, we bridge the gap between last-mile communities and large-scale policy transformation, ensuring that the climate transition is equitable, evidence-driven, and impactful.
Areas of work
GCDI works on various climate mitigation topics around the world. These include:
Methane is a potent climate pollutant that can warm the atmosphere 86 times faster than carbon dioxide. However, methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifespan—7 to 12 years compared to centuries. As such, mitigating methane emissions is the fastest way to slow the rate of global climate change. The GCDI team works with public and private sector partners to craft intervention strategies for efficient and far-reaching action on methane. The team is currently spearheading projects in Asia and Africa.
Energy systems are rapidly changing worldwide as countries move to address climate change. How this shift to low-carbon energy happens will shape global climate policies. Through programs on economic diversification and coal asset repurposing, GCDI is working with fossil-fuel-dependent communities, governments, and coal companies to help ensure that the energy transition is also a just transition.
Globally, over 50% of fossil fuels are produced by state-owned enterprises (SOEs). These SOEs also provide jobs and revenues to local communities. Many SOEs are trying to diversify their business into new industries. GCDI is providing research support to some of the largest SOEs to help them diversify their businesses and achieve just transition goals.
Demand for minerals essential for low-carbon energy technologies will soon grow rapidly if global climate change is to be effectively addressed. Many of these minerals are considered “critical” to countries’ overall development and climate action due to the minerals’ value and supply risks. GCDI is working across organizations and countries—especially in the Global South, where most critical mineral reserves lie—to leverage these resources for a sustainable, equitable energy transition.
While the federal government sets the climate targets and creates broad policies, the sub-national governments are responsible for implementing those targets. At the state level, there is a colossal demand for funds required for implementing energy transition. GCDI is working with state governments like Chattisgarh in India to inform prudent fiscal planning for bold climate action.