About Climate & Energy

The Climate & Energy Program aims to facilitate transatlantic cooperation on climate policy solutions. GMF brings its considerable networks, research, and convening power to bear on a policy debate that has at times strained relations across the Atlantic.

As significant generators of greenhouse gasses, the United States and Europe are major players in international climate negotiations but for the past decade have advocated different approaches to controlling emissions. While Europe has and continues to act as a leader in developing solutions to climate change, the U.S. administration consistently opposed establishing a mandatory cap-and-trade program and has argued for voluntary approaches to controlling emissions.

The recent election of President Barack Obama presents a new opportunity for the United States to assert a leadership role in the climate policy debate. The Obama Administration supports an ambitious domestic climate and energy plan and has pledged to engage meaningfully in the international climate negotiations at COP15 in Copenhagen this December. Meanwhile, the political and economic landscape has been transformed over the past year by the still-unfolding financial and economic crisis. Although this creates new uncertainty about legislative priorities, the Obama Administration and European leaders have interpreted the crisis as an opportunity to introduce transformative reforms to the global economy in energy and climate policy, among other areas.

In light of these recent political and economic developments, 2009 presents a unique window of opportunity to bridge the transatlantic divide on climate policy. The climate and energy program has two overarching program goals to facilitate transatlantic cooperation:

Accelerating and informing the U.S. climate and energy debate by sharing best practices from Europe.

A strong domestic approach to climate change in the United States will be essential if other industrialized countries and developing nations are to commit to the actions that will be needed to avoid dangerous levels of climate change.  The U.S. House of Representatives passed for the first time comprehensive climate and energy legislation, including an economy-wide cap and trade program. Action in the U.S. Senate is next, where Senators are developing proposals to create an economy-wide cap-and-trade program as well as different measures to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy. But many politicians and representatives of business and labor groups are raising concerns about the impacts of such policies on U.S. energy prices, competitiveness and jobs.

GMF links senior staff and Members of Congress to European negotiators, climate policy experts, and industry leaders, drawing from the European policy experience that is relevant to the ongoing U.S. debate on cap-and-trade, renewable energy, and other policies.

Supporting transatlantic dialogue on key elements of a global climate deal.

Developing a common transatlantic vision on key elements of a global climate deal is a high priority for Europe and the United States.  GMF is facilitating transatlantic dialogue for leading European and U.S. policymakers and experts on issues that are central to the UN climate negotiations and high-level political dialogues such as the G-8 Summit, Major Economies Forum, and others.