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Introduction
Over the last several decades, governments have collectively pledged to slow global warming. But despite intensified diplomacy, the world is already facing the consequences of climate…
Introducing CFR's Climate Realism Initiative
The Climate Realism Initiative charts a novel, pragmatic course for U.S. energy and climate policy that is both realistic in forecasting climate impacts and U.S. leverage as well as realist in assessing that countries will compete and pursue policies to advance their own interests.
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In Focus
The U.S. Needs a Fresh Approach to Climate Policy
U.S. policymakers need a new strategy to confront the risks of climate change, compete in the global energy transition, and stay the course regardless of which political party is in power. A doctrine of “climate realism” could earn bipartisan support by decisively pursuing American interests, writes Varun Sivaram, Director of the CFR Climate Realism Initiative.
The Three Pillars of Climate Realism
Navigating the Geopolitics and Risks of a Warming World
Preparing to safeguard American interests as the world exceeds its climate targets by grappling with geopolitical upheaval from global droughts, disasters, and migration; approaching new areas of military and economic competition such as the Arctic; and investing in resilience and adaptation to protect the homeland.
Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and U.S. Competitiveness
Unleashing American global competitiveness in emerging energy markets by scaling innovations from next-generation batteries to power systems for artificial intelligence, guiding U.S. trade and industrial policy to balance the tradeoffs of the energy transition, and preserving U.S. global leadership in energy.
Averting Catastrophic Global Climate Change
Seeking to avert the most catastrophic planetary tipping points and climate impacts by marshaling levers of soft and hard power to curtail foreign emissions as well as advancing the technical readiness of and strategic approach for geoengineering.
Experts
Featured Projects
Trade Tools for Climate Action
For the United States to benefit from the growth in this rapidly expanding basket of technologies, it needs to focus on three areas of activity: identifying the goods that best contribute to global climate goals, investing in the development of technology where the United States can have a competitive advantage, and creating fair rules for trade in those products.
Featured Analysis
Videos
This national security threat 'surpasses' threats in Mideast
In the News April 4, 2025
How to prevent another L.A. wildfire disaster
In the News April 4, 2025
How climate change will increase corporate liabilities
In the News April 4, 2025
Podcasts
Climate Change Realism on Earth Day 2025, With Varun Sivaram
Podcast with James M. Lindsay, Varun Sivaram, Gabrielle Sierra, Justin Schuster April 22, 2025
The Climate Challenge, With Alice Hill and Varun Sivaram
Podcast with James M. Lindsay , Alice C. Hill , Varun Sivaram , Ester Fang , Gabrielle Sierra September 24, 2024
AI, Extreme Weather, and the LA Wildfires
In the News with Alice C. Hill January 15, 2025
Events
Climate Realism Initiative Launch
Event with Neil Chatterjee, Joshua Freed, Sherri Goodman, Alice C. Hill, Maureen Hinman, David Keith, David W. Livingston, Ernest J. Moniz, Rachel Pritzker, David G. Victor, David Wallace-Wells, David M. Hart, Mary Louise Kelly, Varun Sivaram, Michael Froman. April 15, 2025
Technology and Clean Energy Innovations
Event with Varun Sivaram , Irina A. Faskianos February 3, 2025
Transition 2025 Series: The Future of U.S. Climate and Energy Policy
Event with Drew Bond , Michael Catanzaro , David Hayes , Alice C. Hill , Justin Worland March 13, 2025
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Several studies have attempted to model the effects of climate change on the economy, with varying results. But one fact remains certain: The costs of climate change will hit emerging markets and developing countries the hardest.
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The world is losing its battle to limit climate change, and the United States needs to prepare for consequences.
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Varun Sivaram, senior fellow for energy and climate and Director of the Climate Realism Initiative at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the state of the global environment and U.S. climate policies on the occasion of Earth Day 2025.
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The United States' historical approach to climate change is failing. American clean technology industries lag dangerously behind their international competitors, threatening U.S. geopolitical and economic influence, and climate change is on track to exceed internationally agreed targets, endangering U.S. national security. CFR’s new Climate Realism Initiative, led by Senior Fellow Varun Sivaram, will chart a fundamentally new course for U.S. climate and energy policy—one that is both realistic in its assessment of the world's climate trajectory fueled by rising emissions outside U.S. borders and realist in its expectation that the United States and other countries will work to advance their own interests in the emerging energy transition. The launch event will bring together leading experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to examine how the United States can prepare for the geopolitical and security consequences of accelerating climate change, build globally competitive and innovative American clean technology industries, and pursue novel approaches—from coordinating strategic trade actions to exploring geoengineering—to prevent the most catastrophic potential climate impacts from endangering U.S. interests. Click here to view the full agenda. If you wish to attend virtually, log-in information and instructions on how to participate during question-and-answer portions will be provided the evening before the event to those who register. Please note the audio, video, and transcript of this event will be posted on the CFR website. The Climate Realism Initiative Launch is made possible by the generous support of the ClimateWorks Foundation. Members may bring a guest to this event.
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The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) announces the launch of the Climate Realism Initiative, which will reimagine U.S. foreign policy to confront the threat of climate change, compete in the shifti…
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U.S. policymakers need a new strategy to confront the risks of climate change, compete in the global energy transition, and stay the course regardless of which political party is in power. A doctrine of “climate realism” could earn bipartisan support by decisively pursuing American interests.
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For decades, the world has witnessed explosive growth in the volume of international trade and the level of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Those two trends have long been linked, with the rise of in…
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A new Duke University study argues that the existing U.S. electricity system already has the capacity to power massive additions of data centers that will be needed for the further development of artificial intelligence.
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What powers artificial intelligence (AI)? As global electricity use is surging, with unprecedented demand coming from an increase in data centers, AI’s dependence on fossil fuels presents a serious issue for the planet. In the United States, data center power usage is on track to double by 2030, largely due to the proliferation of AI technology. But while the application of AI shows potential to mitigate climate problems through modeling or predicting weather events, will its power grab stall the clean energy transition?
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Climate Impacts Vary Across the World
Climate Impacts Vary Across the World
![Climate Impacts Vary Across the World]()
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Why Energy Storage is Essential for a Green Transition
Why Energy Storage is Essential for a Green Transition
![Why Energy Storage is Essential for a Green Transition]()
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How Climate Change Threatens National Security
How Climate Change Threatens National Security
![How Climate Change Threatens National Security]()
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What Is Climate Finance
What Is Climate Finance
![What Is Climate Finance]()
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What Is Geoengineering
What Is Geoengineering
![What Is Geoengineering]()
