Our mission is to rethink what’s possible in a rapidly changing world — to redesign international governance and institutions, seed coalitions for change, and support those pioneering new approaches.

Amidst the profound and unprecedented changes reshaping our world today, we have a unique opportunity to rethink what is possible and define what comes next. We can have better governance, democracy, and international cooperation that puts people’s wellbeing and fundamental needs first.

At the Future of Climate Cooperation, we’re working to redesign and improve how decisions are made and institutions operate. We’re incubating coalitions for change, and supporting those already pioneering new approaches in their communities. The future of climate cooperation will not be dictated by old models - it will be built by those who step forward to shape it now.  

To build a future where all people can thrive on a healthy planet for generations to come, we must rethink how we work together globally. The Paris Agreement remains necessary, but insufficient. The next generation of climate cooperation must go further. 

Cooperating across borders, sectors, and cultures has never been easy, but new political, economic and legal tools can make it possible, and this moment presents a historic opportunity to pursue these. The economic and scientific case for pursuing climate goals remains overwhelming: renewable energy costs are plummeting, investment is surging, and people are hungry for change. The question is not whether we will cooperate, but how. We do it by changing the rules and by building a strong community.

The Future of Climate Cooperation is a strategic initiative initiated by the University of Oxford and the ClimateWorks Foundation in collaboration with leading experts, practitioners and activists around the world. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors is the fiscal sponsor of this initiative.

Glaring inconsistencies between climate pledges and economic policies have created a dangerous gap between ambition and real-world implementation, resulting in stalled progress and worsening inequities. Targeted reforms can bridge this divide. 

We examine the changes needed to the rules and institutions of economic governance and global trade and investment regimes, to align them with climate action, sustainable development, and economic justice worldwide.

Working with other partners, we strengthen coordination and cooperation across the global climate action ecosystem. While sector-based initiatives driving climate action have expanded over the past decade, the landscape remains fragmented, complex, and uneven. Corporate and political backsliding in the current geopolitical context, have added uncertainty and confusion into the mix.

To improve cooperation and effectiveness at the necessary speed, scale, and with justice, requires far better alignment among advocates, thought leaders, and policy insiders. We bridge gaps, enhance collaboration, and drive more effective coordinated climate action.