About the Georgetown Climate Center

The nonpartisan Georgetown Climate Center (GCC) seeks to advance effective climate policies in the United States – policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help communities adapt to climate change, and bridge the gap between climate and transportation planning.

The Georgetown Climate Center is part of Georgetown Law in Washington, D.C.

Led by Executive Director Vicki Arroyo and Faculty Director Professor Peter Byrne of Georgetown Law, the Center also seeks to ensure that national climate and energy policy is informed by lessons from existing state efforts and that national policies maintain an ongoing role for state innovation and implementation.

The Center informs the development of state and federal policies, including:

• Cap and trade and other climate and energy legislation;
• Regulation under the Clean Air Act and other existing statutes;
• Transportation, land use, and other “complementary” policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and
• Regulations and laws that help communities adapt to climate change.

Working to Strengthen State and Federal Climate Partnerships

The Georgetown Climate Center is focused on policies that require action at the state, federal, and local levels and is uniquely positioned at the nexus of state and federal policy.  

As part of the prestigious Georgetown Law, the Center works extensively with state and federal officials, academics, and an array of stakeholders to strengthen state-federal climate partnerships and to collaborate with the three North American regional climate initiatives, which now account for roughly half of the U.S. population and gross domestic product, and a third of greenhouse gas emissions.

The Center also acts as the convener of the Governors’ Energy and Climate Coalition, bringing together states that support comprehensive climate and energy legislation.

Serving as a State and Federal Resource

The GCC provides news, legislative tracking, and analysis regarding federal policies’ effect on states. It works with states and territories to inform national efforts through the sharing of best practices, innovative policies, and lessons learned from their experiences.

In 2010, the GCC will continue to expand its resources with the launch of an adaptation clearinghouse – an online database that will help policymakers and others more easily locate and share adaptation resources and tools throughout the country.