We are an impactful Northern European climate business coalition shaping global policies

Climate action through leadership

Climate Leadership Coalition is a leading non-profit climate business network. Our members collectively employ over a million people worldwide and represent almost 70% of the market cap of the OMX Nasdaq Helsinki Stock exchange.

CLC drives global action by collaborating with companies, cities, Nordic governments, European policymakers, and global leaders driving change. CLC advocates for market-shaping mechanisms that drive fair transition over time and have global reach to decarbonize value chains beyond EU borders.

Our coalition includes

70+

Businesses driving transition

15

Universities & research institutions

6

Nordic cities

Northern European businesses harnessing the market economy for climate and business

To keep global warming close to 1.5°C and maintain competitiveness, To keep global warming close to 1.5°C and safeguard competitiveness, Northern European businesses need to take the lead in shaping markets that reward climate performance. Early policies such as the EU Emissions Trading System have already proven effective in reducing energy sector emissions. The next frontier is the transformation of high-emission value chains. Climate Leadership Coalition has identified focus areas where targeted market mechanisms, including carbon pricing, sector-specific incentives, and support for carbon removals, can unlock both climate impact and economic opportunity. These focus areas are steel and cement, removals, consumer products, and agriculture and food, where policy and business can most effectively work together to accelerate global decarbonization.

CLC was founded in 2014 by Finnish companies Fortum, KONE, Neste, St1, Outotec, Caverion and Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund. The first meeting leading to the founding of CLC was convened by Antti Herlin, Chairman of the Board of KONE.

Our guiding numbers

1,5°C

We must stay on track with 1,5°C by 2100

4-6%

Compared to global GDP for investments needed

5-15%

Growth of green markets globally

To limit global warming to 1.5°C and stay within planetary boundaries, the global economy must mobilize 3–5% of GDP annually in climate and nature-positive investments. This transformation is not only necessary but also economically viable - green markets are projected to grow by 5–15%, offering significant opportunities for Northern European businesses to lead in sustainable innovation and competitiveness.

Our strategic focus areas

Steel and cement

Carbon removals

Consumer products

Food & agriculture

Energy transition

Our strategic priorities target sectors where climate action can unlock the most transformative change: steel and cement, carbon removals, consumer products, and agriculture and food. At the foundation lies energy, the critical enabler of decarbonization across all sectors. We are currently advancing initiatives in steel & cement and removals, which you can explore further under our Policy section.

How we make an impact

Tackling climate change requires more than ambition. It takes clear rules, smart incentives, and strong markets. Our work focuses on shaping the policies and frameworks that accelerate the shift to a net zero economy.

We make an impact by:

Strengthening carbon pricing to drive efficient emission reductions.
Advocating targeted subsidies to scale clean technologies faster.
Supporting standards and mandates where markets alone are not enough.

By combining these approaches, we help deliver real emission cuts, unlock investment, and create the conditions for lasting climate solutions.

Member activities

CLC’s member engagement is built around three core pillars that reflect our strategic priorities and foster meaningful collaboration across our network. These pillars are designed to support our mission of accelerating the green transition through Nordic leadership in key value chains.

Annual reports

CLC’s annual reports provide a comprehensive overview of CLC’s activities, key initiatives, and progress toward climate impact each year.

Our annual reports