In recent years, major economies have developed extensive climate policy packages to decarbonize heavy industries, providing a strong signal for a clean transition. Throughout the process of formulation of these policies, a competitive race has developed as a result of countries’ aim to pursue their best interests and leveraging its political opportunities on the cost of combating sectors that are critical to national interests, high-emitting, and trade-sensitive. Ideally, a balance should be struck, where each nation’s independent effort would also aim to maximize the potential for the evolving policy frameworks.

The Race to the Top project provides an opportunity for both sides of the Atlantic to collaboratively shape the debate on policy options and support a global race to the top for climate. The EU-US relationship currently has immense potential to pilot the development of a more cooperative agenda on industrial decarbonization.

Race to the Top for Climate

Through a research exercise, Race to the Top seeks to provide practical knowledge on industrial decarbonization policy and form a basis for EU-US stakeholder dialogue. The project explores ideas ranging from immediately actionable to long-term and aspirational – recognizing that current politics are volatile on both sides of the Atlantic.

The project integrates a co-creative research process, whereby stakeholders will get to actively engage at different stages of the report’s preparation. Throughout its timeline, Race to the Top will maximize the synergies between analytical work and stakeholder engagement, in order to ensure relevant and comprehensive policy recommendations.

Race to the Top for Climate is made possible through the funding and support of the Environmental Defense Fund.