From research to regulation
Designing credible and durable climate policy in
a new era
Carbon Balance Initiative is an independent, research-led climate policy think tank founded at the University of Oxford.
We work to embed credible, evidence-based research into regulation and policy, helping governments design frameworks that are durable, realistic, and aligned with geological net zero.
From research to regulation.
From research to regulation.
We combine academic rigour with policy judgement, translating complex and evolving scientific understandings into policy-relevant insights that can inform real-world decisions.
Our key values
Cross-sector
collaboration is power
Tackling the climate crisis demands more than solo action. We collaborate across sectors, not just to be heard, but to ensure evidence is well understood.
Agility in an
uncertain world
We move fast and think forward. As a lean organisation with a start-up mindset, we embrace complexity and respond quickly when new evidence or opportunities emerge.
Accountability
beats optimism
Hope and voluntary action alone won’t get us to net zero. Our research sets out what enforceable, realistic policy grounded in evidence could look like in today’s world.
Science and research
at the core
Our work is rooted in world-class research. In collaboration with world-leading institutions, we develop bold, practical solutions grounded in science.
Featured Publications
Our strategic priorities
We have four strategic priorities guide our work across the UK, EU and international levels, helping us develop policy ideas that are rigorous, practical, and built for long-term impact.
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We work to bring greater clarity to what geological net zero and overshoot mean for climate policy, and to support stronger thinking on their implications for long-term climate action.
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We work to build momentum for more credible and coordinated approaches to fossil fuel transition, with a focus on the wider conditions needed for progress and implementation.
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We work to advance more coherent and fit-for-purpose approaches to carbon management, understood within the broader context of climate policy, carbon markets, industrial change, and systems transformation.
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We work to support climate policy that is more credible, durable, and resilient, particularly in the context of growing political complexity and legal challenge.
