Climate and Environmental Initiatives
NREL plays a leading role with international climate and clean energy initiatives that achieve large greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions through accelerated renewable energy (RE) and energy efficiency (EE) use.
Low-Carbon Communities of the Americas
In support of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) has launched a program to assist countries in the Latin American region with sustainable energy market transformation initiatives. Through this new program, DOE invited countries to submit proposals for collaborations related to low-carbon communities, including renewable energy development and building and industrial efficiency. The selection committee consulted with countries in the region to ensure that topics reflect the best opportunities for accelerating energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) deployment in Latin America.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is providing technical assistance, along with other DOE laboratories, for countries receiving support.
Climate Technology Initiative
NREL serves as a technical resource to the Climate Technology Initiative (CTI) to support clean energy technology transfer efforts under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). CTI advances market-friendly approaches to accelerating the deployment and diffusion of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance effective adaptation strategies to climate change. NREL has been a partner with CTI since its founding and has provided assistance in technology needs assessments, technology program design, and expert exchange.
Integrated Environmental Strategies Program
NREL provides technical support for the Integrated Environmental Strategies (IES) program. Initiated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the IES program promotes integrated planning to address local environmental concerns and also reduce associated global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The program encourages developing countries to analyze and implement policy, technology, and infrastructure measures with multiple public health, economic, and environmental benefits. Government agencies and research institutions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Mexico, the Philippines, and South Korea have participated in the IES program.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
NREL is working with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the preparation and scoping for the Special Report on Renewable Energies, and NREL experts also will participate in development of the report.
Secretariat for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
NREL is assisting the Secretariat for the United Nations (U.N.) Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in evaluating options for enhanced international collaboration on research and development, demonstration and commercialization, and broad diffusion of climate change response technologies.
