Clean Air Task Force: Recommendation

Last updated in November 2024.

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is one of the top climate nonprofits selected by Giving Green in 2024. We previously recommended CATF in 2023, 2022, 2021, and 2020. CATF has a history of successfully advocating for a wide array of climate provisions in the US and is expanding its influence internationally. In particular, CATF has begun to scale its work on technology innovation to include global implementation and commercialization, focusing on technologies that are either nascent or lack broad support from civil society. 

By raising awareness and advocating for favorable policies in these neglected areas, we think CATF can accelerate decarbonization in sectors that might otherwise struggle to secure funding.

When we reassessed CATF in 2024, we closely analyzed three program areas aligned with our sectors of focus: superhot rock geothermal energy, zero-carbon fuels, and transportation decarbonization. We are impressed by the teams’ technical analysis, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy. While we have not assessed CATF’s other program areas (advanced nuclear energy, carbon capture, energy access, fusion energy, infrastructure deployment, land systems, power plants, and methane pollution prevention) in detail, we remain confident in its overall work and recommend unrestricted funding for the organization at large. 

CATF would invest additional funds to support the multi-year strategies of its existing programs and continued international expansion. Support would also enable the organization to expand its policy capacity in key jurisdictions.

For more information, see our deep dive on CATF, a summary below, and our broader reports on geothermal energy and decarbonizing aviation and maritime shipping.

What is CATF?

CATF’s work elevates critical emerging climate technologies that need robust investment and supportive policies to scale effectively.

How could CATF help address climate change?

CATF’s work elevates critical, emerging climate technologies that need robust investment and supportive policies to scale effectively.

What does CATF do?

CATF’s work to support technological innovation can be generalized into three categories: identifying technical and market barriers through modeling and systems analysis, engaging with stakeholders to align strategies to address these barriers, and advocating for policies supporting technological development and market growth.

What are some of CATF’s historical accomplishments?

CATF helped secure key climate provisions in the bipartisan US Energy Act of 2020 and provided technical assistance and input on important authorization and funding measures in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). It also successfully advocated for Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provisions relating to cutting methane pollution, advancing neglected low-emissions technologies, and making tax incentives and grants stackable. CATF was instrumental in catalyzing the Global Methane Pledge, introduced by US President Joe Biden and EU President Ursula von der Leyen in September 2021, and signed by more than 100 countries at COP26. Under this pledge, countries collectively agree to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

What’s new in 2024?

CATF has been deeply engaged in advancing key policy priorities in the US and EU that align with our philanthropic strategies, including a federal clean fuel standard and R&D funding for advanced geothermal technologies. Moving forward, CATF is continuing its expansive policymaker engagement and education on these crucial policy levers. CATF is conducting first-of-a-kind modeling of the full U.S. transportation sector to assess the impact on fuel demand and emissions under a range of potential policy developments. In terms of its work on geothermal, CATF continues to provide thought leadership on superhot rock geothermal and has broadened its policy work to include supporting demonstrations of existing next-generation geothermal technologies. CATF’s efforts underpin its goals to enable positive policy progress on key technologies in priority geographies.

What would CATF do with your donation?

CATF plans to expand its geographical scope and policy focus to meet the global decarbonization challenge. We think it is well-positioned to capitalize on the current political climate, influence policy debate within the US and EU, and promote pragmatic climate pathways in Africa and the Middle East.

Why is Giving Green excited about CATF?

Giving Green is particularly excited about CATF’s work in sectors that align with our 2024 assessment of scale, feasibility, and funding need, including superhot rock geothermal energy, zero-carbon fuels, and decarbonizing maritime shipping and aviation.

Explore ways to give to Clean Air Task Force and more.

Clean Air Task Force is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the United States. We are only offering an opinion on CATF, and not on CATF Action. This is a non-partisan analysis (study or research) and is provided for educational purposes.