CoolClimate Policy Tools

The CoolClimate Network's Interactive Policy Tools calculate and compare the GHG reductions provided by various emission reduction policies. These tools can help households, businesses and communities identify the best emission reduction strategies.

1 minute read

August 25, 2022, 8:00 AM PDT

By Todd Litman


The climate crisis is pressing and solutions are urgently needed. The University of California, Berkeley's CoolClimate Network provides smart decision-making tools and programs to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. It is developing cutting-edge carbon footprint benchmarking research and combining this with ongoing lessons from behavioral sciences to design tailored climate solutions for specific users and populations.



CoolClimate tools can quickly identify the unique opportunities each individual, business, organization or community holds to reduce greenhouse gas emisions. These tools are incorporated into programs to activate, educate, motivate and empower individuals and organizations to make low-carbon choices. 



These include:

Household Calculator. This calculates the emissions of specific households, taking into account their specific location, housing, transportation and consumption patterns, and ways that these can be reduced.

Business Calculator. This calculates the emissions of specific businesses, taking into account their specific location, housing, transportation and consumption patterns, and ways that these can be reduced.

CoolClimate Maps. These custom heatmaps show household carbon emission rates for specific locations.

CoolClimate SF Map

 

CoolClimate Emissions Map

California Carbon Footprint Planning Tools and Scenarios

California Local Government Climate Policy Tool

 

CoolClimate API allows software developers to create custom Carbon Footprint Calculators.

These tools are useful, interesting and fun to use, and produce beautiful maps. They are based on extensive and ongoing research concerning emission sources and the effectiveness of emission reduction strategies. 

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Rendering of Shirley Chisholm Village four-story housing development with person biking in front.

San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning

SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.

June 8, 2025 - Fast Company

Yellow single-seat Japanese electric vehicle drivign down road.

The Tiny, Adorable $7,000 Car Turning Japan Onto EVs

The single seat Mibot charges from a regular plug as quickly as an iPad, and is about half the price of an average EV.

June 6, 2025 - PC Magazine

White Waymo autonomous car driving fast down city street with blurred background at night.

Seattle's Plan for Adopting Driverless Cars

Equity, safety, accessibility and affordability are front of mind as the city prepares for robotaxis and other autonomous vehicles.

June 16 - Smart Cities Dive

Two small wooden one-story homes in Florida with floodwaters at their doors.

As Trump Phases Out FEMA, Is It Time to Flee the Floodplains?

With less federal funding available for disaster relief efforts, the need to relocate at-risk communities is more urgent than ever.

June 16 - Governing

People riding bicycles on separated bike trail.

With Protected Lanes, 460% More People Commute by Bike

For those needing more ammo, more data proving what we already knew is here.

June 16 - UNM News