The further development of the National Climate Initiative (NCI) is based on the guiding principle of "100 % climate protection" and is ultimately intended to lead to a complete decarbonization of the economy and society, combined with a halving of energy consumption. Achieving this goal requires new approaches at many levels, among many actors and in many areas of daily life. The future further development of the NCI is also to be increasingly focused on this, and the necessary support programs are to be developed for this purpose.

The objectives of this project were:

• An essentially ex-post evaluation, which assessed the effects of the NCI for the programs, guidelines and projects effective in the period from 2012 to 2017 as part of a comprehensive performance review.
• Scientific monitoring of selected NCI programs, which resulted in recommendations for optimizing and adapting the existing programs and funding priorities. Funding programs and funding priorities were developed.
• Scientific and strategic advisory support for the further development of the NCI, focusing on the goal of optimizing the NCI's profile and portfolio with regard to achieving national climate protection policy goals.

Since 2008, the National Climate Initiative (NCI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) has been supporting numerous projects in the fields of business, local authorities, consumers and education that contribute to the German government's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Germany by 80 % by 2050.