The Carboun Story

The Carboun Initiative

The roots of the Carboun Institute can be traced back to 2009 when the Carboun Initiative was founded in the San Francisco Bay Area. Established as a not-for-profit, the Carboun initiative set out with a clear mission: to advocate sustainable cities in the Middle East and North Africa region. The initiative focused on the built environment and urban systems, advocating for a balanced approach to development that considered economic growth alongside environmental impact and resource conservation.

Over the years, the Carboun initiative became a respected voice in the region, known for its online journal, pioneering infographics, and social media outlets which shared insights and analysis on urban sustainability across various sectors including energy use, water management, sustainable design, transportation, and climate change resilience.

15 Year of Sustainability Advocacy

The Carboun Initiative operated as a grassroots volunteer-based organization between 2009-2024. Driven by the passion and dedication of its volunteers, it engaged in numerous regional and national-level projects, tackling issues such as energy use in buildings, carbon emissions, and the impact of climate change on the region. Throughout its journey, the initiative collaborated with many partners across the region, amplifying its impact and reach.

The Carboun Initiative's expertise was regularly sought after by mainstream media, with its representatives frequently interviewed and quoted on matters of urban sustainability and climate action. This recognition earned the initiative a membership in the Climate Action Network International (CAN International), further solidifying its role in the global conversation on climate action.

Infographic of Ma'rib, Yemen, showing geographic features like the Sarawat Mountain Range, Wadi Dhana, New Ma'rib Dam and Reservoir, location of historic Ma'rib Dam, lava field, Jabal Balaq, sand dunes of Ramlat Al Sabatayn, and the extent of the Dha
Map showing changing coastline of the Gulf area over 24,000 years, with current and past shorelines marked in different shades of blue. Cities like Kuwait City, Doha, and Dubai are labeled, with red dots indicating urban areas.
Infographic titled 'Solid Waste Management in the Middle East and North Africa' showing average solid waste production per capita by country, disposal methods like landfill, open dump, and recycling. Visual representation includes machinery and chart
Collage featuring six topics related to MENA region: urban sustainability, mobility, land regeneration, renewable energy, water, and solid waste management. Each section includes an illustrative background and the text 'Carboun' and 'Friedrich Ebert
Suspension bridge in Jordan with heavy traffic and stormy sky, Arabic text overlay.

Grassroots to Groundbreaking

In 2025, recognizing the growing need for more comprehensive and specialized research on climate and energy policy in the Middle East and North Africa region, the Carboun Initiative evolved into the Carboun Institute. This transformation from a volunteer-based initiative to a fully-fledged not-for-profit think tank marked a significant milestone in Carboun's journey.

As part of this evolution, all activities previously conducted under the Carboun Initiative are now integrated into and operated under the umbrella of the Carboun Institute. While maintaining its commitment to sustainability, the Institute has expanded its scope to become the region's first independent climate and energy policy think tank.

This evolution allows the Carboun Institute to build on the strong foundation laid by the Carboun Initiative, leveraging its 15-year legacy of advocacy and expertise to drive evidence-based policy changes and foster regional collaboration on critical climate and energy issues.