The Climate Leadership Conference (CLC) and Awards (CLAs) were launched in 2011 to continue the legacy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program, which recognized companies for setting and achieving greenhouse gas reduction goals from 2002 to 2011. Founding partners of the updated awards program and climate-focused conference in 2012 included the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), The Climate Registry, the EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership, and the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO). Since 2023, The Climate Registry has been thrilled to continue the work of celebrating the nation's climate leaders as lead presenter of the Climate Leadership Conference and Awards.