The Club of Rome is an international think tank known for its critical examination of global challenges since its founding in 1968. The organisation emerged from meetings between Italian industrialist Aurelio Peccei and Scottish scientist Alexander King, who shared concerns over humanity’s long-term prospects. Its membership today consists of over 100 professionals, including current and former political leaders, UN administrators, diplomats, economists, and scientists. The Club's secretariat is based in Winterthur, Switzerland, with a satellite office in Brussels.
The Club gained worldwide attention with its 1972 report “The Limits to Growth,” prepared by an MIT research team using computer models to analyze the consequences of unchecked population and economic growth. The report famously warned about overshooting Earth’s carrying capacity. Since then, the Club has issued more than 50 reports, providing data-driven insights into issues like resource depletion, environmental stress, and economic instability.
Its current work is organized around several “Impact Hubs,” each targeting areas such as climate and biodiversity, economic models, finance, and youth leadership. The Earth4All project, launched in 2020 in cooperation with partners like the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, explores transformative pathways in energy, food, inequality, wealth, and population—recently piloting national-level strategies in countries including Austria, Kenya, and Singapore.
Through its research, events, and advocacy, the Club of Rome continues to convene discussions with leaders, policymakers, and youth, aiming to rethink global approaches to interconnected crises facing planetary and human wellbeing.