Our History

ICF International was founded in 1969 as the Inner City Fund. During the last 40 years, the firm has grown and evolved to encompass a broad set of services ranging from energy and environment to transportation, security and defense.

Along the way, ICF has always maintained a core focus on the environment, long before anyone even knew what it meant to be green. Today, ICF maintains one of the largest and most qualified teams of green consultants on the planet. More than 1,000 employees strong, our environmental staff now represents the most diverse and comprehensive set of environmental resources available, and delivers some of the most innovative and effective analysis and recommendations to our clients.

The following timeline outlines a few highlights from our storied history:

1999-Present

  • Became the first major global professional services firm to become carbon neutral
  • Conducted first, corporate-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) audit for industry
  • Completed 25 ozone-depleting substance recycling and recovery projects in 15 developing countries
  • Developed first greenhouse gas emissions monitoring and verification plan
  • Launched Integrated Planning Model (IPM®) Europe, the first integrated power, fuels, and environmental model of the European energy sector
  • Prepared risk assessment of high-speed civil transport effects on ozone depletion
  • Conducted the cost-benefit analysis of the U.S. government's Clear Skies Initiative

1989-1999

  • Prepared 13 U.S. national greenhouse gas inventories over the decade
  • Performed the first Environmental Impact Assessment under the European Community Guidelines
  • Supported the launch of the first U.S. public-private partnership for pollution prevention, the Green Lights Program
  • Assisted the U.S. government in developing NOx and SO2 emissions trading program
  • Developed Emission Inventory Guidelines for the International Protocol on Climate Change
  • Supported the launch of the ENERGY STAR® label for energy-efficient equipment
  • Established the first private environmental consulting firm in Russia: ICF/EKO
  • Calculated cost of compliance with the ozone depletion treaty, the Montreal Protocol
  • Published landmark survey: Realizing the Business Value of Sustainable Development

1969-1989

  • Developed the Urban Airshed Model, the world's most widely used photochemical air quality model
  • Led energy sector modeling to address OPEC oil embargo for the U.S. government
  • Developed worldwide standard approach to conducting environment, health, and safety audits
  • Supplied analytical framework for the U.S. Natural Gas Policy Act
  • Began its more than 20 years of advice regarding utility NOx emissions control strategies
  • IPM® applied by both industry and government in forming U.S. Clean Air Act Amendments
  • Developed IPM®, the first integrated model of the North American power, fuels, and environmental markets
  • Developed health-effects model to characterize UV exposure associated with ozone depletion

Learn more about ICF International's history and experience.

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