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How environmental issues affect all giving
The environment links with all aspects of our lives – our health, well-being, fresh air, food, water, energy and economic prosperity. Almost any social cause you might care about, from poverty alleviation to food security, migration to human rights, is entwined with environmental issues. Grants to environmental causes from UK funders are increasing year on year as awareness of these interconnections grows, but still only represent around 8.5% of total foundation funding. If we are to tackle climate change, reverse nature loss and ensure a healthy, fair future for this generation and the next, far more funding is needed.
We encourage you to start funding at the place where climate change and nature loss affects the causes you’re passionate about. Below we have resources to help you get started and you can get in touch to get further support on how you consider environmental issues in your wider giving.
Climate change is a justice issue
The climate crisis directly affects us all, but it is also a stress multiplier, meaning it exacerbates existing inequalities by affecting people and groups differently. Those most at risk are those on low incomes, ethnic and other minority groups, people living with disabilities, and those with long term health problems. The people who are hit hardest are generally those who have contributed the least to greenhouse gas emissions, so climate change is also a justice issue. You can read more about this here.
For example, increased temperatures are making some places hard or impossible to live in, because of rising sea levels, extreme weather and reduced food production. Millions are leaving their homes and struggling to access food, water, healthcare, safety and education. Young people, the elderly, women and girls, LGBTQI+ and disabled people are most at risk from these upheavals.
This is not just happening overseas – the most marginalised in our society here in the UK are less likely to be able to protect themselves from extreme heat and flooding, and are more likely to be exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution. Nature loss and lack of access to nature exacerbate all these stresses and impacts. Because of this, climate change intersects with virtually every other social cause. More and more funders are recognising the threat it poses to virtually every charitable aim, and that inequalities will only be further widened if we don’t take action now.
Resources to help you connect your area of funding with the environment
We’ve curated some resources from us and partner organisations to help you learn more and connect your area of interest or funding with environmental issues. Most importantly, these resources include what action funders can take and how to start funding these important intersections.
General
Here are resources and/or partner organisations that can help you think generally about your philanthropy and how your giving can generate positive social and environmental impacts.
- Active Philanthropy offers a range of resources, guides and services for philanthropists, donor families, philanthropic organisations and social investors to engage in climate action. Their Funding the Future guide is particularly helpful to see where climate change and nature loss affects the causes you may already be passionate about.
- New Philanthropy Capital is the think tank and consultancy that helps charities, foundations, philanthropists, impact investors, social enterprises, businesses, and the public sector to maximise social impact in the lives of the people they serve. Their Everyone’s Environment programme aims to accelerate action on the social impacts of the environmental crises.
Health
Our Healthy Planet, Healthy People series explored the many interconnections between human health and the environment. The series demonstrated why supporting environmental work can lead to significant positive health and social outcomes, and be a longer term, holistic means for funders interested in these issues to achieve their objectives. Included below are further resources on health and the environment.
- Watch Healthy Planet Healthy People series – our series of events exploring human health and the environment
- Read Healthy Planet, Healthy People Briefing – our guide aims to help funders better identify the multiple connections between our health and the environment, and mobilise significantly more funds at this crucial intersection.
- Read Easy Digest: the links between climate change and health by Impatience Earth – this short resource focuses on the links between climate and health.
- Read How will the climate and nature crises affect people experiencing health inequalities? by NPC – a report that explores some of the ways in which the environmental crises will perpetuate existing, and cause new, health inequalities.
- Read Promoting Health, Protecting Our Planet: Pathways for Philanthropic Impact by Climate Lead – a report that highlights synergistic opportunities for philanthropy to help alleviate the health impacts of climate change.
Arts, culture and entertainment
Arts for Life is a series run by the Environmental Funders Network in collaboration with the Arts Funders Group to explore how funders can support the arts, culture and entertainment sectors to inspire action on the climate and nature crisis and to reimagine the world we live in. Resources include:
- Watch Arts and the Environment series – our series of events exploring how philanthropists can support the arts, culture and entertainment sectors to inspire climate action.
- Read our curated list of organisations working at the arts and environment intersection.
We are exploring the possibility of setting up a pooled fund. If you’re interested in the intersection of climate and arts, get in touch.
Gender
Here are resources that explore the links between gender equality and the environment, and the role that philanthropy can play in supporting both causes.
- Read Easy Digest: The Links between Climate Change & Gender by Impatience Earth – this short resource focuses on the links between climate, gender equality, women and girls.
- Read Philanthropy Briefing: Women & the Environment by EFN – our report delves into the links between gender inequality and the environment, bringing to light the multitude of connections and the role philanthropy plays.
Education and young people
Here are resources that explore the links between education, young people and the environment, and the role that philanthropy can play in supporting these causes.
- Read Easy digest: the links between climate change and education by Impatience Earth – this short resource focuses on the links between climate, education and poverty.
- Read How will the climate and nature crises impact young people? by NPC – this report explores how the climate and nature crises will harm young people’s physical and mental health, education, development and income.
Nature
Here are resources that explore nature loss, the links to climate change and the role that philanthropy can play in addressing these critical issues.
- Read Easy Digest: the links between climate change and biodiversity by Impatience Earth – this short resource focuses on the link between climate, nature and biodiversity.
- Read Philanthropy Brief: Peatlands by Active Philanthropy – this two-pager contains key facts and statistics on peatlands and funding peatland activities.
- Read Philanthropy Brief: Forests by Active Philanthropy – this two-pager contains key facts and statistics on forests and funding forest activities.
Development
Here are resources that explore the impacts that climate change is having on development and humanitarian causes and the role for philanthropy.
- Read Scaling up climate-smart development by Impatience Earth – a report and video series that share insights from funders and grantees in development and climate work.
- Read Climate Change and Humanitarian Change: Challenging norms, mandates and practices by Centre for Humanitarian Action – a report exploring how climate change is reshaping humanitarian work and what needs to change going forward.
Food production and diet
Here are resources that explore the impact that food production, agriculture and our diets have on nature loss and climate change, and the role that philanthropy can play.
- Read Philanthropy Brief: Livestock by Active Philanthropy – this 2-pager contains key facts and statistics on livestock and funding livestock-related activities.
- Read Philanthropy Brief: Nitrogen Fertiliser by Active Philanthropy – this 2-pager contains key facts and statistics on fertiliser and funding fertiliser-related activities.
- Read Regenerative Food and Farming: Why Philanthropy is Needed by Rothschild Foundation – a summary of a funder event and call to action for philanthropy to address regenerative agriculture.
Poverty
Here are resources that explore the connections between poverty and climate change and the role that philanthropy can play in addressing these issues.
- Read How will the climate and nature crises impact people living in poverty? By NPC – a report that explores the impacts on people living in poverty from environmental change and environmental policy.
Justice, equality and Most Affected People and Areas (MAPA)
Here are resources that explore how different people and areas are most affected by climate change and inequality and the role that philanthropy can play in addressing these interconnected issues.
- Read Easy digest: how does climate change impact the LGBTQIA+ community? By Impatience Earth – a short resource exploring climate change from an LGBTQIA+ perspective.
- Watch Disability and Climate Justice Webinar by Impatience Earth – a webinar that explores the impacts of climate change on disabled people around the world and the state of disability inclusion within climate policy and activism.
- Read How will the climate and nature crises impact people from ethnic minority communities? By NPC and Race Equality Foundation – a report that shows how the health, income, skills and jobs of ethnic minority communities in Britain are impacted by the climate and nature crises.
- Read How will the climate and nature crises impact older people and Disabled people? By NPC, Re-engage and Disability Rights UK – a report reviews the evidence for the impacts of both the climate and nature crises, and environmental policy, upon older people and Disabled people.