Environmental Funders Networkclimate change Archives

Alex Robertson, Global Canopy Making deforestation-free private wealth a reality

Posted on 12 Dec 2022

Global Canopy's new deforestation-free investment mandate can be a game changer for family offices and foundations to ensure their investments don’t undermine their philanthropic giving. In this blog, Alex Robertson discusses the need for family offices and foundations to ensure their investment portfolios are free from deforestation, conversion and associated human rights abuses and their new investment mandate to help do this.

Keywords: climate change, deforestation, human rights, investment

John Rose, The National Lottery Community Fund Making climate action everyone’s business at the UK’s leading community funder

Posted on 16 May 2022

As the largest funder of community activity in the UK, The National Lottery Community Fund plays a critical role supporting communities to unleash their energy and potential, especially on important issues such as the climate emergency. In this blog, John Rose discusses the work the National Lottery Community Fund is doing to take environmental action and support grant holders to be more sustainable and regenerative.

Keywords: climate change, collective-impact, communities, innovation

Brice Böhmer, Transparency International The power of good governance in stopping the climate crisis: Six actions philanthropy must embrace in 2022

Posted on 1 Apr 2022

In 2019/2020, climate finance amounted to US$632 billion globally. Yet, about 30-40% of climate funding was probably spent inefficiently or stolen because of corruption – considering that at least 30% of development aid is lost to corruption. Philanthropy can and must play a crucial role and act now to help stop the leaky pipeline of climate funding. Building on comprehensive analysis and research over the past ten years, here are six concrete and tangible actions for funders to take in 2022.

Keywords: climate change, effectiveness, funding overseas

Mission critical: how third sector organisations can play to their strengths in responding to the climate emergency

Nick Addington, William Grant Foundation Mission critical: how third sector organisations can play to their strengths in responding to the climate emergency

Posted on 24 Mar 2022

Third sector organisations have a critical contribution to make in response to the climate emergency. But reducing their carbon footprints isn’t it. In this blog, Nick Addington offers some thoughts about a possible framework to help organisations think more broadly about their role and recognise opportunities to help achieve a sustainable future.

Keywords: climate change, collective-impact, effectiveness, grassroots, joined-up-thinking

Ed Dean, Ashden COP26: Philanthropy can drive systemic change – and back more equitable climate solutions

Posted on 9 Dec 2021

The COP26 climate talks brought hope and frustration – but also reminded us of the unique role philanthropy can play in creating a fair and sustainable world. In this piece, Ed Dean considers what the COP taught us about the power and potential of philanthropy.

Keywords: climate change, cop26, growing the pie, investment, justice, systems change

Eva Rehse, Global Greengrants Fund UK, and Florence Miller, EFN The State of Climate Funding Pre-COP26

Posted on 29 Oct 2021

COP26 will shape how governments respond to the climate crisis. It is also an organising moment for civil society, and a chance for funders to make public commitments in solidarity with civil society and the climate movement. Ahead of the start of COP later this week, Eva Rehse and Florence Miller take a critical look at the state of climate philanthropy today.

Keywords: climate change, collaboration, collective-impact, effectiveness, joined-up-thinking

Farhana Yamin EFN 2021 Retreat Keynote Talk

Posted on 8 Jul 2021

How can funders use the tools we have — our power, privileges and positions — to tackle those things that are most systemic? How can we support climate action that is truly intersectional, supporting both nature and people, and inclusive of everyone? Farhana put forward various suggestions in her keynote talk at EFN's annual retreat.

Keywords: climate change, communities, effectiveness, grassroots, justice

Steven Smith and Ian Christie, University of Surrey Building an Effective Coalition for Radical Climate Action in the UK

Posted on 8 Jul 2021

Notes from Steven Smith's presentation on his hugely useful research on climate-focused organisations, followed by a discussion with Steven and his collaborator and advisor Ian Christie, at the 2021 EFN Retreat. One of the most significant insights produced by the research is the observation of the dominance of the coalition of organisations who believe that the best strategy for addressing the climate crisis involves a technological, growth-led transition to net zero by 2050. This, Steve argues, is politically viable -- but ecologically unviable.

Keywords: climate change, effectiveness, growth, limits

Adam McGibbon Ending UK support for fossil fuels overseas: key lessons from a big policy win

Posted on 30 Jun 2021

In December 2020, the UK Government announced an end to its finance for fossil fuels overseas, becoming the first major country in the world to take this step. This landmark announcement followed a multi-year campaign by a coalition of NGOs, which later won the ‘David and Goliath Award’ at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s National Campaign Awards. Adam McGibbon, the coordinator of the campaign, shares some of the key factors in the campaign's success that led to this big – and unexpected – policy win.

Keywords: advocacy, climate change, collaboration, effectiveness, policy work

Patricia Cremona, EFN Where the climate grants went in 2020

Posted on 6 Apr 2021

Given the urgency of the climate crisis and the shortfall in funding, current and prospective climate funders face extremely challenging decisions to ensure their grantmaking is as impactful as possible. Information on which particular issues, approaches and organisations other funders are supporting, and which are receiving less attention than others, can be very helpful to funders when making difficult grantmaking decisions.
With this in mind, EFN initiated a mapping exercise in 2020 to gather information on climate-related grantmaking from funders that participate in EFN’s Climate Funders Group. This blog summarises our key findings which we hope will be of use to current and potential climate funders.

Keywords: climate change, collaboration, effectiveness, fundraising, mapping

Keyword “climate change”