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SAN FRANCISCO – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, today announced Tasneem Essop, Dr. Kumi Naidoo, and Richard Woo have joined as advisors to support the foundation’s justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts. Ms. Essop, Dr. Naidoo, and Mr. Woo bring deep experience to their advisory roles, drawn from decades of working at the intersection of philanthropy, climate, and social justice movements.
ClimateWorks is engaging a diverse group of esteemed experts as part of its commitment to prioritize equity and justice holistically within its organization and programmatic work. Ms. Essop, Dr. Naidoo, and Mr. Woo are the first appointed advisors to this group, which ClimateWorks will expand over time.
“We are motivated by our vision of creating a thriving planet for all living beings for generations to come. To reach this durable climate future, we must better deliver our part in dismantling inequities around the world,” said Chris DeCardy, acting CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation. “To be better partners, collaborators and leaders on equity and justice, we’re thrilled to welcome Tasneem, Kumi, and Richard as our first advisors. Their counsel will be vital as part of our commitment to work more inclusively to support lasting climate solutions.”
Tasneem Essop is an expert on climate, energy, poverty, and social justice issues and is the executive director of Climate Action Network-International, a global civil society network in over 130 countries. Ms. Essop has held various senior government positions in South Africa, including as a provincial minister. She was also a global climate policy and strategy leader for WWF International, where she led the delegation for the organization at the UNFCCC. Ms. Essop completed her second term as commissioner in the National Planning Commission of South Africa. She was also a member of the Board of Sanparks, the leading conservation authority in South Africa.
Dr. Kumi Naidoo is a life-long human rights and environmental activist who has led a range of education, development, and social justice initiatives. He is the founding chair of Africans Rising, a Pan-African movement of people and organizations working for peace, justice, and dignity. Dr. Naidoo previously held executive roles at Amnesty International, Greenpeace International, and CIVICUS. He began his career as the founding executive director of the South African National NGO Coalition. Dr. Naidoo has also served on the boards of Global Reporting Initiative, 350.org, the Global Greengrants Fund, and as a member of the UN Women’s civil society advisory committee.
Richard Woo has 30 years of experience in philanthropy, impact investing, and social equity. He continues to apply that knowledge as a volunteer on the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation Board, the Advisory Board of Ethical Apparel Africa, and the Advisory Council of Front & Centered, a statewide climate justice coalition in Washington. Mr. Woo also advises nonprofit and private sector enterprises on matters of board governance, culture-building, and diversity, equity and inclusion. He is the former chief executive officer of The Russell Family Foundation and the past executive director of the Levi Strauss Foundation. He was a founding steering committee member of Divest-Invest Philanthropy (climate action). Mr. Woo also served on the boards of the Council on Foundations, Philanthropy Northwest, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy.
For more on ClimateWorks’ efforts to fully embed justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion principles, read the latest update here.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1.3 billion to more than 600 grantees in over 40 countries.
SAN FRANCISCO – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, today announced the Independent Global Stocktake (iGST) has mobilized to support the inaugural Global Stocktake (GST), which commenced at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) to determine global progress in meeting climate goals. The iGST represents civil society actors pushing for a robust GST that empowers countries to take greater climate action.
The Global Stocktake is an essential feature of the Paris Agreement to periodically take stock of progress toward its long-term goals. It was created to review collective efforts and increase climate action, support, and international cooperation. Beginning this year, the first GST will continue through 2023, and the process will repeat every five years.
“The Global Stocktake has the potential to be a critical lever in assessing worldwide progress and increasing long-term goals to bend the emissions curve so that people can live healthy and prosperous lives throughout the world,” said Jason Anderson, program director of governance & diplomacy and super pollutants at ClimateWorks Foundation. “This is an opportunity to set a strong foundation for a durable GST, one that has equity built into its fabric, ongoing engagement with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and increases the accountability of the Paris Agreement.”
Transparent and inclusive processes that embrace broad stakeholder participation will foster accountability and credibility to effectively drive transformational change to equitably reach the Paris Agreement’s mitigation, adaptation, and financial goals. The iGST, along with other civil society groups, is working to support an effective GST process that builds political momentum and invites public and media scrutiny. The iGST consists of thematic working groups paralleling the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement — mitigation, adaptation, and finance — and a group focused on the cross-cutting theme of equity. Additionally, it hosts regional civil society hubs, with pilots in Latin America and the Caribbean; West Africa; and launching next year in Southeast Asia.
Last fall, as part of a broader research series, the iGST released a capstone report, A Vision for a Robust Global Stocktake, with recommendations for a successful GST, including:
- Optimizing GST’s pace setting. An effective GST can trigger a virtuous cycle of increased ambition by encouraging policymakers to better synchronize their national planning and implementation processes through regular successive rounds of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDCs) while also better aligning their short-term national climate plans with the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals.
- Addressing data and process gaps. The GST should address substantial process and information gaps to assess progress. This includes ensuring that there is clarity on timelines within the GST, linking GST processes with other workstreams such as Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) cycles, and ensuring the input of high-quality information to fulfill GST’s transparency and accountability functions. Civil society can play a critical role in reducing some of the information gaps related to topics in the GST, such as mitigation, adaptation, finance, and means of implementation and support.
- Fostering equitable and inclusive engagement. Broad participation in the GST by all Party and non-Party stakeholders, including civil society and national governments, is important to elevating GST’s legitimacy, encouraging government accountability, and enhancing international cooperation. Supporting national, regional, and multi-stakeholder events and ensuring equitable participation of more resource-constrained countries will be vital to the GST acting as a driver of ambition.
- Accelerating climate ambition with politically impactful outputs. Whether governments will be able to go beyond their comfort zone and express ambitious aspirations based on tough science-based decisions remains to be seen. To fulfill the promise of the Paris Agreement at the scale and pace that is needed, the GST will need to mobilize compelling data, create international and domestic pressure, and generate the political momentum to achieve its desired outcomes.
For more on iGST’s recommendations for a robust GST, read its report here.
About the Independent Global Stocktake
The Independent Global Stocktake (iGST) is an umbrella data and advocacy initiative that brings together climate modelers, analysts, campaigners, and advocates to support the Paris Agreement. Structured around a set of work streams complementary to the Paris Agreement, iGST promotes dialogue and research in alignment with the Global Stocktake, iGST is a consortium of organizations with a secretariat based at ClimateWorks.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1.3 billion to more than 600 grantees in over 40 countries.
SAN FRANCISCO – October 28, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, and Ocean Visions today announced the grant recipients of the Ocean-Based CDR Analogues Request for Proposals — University of Washington’s School of Oceanography, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Prince William Sound Science Center, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). The 18-month grants will support evaluating the environmental impacts of ocean-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches via a study of field-based analogues.
ClimateWorks’ CDR Program supports research on removal topics deployed in tandem with mitigation strategies to stabilize the climate and protect the people and other living things that cannot thrive in a world where temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius. Ocean Visions has a multi-pronged program to support accelerated research and development of ocean-based CDR. Consistent with other scientific studies, the IPCC Working Group 1 report concludes with high confidence that some carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is essential as a complement to, and not a replacement for, CO2 emissions reductions.
“The ocean is Earth’s largest CO2 sink, and early scientific studies point to the potential to leverage natural processes to capture significant amounts of CO2,” said Jan Mazurek, Ph.D., senior director, Carbon Dioxide Removal at ClimateWorks Foundation. “However, there’s a significant gap in small, controlled field trials to provide real-world evidence of specific approaches to ocean carbon sequestration, including environmental co-benefits and risks. We’re excited to support this research to understand the opportunities for responsible ocean removal in restoring the climate and marine health.”
Ocean-based CDR analogues are defined as naturally existing marine settings that remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere via processes that could theoretically be replicated, accelerated, and scaled. To help close key knowledge gaps to advance ocean-based CDR, and to catalyze public and philanthropic interest in this field of research, ClimateWorks and Ocean Visions have partnered on this research grant opportunity, which is awarding upwards of $440,000 to support the selected proposals.
Photo courtesy of Rob Campbell, Prince William Sound Science Center
Assessing Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement Through the Seasonality of the Mississippi River Alkalinity Flux
Led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution’s Assistant Scientist Adam V. Subhas and Associate Scientist Z. Aleck Wang, this project will explore the implications of the naturally-occurring seasonally enhanced alkalinity flux from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, and investigate the impacts of elevated alkalinity delivery to the ocean. Findings from this research will help quantify air-sea CO2 fluxes and establish efficiency metrics for bicarbonate-based enhanced weathering and ocean alkalinity enhancement approaches.
CO2 uptake via chemical weathering of glacial particles in ocean
This project will measure the rate of alkalinity addition from mineral weathering under real-world seawater conditions at the fjords of Prince William Sound, where multiple glaciers naturally discharge fine-grained aluminosilicate particles into the ocean. The project will measure CO2 uptake in the surface water and sediment porewaters to test the link between alkalinity addition and atmospheric CO2 removal, and determine how trace metals released during weathering impact marine systems. Data from the research will inform feasibility studies, uncover scaling issues, and provide a proof of concept to support future CDR efforts.
The project will be led by: Alex Gagnon, a chemical oceanographer and associate professor at the University of Washington School of Oceanography; John Crusius, a scientist with United States Geological Survey Alaska Science Center and affiliate associate professor at University of Washington School of Oceanography; and Rob Campbell, a biological oceanographer and the chief science officer at the Prince William Sound Science Center.
Impartial research findings are expected for peer-reviewed publication and shared with the scientific community and CDR practitioners.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1.3 billion to more than 600 grantees in over 40 countries.
About Ocean Visions
Ocean Visions Inc. brings together leading oceanographic research and academic institutions with private sector and public-interest organizations to design and advance solutions to the growing threats to our ocean. We are committed to reversing the climate crisis in the ocean, increasing the resilience of coastal systems and communities to climate impacts, and building a climate-resilient aquatic food system. To learn more, visit www.oceanvisions.org or follow @Ocean_Visions on Twitter.
Edinburgh, Scotland — October 12, 2021 — Today from the TED Countdown Summit stage Chris Anderson, Head of TED, and Dr. Monica Araya, notable electrification advocate and respected global adviser on mobility, climate, and energy, announced that the Drive Electric Campaign has raised an additional $300 million in funding to be distributed over 5 years. With the additional funding catalyzed, Drive Electric surpasses the half-way point in the campaign’s goal of raising $1 billion to support the crucial 5-year window to accelerate the transition to electric for all vehicles and set the world on the path to 100% zero-emission road transportation for the benefit of the climate, health, and the economy.
Working globally and with an additional focus on China, India, Europe, and the U.S., four key markets that comprise the majority of global vehicle demand, the Drive Electric network of partners will build off their track record of achievements to support policy changes and drive market acceleration by engaging governments and companies representing more than 50% of global transport energy demand by 2026. Speeding this shift away from fossil fuels will avert over 160 billion tons of cumulative carbon dioxide emissions, delivering a safer climate.
The work is led by a global coalition of experts including from the US (Energy Foundation), Europe (European Climate Foundation), India (Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation), and China (Energy Foundation China) and is convened by ClimateWorks Foundation (covering global initiatives and serving as secretariat). This leadership helps support an ambitious collaboration between more than 70 NGO leaders, researchers, and advocates. Dr. Araya is calling on philanthropists, governments, and other funders to join the momentum to reach the final goal that will produce trillions of dollars in social benefit by moving beyond the polluting tailpipe to clean air and climate safety.
Funding to scale this work began through an existing set of experienced climate funders and has recently expanded thanks to a partnership between the Climate Leadership Initiative and The Audacious Project, a collaborative funding initiative that is housed at TED. Philanthropists who make this work possible include: the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Nat Simons and Laura Baxter-Simons (Sea Change Foundation); the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation; Quadrature Climate Foundation; Oak Foundation; Chris Larsen and Lyna Lam; Gary, Laura, Josh, and Eliana Lauder; Rick and Nancy Moskovitz (Sea Grape Foundation); Jeff and Marieke Rothschild; Ev and Sara Williams (Someland Foundation).
“The Drive Electric campaign represents a new and exciting model for helping speed the transitions we most need for climate.” said Anna Verghese, Executive Director of The Audacious Project. “To reach our climate goals, it will require a highly coordinated, multi-sector collaboration of trusted experts on the ground who know what is required. We are excited to see how these efforts could inspire other industries to reimagine change at scale.”
According to the recently updated ClimateWorks 2021Global Intelligence Funding Trends report less than 2% of philanthropic funds target climate change mitigation, and the entire transportation sector received less than 4% of all tracked foundation funding for climate change mitigation on average from 2015-2020. Drive Electric is one transition that is primed to reach scale and demonstrate the possibilities of radical collaboration on climate change solutions.
“Drive Electric partners are advancing the work we urgently need to ensure global climate stability, and what most excites me is that every achievement has a measurable impact on everyday people,” said Dr. Araya, who sits on the Drive Electric Steering Committee and is a ClimateWorks Distinguished Fellow.”This is about cleaning the air by eliminating the pollution from diesel trucks. This is about making cities quieter and healthier with electric buses, cars, and e-bikes. And this is about accelerating investments and creating jobs for a better, more sustainable economy”
Global transport accounts for roughly 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions; transportation is the number one source of climate pollution in the United States and Europe, and is fast-growing everywhere else. These emissions are on track to rise to 10 billion tons of CO2 per year by 2050. In addition to the climate toll, road transport directly contributes annually to hundreds of thousands of premature deaths, millions of cases of childhood asthma, and has the severest impact on low-income and already marginalized communities. While advances in technology, smart government policies advanced by Drive Electric partners, and increasing private investment have built momentum for broad electric vehicle adoption, the industry faces ongoing barriers and strong opposition. Building on this momentum, the Drive Electric campaign addresses all road transport — 2- and 3-wheelers, cars, trucks and buses globally, and in the critical markets of China, Europe, the United States, and India.
Drive Electric is the culmination of work by philanthropic partners dating back to 2015; to date, they have coordinated a growing global network of dozens of partners from climate foundations, research institutions and civil society organizations that together have delivered high-impact wins for government policy, business investment and overall progress.
The coalition has identified and developed a replicable mix of key policies and business leadership that supports the EV market. They include: government policies (e.g., fiscal policies, regulations) to drive supply and demand; investments from the private and public sector in new products and shared infrastructure; and support for diverse coalitions to demand a clean energy future. Drive Electric partners have been instrumental in milestones including bringing the “Dieselgate” emissions cheating scandal to light, strengthening pollutions standards and zero-emission vehicle targets, rallying hundreds of companies to electrify commercial fleets, supporting transformative policies from the recent European Commission climate policies that drive greater investments from vehicle manufacturers, and supporting EV actions in India, China, and the United States. Drive Electric can quickly pilot, transfer, and scale best practices within and across international markets, catalyzing the transition of a multi-trillion dollar industry in a short time.
To learn more about the Drive Electric campaign and how you can join the movement, tune into the TED Countdown livestream on October 30th.
Learn more about the campaign by watching Dr. Monica Araya and Chris Anderson in conversation here and visit audaciousproject.org.
Contact: countdownpress@thenumber29.com
About TED Countdown
TED Countdown is a global initiative powered by TED and Future Stewards to champion and accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. Countdown combines TED’s signature blend of actionable and research-backed ideas, cutting-edge science, and moments of wonder and inspiration to mobilize millions to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 in the race to a zero-carbon world.
Countdown launched October 2020 via a free live virtual event featuring talks and performances by Pope Francis, Prince William, Christiana Figueres, and Al Gore as well as scientists, activists, artists, schools, and leaders from business and government. One year later—October 2021—The Countdown Summit will bring together hundreds of leaders in Edinburgh, Scotland as TED speakers share a blueprint for a beautiful net-zero future. This plan—along with inspiring stories of local action—will be amplified by hundreds of TEDx Countdown events around the world and through a special global livestream event on October 30.
Follow TED Countdown on Twitter and Instagram.
About the Drive Electric Campaign
Drive Electric is the campaign to end the polluting tailpipe and accelerate the global transition to a clean transportation future, delivering massive benefits to the climate, health, and the economy. The Drive Electric campaign is a global coalition that is accelerating 100% clean, zero emission electric road vehicles of all kinds, from buses and freight trucks to motorcycles, rickshaws, cars, vans, and more. Powered by philanthropy, Drive Electric is the culmination of work dating back to 2015; to date, we have coordinated a growing global network of more than 70 partners from climate foundations, research institutions and civil society organizations that together have delivered high-impact wins for government policy, business investment and overall progress. Follow Drive Electric on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1.3 billion to more than 600 grantees in over 40 countries.
About The Audacious Project
Launched in April 2018, The Audacious Project is a collaborative funding initiative that’s catalyzing social impact on a grand scale. Housed at TED, the nonprofit devoted to ideas worth spreading, and with support from leading social impact advisor The Bridgespan Group, The Audacious Project convenes funders and social entrepreneurs with the goal of supporting bold solutions to the world’s most urgent challenges. The funding collective is made up of respected organizations and individuals in philanthropy, including the Skoll Foundation, Virgin Unite, The Valhalla Charitable Foundation, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, ELMA Philanthropies and more. Each year The Audacious Project supports a new cohort. Drive Electric is the first grantee to be announced in the 2021 cohort.
SAN FRANCISCO – October 7, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, today published the ClimateWorks Global Intelligence report, Funding Trends 2021: Climate change mitigation philanthropy, an annual assessment of data on foundation and individual funding for climate change mitigation. The report found that despite a 14% increase in philanthropic giving for climate change mitigation, it still represented less than 2% of total global philanthropic giving in 2020.
The Funding Trends report offers insight into how philanthropic funds for climate change mitigation are being deployed across sectors and geographies. It identifies broader trends that influenced climate philanthropy in 2020, including the arrival of significant donors and collaborative commitments, and the growing emphasis on equity. The report also analyzes the gap between current funding levels and what is needed to support effective and equitable climate action.
“The climate emergency isn’t slowing down. While we saw positive trends across climate change mitigation philanthropy in 2020, greater and more sustained levels of giving are needed to match the massive scale of the challenge,” said Surabi Menon, vice president of Global Intelligence, ClimateWorks Foundation. “There is no shortage of climate solutions in which to invest, and the grantee field is better positioned than ever to help deploy resources toward climate action at the speed and scale that is needed to address the climate crisis.”
The ClimateWorks Global Intelligence report is designed to increase awareness of the overall landscape of philanthropic giving to climate change mitigation to support targeted philanthropic opportunities. The research shines a light on where funding is most needed, where it is going, how funders’ strategies map to existing resources, the strategies other institutions may already be funding, emerging partnerships opportunities, and more. First published in 2020, the Funding Trends report has been updated to cover six years of funding data from 2015-2020.
“We are at a pivotal juncture in the battle to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, making this a galvanizing moment for climate philanthropy. It’s encouraging to see funders close the gap needed to win on climate, and I’m excited to see so many stepping up to help solve the great challenge of our time,” said Larry Kramer, president of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Key findings from the report include:
- Philanthropic giving to climate change mitigation increased at a faster rate (14%) between 2019-2020 than overall philanthropic giving (3%). In 2020, out of an estimated $750 billion in total philanthropic giving globally, $6 billion to $10 billion was focused on climate change mitigation. In 2019, out of an estimated $730 billion in total philanthropic giving worldwide, roughly $5 billion to $9 billion was dedicated to climate change mitigation.
- Despite still representing a small proportion of overall global philanthropy, foundation funding for climate change mitigation has grown steadily in recent years, from nearly $900 million in 2015 to at least $1.9 billion in 2020, among leading foundations with climate-focused programs.
- 2020 saw the arrival of significant donors and collaborative commitments. Even with global events like the Covid-19 pandemic dampening economic growth in the last year, commitments from new organizations like the Bezos Earth Fund, have helped create new momentum in philanthropic giving to climate solutions poised for rapid growth.
- Nearly $500 million was committed to racial justice by U.S. foundations in 2020. This is still far below what is needed for this work in the U.S. and globally as it is becoming clearer than ever that climate change mitigation is an issue of equity and justice, and foundations are increasingly being urged to focus on racial equity.
- Critical gaps remain between funding levels and what is required in many sectors of the economy. For example, emissions in the transport sector have overtaken power sector emissions. Yet on the funding side, data for 2015-2020 show that the entire transportation sector received less than 4% of all tracked foundation funding for climate change mitigation on average during the period.
- Philanthropies are on track to exceed $6 billion in major climate pledges. In 2018 and 2020, a set of philanthropies committed to investing at least $6 billion by 2025 to support a climate-safe future. These philanthropies are on track to exceed their commitments and, together, have allocated $7.9 billion during the pledge period.
- More funders giving at scale provide an early indicator of accelerating climate action in 2021. Substantial new commitments made to further climate progress this year have included the $100 million Carbon Removal X Prize, the IKEA Foundation’s and the Rockefeller Foundation’s $1 billion global platform to fight climate change and energy poverty, Lauren Powell Jobs’ investment in the $3.5 billion climate-action group, the Waverley Street Foundation, and the $5 billion pledged by nine foundations to nature conservation.
Download the report here.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1 billion to more than 500 grantees in over 40 countries.
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SAN FRANCISCO – July 26, 2021 – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, today announced that Ambassador Ertharin Cousin has joined the organization as a distinguished fellow where she will advise its Food and Agriculture Program. Cousin is a renowned expert in the global food system, and her deep expertise will bolster ClimateWorks Food and Agriculture Program’s philanthropic approaches, convenings, and grantees.
“As the global climate crisis accelerates, worldwide food and nutrition insecurity increases,” said Ertharin Cousin, “At the same time, the food system is a major contributor to climate change. We must take action now to transform how we produce and consume food; not only to reduce food system-generated greenhouse gas emissions but also to increase nutritious food availability and access while ensuring equitable economic opportunity for all food system stakeholders around the world. I’m excited about working with the ClimateWorks team to tackle these vital issues and support this fundamental human right.”
The ClimateWorks Food and Agriculture Program works with international grantees and partners to support the transition to a food system that can deliver up to a third of the required reduction in global carbon emissions, alongside other sustainable development objectives. ClimateWorks collaborates with NGOs, researchers, businesses, governments, and funders to scale innovative technologies, ideas, and policies that provide nutrition for all while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the health of people, animals, and ecosystems.
“The connection between food production and climate is well understood, but change has been slow,” said Chris DeCardy, acting CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation. “Philanthropy is helping to fill a critical gap in partnering with governments, the private sector, and civil society to catalyze change. We’re thrilled to welcome Ertharin, who will significantly help us best play our role in supporting the transition of the food system at the speed and scale demanded by the climate crisis.”
Ertharin Cousin has more than 30 years of leadership experience in national and international nonprofit, government, and corporate organizations. In addition to her role at ClimateWorks, Cousin serves as CEO and Co-Founder of Food Systems for the Future, a new global climate impact fund. She is also a Robert von Weisacker Fellow of the Robert Bosch Academy, visiting scholar at the Center on Food Security and the Environment at Stanford University, and a distinguished fellow of global agriculture at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. She previously served as executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme, where she led the world’s largest humanitarian organization serving 80 million vulnerable people across 75 countries.
Before joining the World Food Programme, Cousin was appointed by President Obama as the U.S. ambassador to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. In this capacity, she regularly represented U.S. interests in global leader discussions regarding humanitarian and development activities. Cousin also served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of America’s Second Harvest (now Feeding America), senior vice president for Albertson’s Foods, and White House liaison to the U.S. State Department. Cousin is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, the University of Georgia Law School, and the University of Chicago Executive Management Finance for Non-Financial Executives program.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1 billion to more than 500 grantees in over 40 countries.
SAN FRANCISCO – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, today announced the appointments of Dr. Naoko Ishii and Dr. Arunabha Ghosh to its Board of Directors. Dr. Ishii and Dr. Ghosh bring decades of experience working at the intersection of climate, international development, and public policy to their roles at ClimateWorks.
“Dr. Ishii and Dr. Ghosh are exceptional leaders in their fields and bring first-hand experience in understanding, designing, and implementing solutions to sustainable development policies,” said Sue Tierney, chairperson of ClimateWorks Foundation’s Board of Directors. “We’re thrilled for them to join the ClimateWorks Board of Directors. Their insight and guidance will be a vital asset as the organization accelerates its work to advance large-scale, global climate solutions.”
Dr. Naoko Ishii is a professor and executive vice president at the University of Tokyo, where she is also the inaugural director for the Center for Global Commons, whose goal is to secure a sustainable future for humans and the planet. Before joining the University of Tokyo, Dr. Ishii was CEO and chairperson of the Global Environment Facility, where she focused on the transformation of key economic systems. Dr. Ishii spent over 30 years at Japan’s Ministry of Finance, including two years as the deputy vice minister of finance.
“It is a privilege to join this extraordinary institution at this exceptional time when we are deciding the future of our planet and its people,” said Dr. Ishii. “We must exercise our leadership to steward the global commons, including our stable climate system. This requires a very different kind of governance mechanism for which ClimateWorks Foundation is uniquely suited to help support.”
Dr. Arunabha Ghosh is the founder and CEO of the Council on Energy, Environment, and Water, a renowned policy research institution in Asia. Dr. Ghosh helped create the International Solar Alliance and has worked at leading institutions worldwide, including Princeton University, Oxford University, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Trade Organization. A sought-after expert, Dr. Ghosh has been appointed to roles on the United Nations Committee for Development Policy and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Clean Air.
“I am deeply honored to have been asked to join the Board of ClimateWorks Foundation,” said Dr. Ghosh. “For more than ten years, the Foundation has invested in climate solutions and institutions, gaining a formidable reputation. The decade ahead will be even more transformational with the speed and scale at which climate actions must unfold. ClimateWorks is ideally positioned to catalyze that change, and I look forward to contributing to its success.”
ClimateWorks’ Board of Directors includes global leaders from the philanthropic, academic, civil society, and business institutions active in tackling climate change. Its Board is currently overseeing a global search for ClimateWorks’ new chief executive officer following the departure of its longtime CEO and President Charlotte Pera to help lead the Bezos Earth Fund. Chris DeCardy, a former executive with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, has been appointed acting CEO and is working closely with ClimateWorks’ executive team and Board to support the organization’s ongoing work to increase climate progress at the speed and scale needed to end the climate crisis.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1 billion to more than 500 grantees in over 40 countries.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Reform and regulation in support of financial stability are essential elements of the Biden administration’s whole-of-government approach to fighting climate change in an equitable way, according to a new report offering detailed recommendations for U.S. regulators ahead of the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s first-ever meeting to discuss climate risk.
The “Climate Roadmap for U.S. Financial Regulation,” from Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund and Public Citizen, outlines how Biden appointees can protect investors, workers, and the economy from the escalating risks caused by the climate crisis, while also shifting the regulatory framework towards one that promotes the transition to a low-carbon future. The roadmap was developed in partnership with ClimateWorks Foundation, and draws on contributions from dozens of leading financial reform experts.
“Addressing climate risk has become a critical part of financial regulators’ missions, and they have existing statutory obligations to act on it,” according to the report. “The question is not whether the government should take assertive action to use financial regulation to reduce the massive risks posed by climate change on the financial system, investors, workers, and the economy, but how to do so quickly, effectively, and sustainably. Regulators should use all tools at their disposal, including mandatory disclosures, ensuring investor rights, modernizing fiduciary duties, and a broad suite of supervisory and prudential tools.”
“Wall Street is gambling against our future and putting the health of our communities and economy at grave risk. Given the urgency of the climate crisis, we can’t afford continued inaction,” said David Arkush, managing director of Public Citizen’s Climate Program. “Financial regulators already have an obligation to protect us from Wall Street’s risky bets and this roadmap is designed to help them act immediately, using all the tools currently at their disposal.”
“Financial regulation is a key piece of the whole-of-government approach necessary to tackling the climate crisis, and realizing the level of economic transformation needed to avert disaster for people and for the planet,” said Alex Martin, senior policy analyst at Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund. “The regulators need to act swiftly on changing how climate risks are reported, accounted for, and considered in supervision, and the ways in which investors are permitted, and required, to take climate impacts into account.”
The 35-page report notes that racial equity and justice need to be a central element in regulators’ approach to climate risk. And that effective mitigation of climate risk requires effective regulation of finance generally, including ensuring that rules cover all financial actors, not just some of them.
The report is a comprehensive compendium of actions the federal government can take, starting with decisions on key presidential appointments and staff. It provides an extensive discussion of how banking and insurance regulators and supervisors across many federal agencies can do their part. It also outlines a framework for sensible capital market regulation that protects investors from unsustainable investments.
“The transition to a zero carbon economy is inevitable as, unfortunately, are grave climate impacts. Oversight of the financial system needs to catch up to this reality, and climate financial reforms will position the market and the economy to thrive in the years to come,” said Ilmi Granoff, director of the Finance Program at ClimateWorks Foundation. “The roadmap shows that this can be done, and how it can be done, in detail. Internationally, the U.S. should lead.”
Read the report here.
SAN FRANCISCO – March 16, 2020 – ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, in collaboration with Northwestern University today announced new research for reducing emissions in concrete, the world’s most used building material. The report, Decarbonizing Concrete: Deep decarbonization pathways for the cement and concrete cycle in the United States, India, and China, shows in greater detail than ever before multiple ways to drive the cement industry toward net-zero emissions by mid-century, including production-side mitigation measures, research and development, and demand reduction by increasing the use of lean construction and other sustainable building materials.
Concrete is the second most used substance in the world after water, and demand for it continues to rise globally, especially in the biggest consuming countries of China, India, and the U.S. Concrete is responsible for almost 10% of energy-related CO2 emissions, primarily due to the high heat required to make it and the CO2 emissions from the chemical reactions involved.
“As the world rapidly approaches 1.5° C of warming, we need to be more ambitious in our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from cement and concrete,” said Surabi Menon, vice president of Global Intelligence, at ClimateWorks Foundation. “The need is becoming even more acute as governments — the U.S. included — increasingly turn to investments in infrastructure as a way to help economies recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.”
The report presents a cradle-to-grave analysis of the entire cement and concrete cycle, identifying the key decarbonization levers and opportunities, and modeling the combined contribution of these approaches. Using real-world data to generate illustrative pathways for mid-century decarbonization, the report specifies 30 levers for lowering emissions, including both conventional approaches, such as more efficient kilns and greater use of bio-derived fuels, and emerging technologies such as greener cement chemistries, materials efficiency, and carbon capture and utilization.
Eric Masanet, the project’s principal investigator, stated, “One clear conclusion we arrived at in the course of our research is that there is no single solution, but rather a range of small and large changes that will be necessary to achieve net-zero emission targets. Zhi Cao, the project’s lead analyst, added “Our report offers a rich and detailed blueprint for governments and companies looking to support economy-wide decarbonization goals.”
The research examines two scenarios for how cement and concrete can be decarbonized across the life cycle — production-centric and whole-systems. The production-centric approach explores ways to reach net-zero emissions solely through measures that reduce the carbon intensity of cement and concrete production. This scenario is in line with existing business models, leverages technological improvements to the cement and concrete manufacturing processes, and primarily relies on the cement and concrete industries to take action. In contrast, the whole-systems scenario considers a wider portfolio of levers, with an emphasis on reducing demand for cement and concrete. Success with this approach will require an embrace of new business models, technological advancement, and the need for rapid development of enabling policy regimes, including the mobilization of support from a larger group of stakeholders ranging from architects to the general public.
For more on the report, read ClimateWorks’ blog here and download the full report here.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with the knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1 billion to more than 500 grantees in over 40 countries.
About Northwestern University
Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is one of the country’s leading private research and teaching universities with an enrollment of approximately 8,000 full-time undergraduate students and approximately 8,000 full-time graduate and professional students and approximately 2,000 part-time students on campuses in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, and Doha, Qatar. Northwestern combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment that transcends traditional academic boundaries. Northwestern provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth in a setting enhanced by the richness of Chicago.
Monica Araya is a clean mobility advocate and a decarbonization strategist.
SAN FRANCISCO — ClimateWorks Foundation, a leading global platform for climate philanthropy, today announced that renowned electric mobility expert and advocate Monica Araya has been appointed a ClimateWorks Distinguished Fellow. In this role, she will partner with ClimateWorks Transportation team to share her e-mobility and advocacy expertise to help advance the organization’s transportation strategy. Araya is a leading voice for global electrification, serving as a key advisor to the UK Presidency’s clean transport campaign in the run-up to COP26 and the transport lead for the Climate Champions’ Race To Zero campaign.
“Monica Araya brings a wealth of experience championing local and global electric mobility strategies, working collaboratively with leaders in government, business, advocacy, and philanthropy,” said Charlotte Pera, president and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation. “We are delighted that Monica will be joining ClimateWorks as a distinguished fellow to supercharge the shift to zero-emissions road transportation.”
Araya is a strong advocate of engaging the public in the e-mobility debates to build broad support for decarbonization, exemplified through her media presence and as a frequent speaker in public forums. In a recent engagement reaching 25 million viewers, Araya presented the TED talk about “detoxing” transportation at the launch of the TED Climate Countdown. Araya’s expertise spans both local and global decarbonization efforts across Europe, Latin America and the U.S.
“I am excited to work with the ClimateWorks Transportation team at a pivotal time for electric mobility,” said Araya. “Together, with the Foundation’s network of global partners, we can seize the momentum of ever-improving economics for zero-emission transportation technologies and the world’s renewed commitment to the Paris Agreement and stronger climate action. Together, we can prioritize clean road transportation at COP26 and make 2021 a “super year” in the race to zero-emissions mobility.”
Araya’s exceptional leadership has gained wide recognition, as she was the first Latin American woman selected for the inaugural all-female expedition to Antarctica as part of Homeward Bound, a global initiative to new models of leadership, and named “Crusader of the Year 2019” by the Costa Rica-USA (CRUSA) Foundation for her role in advancing electric mobility. In addition to her work with the COP Champions team, Araya is a member of the Steering Committee of the 2050 Pathways Platform, WEF’s Council on Urban Mobility Transitions, and leads the Transport working group at the International Climate Politics Hub.
The ClimateWorks Transportation Program advances a sustainable, affordable, and low-carbon mobility system for people and goods movement. The program supports the transition to cleaner and more efficient, zero-emission vehicle and fuel technologies, and for increasing efficient transportation choices, by working with NGOs, academia, business, policymakers, consumers, and other stakeholders to advance sound policy, innovation, and investment.
About ClimateWorks Foundation
ClimateWorks Foundation is a global platform for philanthropy to innovate and accelerate climate solutions that scale. We deliver global programs and services that equip philanthropy with knowledge, networks, and solutions to drive climate progress. Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $1 billion to more than 500 grantees in over 50 countries.
