How Philanthropy Could Better Fight Climate Change

The effects of climate change are impossible to ignore, particularly as record-breaking temperatures, tides and weather events wreak havoc across the globe. In the march to stall or reverse climate change, many of us feel that our efforts, no matter how good-willed, are simply a drop in the bucket.

Now, more than ever, is the time for the big guns to step in. Philanthropy offers critical support for worldwide issues, and climate change is no exception. Generous donors have real potential to impact this field, yet it feels like philanthropic efforts are falling short of their natural capacity. 

Philanthropic giving contributed around $750 billion to global causes in 2020, and somewhere between $6 and $10 billion supported efforts to fight climate change. While that amount seems significant on paper, it accounts for less than 2% of philanthropic gifts. This small slice doesn’t seem like enough, considering the urgent need to implement effective conservation efforts sooner rather than later. 

There’s a dim light on the horizon, and philanthropists still have a chance to make a significant impact on climate change mitigation. We’re moving in the right direction, with climate-related donations rising more quickly than those in other philanthropic categories. Climate-focused philanthropy grew by 14% from 2019 to 2020, while philanthropy only signaled a 3% hike.

Suppose philanthropists can drive the climate change movement (and they’ve shown they have the capacity by either meeting or surpassing pledges made at the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit). Why aren’t they sprinting in that direction at full speed? How can philanthropy better support the fight to sustain our planet and environment?

The answer may lie outside of the attractive, long-game solutions based on technology and policy reform. While major operations like The ClimateWorks Foundation and Bezos Earth Fund look at the big picture from a long lens, their results simply take too long to come to fruition. Many activists are now calling for greater focus on local, grassroots efforts to support community-based solutions or halt fossil-fuel extraction.

Some philanthropists already have the right idea. It is no great surprise that The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has already directed $300 million toward efforts to help farmers in low-income countries adapt to the surge of climate change through CGIAR. The organization’s Climate Adaptation and Mitigation program support vulnerable small-scale producers as they adjust their growing practices, crops and livestock to survive—and thrive— in the wake of unpredictable environmental conditions from drought and food to soaring temperatures. Without question, underprivileged groups have little access to social programs and resources to help them withstand these hazards. As a result, the loss of resources and life illustrates the consequences of climate change that are happening right now. 

Locally focused programs are delivering results to soften the blow of climate change right now. In addition to providing immediate relief, many projects similar to CGIAR are simultaneously focused on implementing practices that reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability, feeding into long-term solutions as they produce tangible results and relief. 

As our time to act grows shorter, adopting a people-centered approach to climate change may be the smartest, most effective move for philanthropists. Groups like the Equation Campaign and the Hive Fund adopt different strategies for mitigating climate change. These organizations focus on putting a stop to fossil fuels, championing climate equality and climate justice from a human-centered stance and tackling the role that inequality plays in the climate crisis. 

Philanthropic efforts have driven significant efforts in fighting climate change, such as the major development and adoption of solar and wind energy and electric vehicles. But as time goes on, and each second becomes more precious, the same old approach to climate change philanthropy may no longer be the answer. 

It’s time for philanthropy to step up and fully exploit the impact it can have on climate change. Directing philanthropic funds to work for human-centered solutions helps soften the blow that the earth is already experiencing from a changing climate. By using their unique influence and capabilities, major philanthropists can make an impact that goes far beyond building the next electric vehicle.

Simply putting more money into climate change mitigation isn’t enough. Near-term results matter more than ever, and the time to act was yesterday.