Democracy & Public
Making the big systemic changes needed to fight climate change requires strong political will. But social inequalities, misinformation, and polarisation threaten to divide our societies. These projects build bridges for political action, harness the power of mainstream media, and work with civil society to create lasting change.
Economy & Finance
Current economic and financial systems are geared towards maximising profits and endless economic growth. At the same time, they drive global inequality, environmental degradation, and climate change. We need to challenge the values these systems are built upon and promote new measures of success, such as planetary health and human wellbeing. We also need to press financial institutions to invest ethically – and stop bankrolling fossil fuels.
Education & Health
CO2 has become the central ‘currency’ for climate action. But the warming era forces us to look around – at intersecting issues, and at the people living at the forefront of the climate crisis. Extreme weather events and new diseases most often hit those countries least responsible for emissions. We need to bring the health-climate link into focus. Meanwhile, educating both the public and influential stakeholders on climate sound strategies is critical to keeping our planet liveable.
Green Infrastructure
The built world around us is made to last, cementing our emissions and shaping our behaviour. Sectors such as construction, energy and transport can be highly polluting – but with the right backing, they can become trailblazers toward a climate-safe future. These projects work to make these transformations happen through education, coordination and people power.
Restoring Nature
Preserving our forests, wilderness and oceans is critical to keeping global warming below 2°C. When we help nature to recover and thrive, we increase its ability to absorb carbon – and build our planet’s resilience to climate change. These projects support local communities to protect their surroundings, with holistic solutions that improve quality of life and prevent food insecurity. Both environment and people benefit.
Empower
Farmers working the land sustainably, citizens producing clean energy, or tenants demanding greener buildings: So many climate solutions lie in the hands of local communities. These projects support people who take a hands-on approach to saving our planet, day by day.
Influence
The most effective actions to protect the climate are well-known, and some are even written into law. Yet certain interest groups and skewed power dynamics are slowing progress. These projects work hard to change minds and policies across finance, industry and parliaments – and demand that the climate be prioritised in all decisions.
Innovate
Achieving real change means aiming high: Eliminating single-use plastics, tackling corruption in climate financing, and making the construction industry green are no easy tasks. But these innovative solutions don’t shy away from disrupting and reinventing sectors, industries and paradigms. Instead, they work to identify, strengthen and scale up bold new ideas.
The EU Commission could remove some of the biggest legislative and financial barriers to international climate action. Future Matters is working across European institutions to add the most impactful policies to their upcoming climate agenda with the potential to avert billions of tons of CO2 emissions.
Impact Sector
Democracy & Public
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
European Union
Cities use three-quarters of the world’s energy, and emit nearly two-thirds of all greenhouse gases. But they’re also a hub for innovation. The C40 City Youth Engagement Network gives young climate leaders a seat at the table with political leaders.
Impact Sector
Democracy & Public
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
Global
The life cycle of buildings is responsible for nearly 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. Built by Nature promotes using sustainable timber and other bio-based materials to significantly reduce the sector’s emissions and even turn buildings into carbon sinks.
Impact Sector
Green Infrastructure
Type of Strategy
Innovate
Project Location
Europe
The health impacts of climate change are increasing. KLUG is raising awareness of the health-climate link, helping health professionals to advocate for ambitious change, and reducing the sector’s emissions.
Impact Sector
Education & Health
Type of Strategy
Innovate
Project Location
Europe
As a major industrial country in Europe, France relies heavily on nuclear power. Énergie Partagée wants to put the country on a safe energy path, by scaling up renewable projects by and for local communities.
Impact Sector
Green Infrastructure
Type of Strategy
Empower
Project Location
France
Seed
Key Supporter
Grow
Project Patron
Flourish
Climate Champion
Energie Partagée is supported by Ademe, France's national energy transition agency.
Foundation Conservation Carpathia shows how people and planet can both benefit from climate smart solutions. While protecting their surrounding forests, Romania’s Nucsoara community profits from new economic opportunities, improved education and healthcare.
Impact Sector
Restoring Nature
Type of Strategy
Empower
Project Location
Romania
In most European countries, the majority of the population demands more robust climate protection from their governments. Together for Future has found new ways to amplify their voice: The Climate Democracy Day connects thousands of constituents with over one hundred Members of Parliament in face-to-face video conversations.
Impact Sector
Democracy & Public
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
Germany
Seed
Key Supporter
Grow
Project Patron
Flourish
Climate Champion
This project works within larger alliances to mobilize a vast amount of participants
The modern financial system is driving catastrophic climate change, particularly through the financing of fossil fuel companies. ShareAction will help set the global standard for financial decarbonisation – and support stakeholders to resist banks’ lobbying pressures.
Impact Sector
Economy & Finance
Type of Strategy
Innovate
Project Location
Europe
Rising demand for palm oil and timber has destroyed half of the pristine forests of Indonesia. These forests are critical for their biodiversity and for mitigating climate change. Fairventures is skilling up farmers to reverse the damage.
Impact Sector
Restoring Nature
Type of Strategy
Empower
Project Location
Borneo, Indonesia
Climate finance is essential to making a clean energy transition. It’s also highly vulnerable to corruption. Building on a world-leading resource, Transparency International works to show exactly how corruption slows progress in the fight against climate change – and how we can address it.
Impact Sector
Economy & Finance
Type of Strategy
Innovate
Project Location
Global
Creating healthier, more sustainable practices from farm to table is critical to lowering emissions, restoring biodiversity and saving water. ClientEarth is strengthening Europe’s legal frameworks to ensure sustainable food production from start to finish.
Impact Sector
Restoring Nature
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
Europe
Seed
Key Supporter
Grow
Project Patron
Flourish
Climate Champion
This project secured financial support from the Arcadia Fund and the Ecological Restoration Fund
Too often, climate communication turns people off – making them feel pessimistic and helpless. This train-the-trainers program from klimafakten.de employs the latest social science to help key communicators persuade their audience to embrace transition.
Impact Sector
Education & Health
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
Austria, Germany, Switzerland
Seed
Key Supporter
Grow
Project Patron
Flourish
Climate Champion
This projects invites you to a personal exchange with its existing funders.
The multitude of climate solutions are often competing with each other and not prioritized on a global scale. The Planetary Emergency Plan from the Club of Rome outlines what works and what doesn’t, and assesses our progress in real time.
Impact Sector
Democracy & Public
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
Global
Seed
Key Supporter
Grow
Project Patron
Flourish
Climate Champion
This framework of ten commitments has been developed with the renowned Potsdam Climate Institute.
This project provides a solution to the cost-of-living crisis and the climate crisis together, in an example for all of Germany. The Movement Hub empowers tenants to lobby for change, and will fast-track the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Berlin.
Impact Sector
Green Infrastructure
Type of Strategy
Empower
Project Location
Europe
Laureates of the ‘Alternative Nobel Prize’ have inspired opinion leaders and everyday people worldwide. The Right Livelihood Foundation will foster a new generation of Climate Laureates to show that grassroots climate action is possible, and that everyone can make a difference.
Impact Sector
Education & Health
Type of Strategy
Empower
Project Location
Global
One-quarter of carbon stored on the earth’s surface is held in the 1.3 billion acres of land managed by Indigenous Peoples. Yet less than 1 per cent of climate funding goes to Indigenous-led initiatives. The Global Greengrants Fund empowers women, youth and ethnic minorities to lead change.
Impact Sector
Restoring Nature
Type of Strategy
Empower
Project Location
Global
Every kilometre travelled by rail is 93 per cent less polluting than a kilometre travelled by air. Germanwatch pushes for policy change in the EU that makes it more convenient and affordable to take the train and ditch the plane.
Impact Sector
Green Infrastructure
Type of Strategy
Influence
Project Location
Europe
Seed
Key Supporter
Grow
Project Patron
Flourish
Climate Champion
Another donor already contributed 80,000 Euros to this well established climate NGO
Introducing a circular economy could cut more than 68 million tonnes of emissions by 2040. ProjectTogether kickstarts the uptake of reusable packaging in one of the sectors that most needs it – the takeaway food industry.
Impact Sector
Economy & Finance
Type of Strategy
Innovate
Project Location
Germany
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