In this episode of the Philanthropisms podcast we discuss climate philanthropy with Edouard Morena, Senior Lecturer in French Studies and International Politics at the University of London Institute in Paris.
Including:
How much philanthropy is currently aimed at climate issues?- Can philanthropy play a meaningful role with respect to an issue of the scale of climate? If so, what is that role?
- In terms of existing climate philanthropy, what is the balance between downstream activity (i.e. direct interventions designed to address climate breakdown symptoms) and upstream activity (i.e. advocacy and influencing aimed at addressing underlying causes)
- Is there a danger of philanthropy skewing focus towards unhelpful “solutions” to climate challenge, or perpetuating the idea that technological “fixes” can be found instead of there being a need for fundamental structural reform?
- Is the focus on technological solution reflective of the fact that a growing amount of philanthropic wealth comes from the tech world?
- How will the election of Donald Trump affect climate philanthropy?
- Will funders “obey in advance” when it comes to the US’s new anti-climate stance, or will they position themselves in opposition to it?
- Does this raise questions about the democratic legitimacy of philanthropy, even if you agree with the need to fund climate work?
- What does it mean to take a justice-based approach to climate funding?
- Should more climate philanthropy be aimed at supporting activists and movements?
- Youth climate movements and activists are often using tactics that traditional nonprofits would shy away from, such as direct action or strategic litigation. Does this present a challenge or an opportunity when it comes to convincing funders to support them?
- Is it particularly difficult to measure the impact of funding movements or individual activists? Does this present a challenge for climate movements?
- What will the rise of new centres of global philanthropic power, e.g China, mean for climate philanthropy?
- Might this start to rebalance global climate discussions away from their historic skew towards US interests?
Related Links:
- Edouard’s profile page
- Edouard’s 2016 book, The Price of Climate Action Philanthropic Foundations in the International Climate Debate
- Morena, Krause and Stevis (eds) Just Transitions: Social Justice in the Shift Towards a Low-Carbon World
- Edouard’s paper “The climate brokers: philanthropy and the shaping
of a ‘US‑compatible’ international climate regime” - Edouard’s 2022 report for UN Research Institute and EDGE Funders alliance, “Beyond 2%: From Climate Philanthropy to Climate Justice Philanthropy“
- Philanthropisms podcast episode on “Philanthropic Foundations: history, role and controversy“
- Philanthropisms podcast interview with Joshua Amponsem from Youth Climate Justice Network
- WPM article on Patagonia’s nonprofit takeover
