This is our
decisive decade.
The science
is clear.
To avoid even worse outcomes, we must limit global warming to a “safe” degree of warming. And to achieve this, we must cut emissions in half by 2030.
Unless we course correct immediately – we cannot win.
Philanthropy is powering progress today.
From transitioning away from coal to accelerating adoption of EVs, we’re making positive shifts to bend our emissions curve.
Stories of Impact
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From Coal to Clean Energy
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Halting Deforestation
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The Shift to EVs
The Beyond Coal campaign, a diverse coalition led by the Sierra Club, with the support of philanthropy, has stopped more than 350 new coal plants from being built in the U.S. and helped retire two-thirds of the plants operating a decade ago. With these efforts, 605 million tons of carbon was reduced from the air by 2020, improving air quality and health outcomes for communities nationwide.
But we must go further.
In these next five years, we must raise our ambitions and create significant transitions in every industry and corner of the globe to bend the emissions curve.
The solutions are here.
There are countless, proven solutions that enable us to go further faster while creating significant economic growth. To win, we must dramatically scale solutions in areas we know will make a difference, such as…
Renewable Energy
The power sector relies heavily on coal and gas and produces more carbon emissions than any other sector. Urgently deploying renewable energy at scale while substantially reducing fossil fuel use is one of the highest-impact interventions that exists for our climate today.
Land Rights
Tropical forests are essential for a stable climate. While evidence shows that Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendant peoples, and the women within these groups are highly effective land stewards, they hold legal rights to less than 20 percent of the land. Respecting and protecting Indigenous and community rights is central to stopping tropical deforestation and achieving our climate goals.
Electric Transport
Replacing fossil fuel-powered cars and trucks with electric options reduces both carbon emissions and local air pollution, delivering health benefits to communities. Accelerating global deployment of and expanding access to electric transport and charging infrastructure is a critical climate solution.
Super Pollutants
Greenhouse gasses such as methane and hydrofluorocarbons, known as super pollutants, are even more potent at heating the planet than carbon dioxide. Reducing their emission from direct sources such as fossil fuel operations and replacing their usage in applications such as refrigeration is one of the fastest ways to limit climate change in the near term.
Food Systems
Growing, transporting, and distributing food along with its loss and waste is a key contributor to climate change. Shifting food systems around the world through improved agricultural practices and waste reduction are among the strategies that can ensure we can feed people adequately without further worsening climate and ecosystem impacts.
Climate Finance
Where public and private investment goes will determine whether we are subsidizing and locking in an unsustainable climate future dependent on fossil fuels or investing in a clean energy future for all. Eliminating harmful subsidies and investments while supporting capital holders to finance sustainable projects at scale is needed to achieve our climate ambition.
Movements
Change is driven by people, who have more influence together. Movements have the power to draw attention, build pressure, call for change, and promote climate solutions. Resourcing movements, especially among historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities, is critical to creating long-lasting positive impacts.
Clean Industry
Industrial materials like steel, cement, and chemicals underpin modern life, but producing them creates a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Our ability to quickly clean up and decarbonize the industrial sector will make or break the world’s chances of meeting urgent climate goals and ensuring a healthier future.
The Global South
About half the world’s population lives in Africa, Latin America, and Asia (excluding China and India), but these regions receive only a quarter of climate philanthropy. Deep and long-lasting investment in these regions will be critical to ensuring economic development leapfrogs fossil fuels and instead is low-carbon, sustainable, and equitable.
Philanthropy is a
critical catalyst.
Philanthropy can help scale these solutions and influence governments, businesses, and people to unlock the systemic change we need.
Act Now.
The solutions are here.
Later is too late.