We are committed to supporting climate solutions that are equitable, inclusive, and just.
Our journey to integrate justice and equity into ClimateWorks Foundation’s programs, services, and operations is central to our vision of a planet that is a thriving home for all living beings for generations to come.
In 2020, ClimateWorks made a set of commitments to foster racial and social justice in pursuit of our mission. This was during a time of public outcry for racial and social justice in the wake of the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many others, and as the Covid-19 pandemic was raging, disproportionately harming people of color. While these events brought racism and injustice to the fore, climate change and systemic oppression have long had an outsized impact on communities of color and the world’s most vulnerable.
The communities living at the front lines of these challenges are well-equipped to address these multifaceted issues. Accordingly, to curb climate change, address oppression, and realize ClimateWorks Foundation’s vision, we must ensure climate solutions are developed with frontline communities and that the outcomes of our investments are equitable.
(Header photo: A group of women forage within the forest in Guna Yala, Panama. Courtesy of If Not Us Then Who)
To embrace our vision of a thriving planet for all and to transparently live up to our commitments, ClimateWorks Foundation’s racial and social justice work has three pillars:
Building a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse culture
ClimateWorks strives to be an anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and culturally sensitive organization. We aim to advance these principles through a commitment to board diversity; hiring practices that reduce biases and foster staff diversity; staff training, coaching, and working groups; and engaging with external advisors.
Ensuring justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in our Global Grantmaking and Intelligence
Our Grantmaking and Intelligence services are further integrating justice and equity into their work. ClimateWorks Foundation is increasing funding to organizations doing justice and equity work and we are diversifying the experts and partners we work with, the solutions and approaches we hold up, and the narratives we listen to and amplify.
(Photo: Youth4Nature)
Advancing justice and equity across our ecosystem
We aim to leverage our global networks of other grantmakers, NGOs, and partners to lift up, learn from, and facilitate greater access to traditionally marginalized leaders and organizations. We are grateful for every opportunity to learn, grow, and adjust our path forward to ensure that our work fosters a thriving, just planet for all.
(Photo: Prasad Vaidya)
More about ClimateWorks’ racial and social justice journey
- Grounding our commitment to justice & equity with new values, principles, and definitions (June 2023)
- Putting people at the heart of climate action (February 2023)
- Learning by doing: Our collaborative learning pilot fund for justice and equity grantmaking (June 2022)
- Our pledge to transparency: climate justice and power-building grantmaking (April 2022)
- Our road to accountability (December 2021)
- Making progress in building a stronger foundation of diversity, equity, and inclusion at ClimateWorks (May 2021)
- Our seven commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (July 2020)
Staff and advisors
Makeeba Browne
Saleem Chapman
Kendra Edwards
Brittney Hellpap
Irene Karani
Avi Mahaningtyas
Nikita Mistry
Dr. Kumi Naidoo
Richard Woo
