In the aftermath of the COVID-19 crisis that has reminded everyone of the fragile interconnectivity between human beings and the ecosystem, China is showing greater willingness to prioritize environmental protection. Beijing’s latest environmental guideline issued in March highlights collaboration efforts between the government, corporates and the public to build a “modernized environmental governance system”. Collaboration between the public and the private sector is a theme that SEE Foundation, one of only a few environmental grant-makers in China, is very familiar with as we have been contributing to the country’s environmental sustainability development over the last two decades.

With a philanthropic expenditure of USD 95 million in the past 12 years, the SEE Foundation has mobilized over 900 business leaders to jointly fund nearly 700 environmental non-for-profit organizations (NPOs), volunteer groups, and research institutions in China, which account for half of all the active entities in existence across the country. In addition, the Foundation acts as a system integrator by connecting large “servers” like governments with “clients” including corporates, NPOs, media, and the public. To facilitate effective connections, I will share with funders and resource providers the two-pronged approach that SEE Foundation takes to not only systemically tackle environmental issues but also build the ecosystem.

  • Inculcate NPOs with a business mindset
  • Support funders’ and government’s decision-making with proven practices
  • Integration of all stakeholders to advance ecosystem building

Read the full article about environmental sustainability in China by Bowen Zhang at AVPN.