Giving Compass' Take:

• A report from the Johnson Center reveals 11 trends that indicate philanthropy in climate activism must continue taking a more aggressive approach.

• Why is philanthropy at a critical point of influence in climate activism? How can it make or break movements to make effective changes? What can you do to be a part of the positive influence of philanthropy in climate activism? 

• Listen to a podcast on the importance of philanthropy in climate activism.

The impacts of global warming will not be felt as individual, discrete events; rather, they will affect every issue we already care about in complex and immediate ways. And as the effects of climate change become more powerful, nonprofits and funders will play key roles in disaster response, policy change, applying a sustainability and climate-focused lens to existing strategies, and advancing new ideas for mitigating and reversing ecological damage.

As the effects of climate change continue to become more powerful, nonprofit organizations and the funders who support them will play critical roles on the front lines of responding to and mitigating climate disaster. Most of this work falls into four key categories:

  1. responding to disasters that are more frequent and more powerful as a result of climate change,
  2. incorporating the impacts of climate change into strategies for issues already being addressed,
  3. advancing innovative programs for mitigation and prevention, and
  4. continuing to lead on advocacy efforts for climate-focused policy change.

Climate change is often referred to as the most pressing issue of our time. As is often the case, the philanthropic sector will be called upon to take a leadership role in mitigating and preventing its impacts.