6 December 2023
During the first week at COP28 in Dubai, the landscape of philanthropy’s role in climate action has strengthened as Grupo de Institutos Fundações e Empresas (GIFE) in Brazil launched the Brazilian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change. Simultaneously, the Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) has made a commitment to formulate a tailored regional commitment, to consider the impacts of and solutions to climate change from the Arab perspective.
These commitments form part of #PhilanthropyForClimate, a global movement of foundations committed to taking urgent action on climate change. The movement began in 2019 and includes national philanthropic commitments in Canada, France, Italy, Spain and the UK and the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change. So far, 675 foundations around the world have joined the movement and pledged to take climate action.
GIFE’s Brazilian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change
GIFE, recognising the urgency of climate action, announced its Brazilian Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change. The first Global South #PhilanthropyForClimate commitment underscores the responsibility of Brazilian philanthropy, especially considering Brazil’s stature as one of the largest economies and highest per capita greenhouse gas emitters. GIFE’s commitment focuses on aligning resources, education, and operations to contribute effectively to climate mitigation, adaptation and damage repair. It emphasises a systemic view and acknowledges the unique challenges in Brazil and the Global South.
AFF’s Arab Regional Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change
During the Global Convening of Philanthropies at COP28 on December 3, AFF announced its commitment to formulating an Arab Regional Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change. This commitment aims to contextualise the global #PhilanthropyForClimate within the Arab perspective. The AFF initiative intends to align with the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change and create a regional framework for adoption by AFF members and the broader network in the Arab region. AFF further announced the establishment of a #PhilanthropyForClimate Working Group tasked with developing the regional commitment. The objective is to unveil the commitment during COP29.
The commitments from AFF and GIFE represent a significant step for the #PhilanthropyForClimate movement. These commitments provide a structured approach to climate action, aligning philanthropic strategies with global climate goals.
More information
About the #PhilanthropyForClimate movement
The #PhilanthropyForClimate movement includes several national philanthropy commitments on climate change and the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change.
WINGS and the European Philanthropy Coalition for Climate initiated the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change (International Commitment) in 2021. The International Commitment is hosted by WINGS and coordinated in Europe by Philea.
Read the International Climate Commitment Implementation Guide to find specific actions to guide your foundation’s climate journey and 20 case studies on how #PhilanthropyForClimate signatories are taking climate action here.
About GIFE – Grupo de Institutos Fundações e Empresas
GIFE is an association of private social investors in Brazil, whether they are institutes, foundations or family funds, independent corporations or companies. Born as an informal group in 1989, GIFE was established as a non-profit organisation in 1995. Since then, it has become a reference in the country for private social investment. It currently has a network of more than 170 members who, together, contributed R$5.3 billion in social investment in 2020, according to data from the GIFE Census.
About the Arab Foundations Forum
The Arab Foundations Forum (AFF) is a non-profit, membership-based association of philanthropic organisations, donors, funders, and other actors in the philanthropy sector, based in or working in the Arab region. AFF’s vision is for an effective and strategic philanthropic sector in the Arab region that engages with all aspects of society towards growing social responsibility and investment while advancing the public good.