The group includes some of the biggest names in UK philanthropy, who have put themselves forward to encourage action on climate change, including a commitment to public reporting on progress. The Funder Commitment on Climate Change was launched at the annual conference of the Association of Charitable Foundations, the trade body for UK charity funders, where climate change was a key theme. Current signatories are calling for other funders to join them in pledging their support.
Signatories include:
- Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
- Solberga Foundation
- Gower St
- Frederick Mulder Foundation
- Paul Hamlyn Foundation
- Zennström Philanthropies
- JA Clark Trust
- Friends Provident Foundation
- Local Trust
- Lankelly Chase Foundation
- Barrow Cadbury Trust
- Arcadia
- Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
- Thirty Percy
- The Blagrave Trust
- Heathrow Community Trust
- Power to Change
- David Brownlow Charitable Foundation
- Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation
- World Habitat
- Kreitman Foundation
- Sir Walter St John’s Educational Charity
- Global Greengrants Fund UK
- MCS Charitable Foundation
- The Samworth Foundation
- John Ellerman Foundation
The Funder Commitment recognises that the growing climate emergency is a serious risk to the pursuit of charitable goals and that funders have a responsibility to ensure they are managing and distributing resources in a way that recognises and responds to this threat. The signatories include not just environmental funders, but also those focussed on local communities, the arts, and poverty. All signatories must consider how their investments, operations and existing funding programmemes can contribute to a fair and lasting transition to a post carbon society.