Climate change
Current grantees:
Acumen Fund www.acumenfund.org
Acumen Fund is a non-profit global venture fund that uses entrepreneurial approaches to solve the problems of global poverty. We seek to prove that small amounts of philanthropic capital, combined with large doses of business acumen, can build thriving enterprises that serve vast numbers of the poor. Our investments focus on delivering affordable, critical goods and services — like health, water, housing and energy — through innovative, market-oriented approaches. Zennström Philanthropies has made a donation to the fund to support their core activities.
The Ashden Awards www.ashdenawards.org
The Ashden Awards celebrate and reward visionary champions who are finding solutions to climate change that are also bringing real social and economic benefits to their local communities. Across the UK and developing world, their award winners are inspirational examples of simple, practical ways to cut CO2 emissions while also improving quality of life. Whether harnessing technology, energy efficiency or renewable sources such as solar, wind or biomass they're all beacons to encourage others to take the sustainable energy path. Zennström Philanthropies is sponsoring the international Ashden Energy Enterprise Award (see more info on the 2009 Global green award winner ECAMI).
The Climate Group www.theclimategroup.org
The Climate Group is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing business and government leadership on climate change. Based in the UK, the USA and Australia, they operate internationally. The Climate Group's mission is to put the world on track for a low carbon economy by rapidly expanding the uptake of best practice on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Their work is driven by the vision of a world where reducing greenhouse gas emissions is widely regarded as the norm. The Zennström Philanthropies has provided a core funding grant to help The Climate Group achieve their goals.
Coalition Clean Baltic www.ccb.se
In Helsinki, February 1990, non-governmental environmental organizations from the countries of the Baltic Sea Region united and established Coalition Clean Baltic (CCB) in order to co-operate in activities concerning the Baltic Sea. CCB is a politically independent, non-profit association. At present, CCB unites 27 member organizations from Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Denmark,Ukraine and Sweden. The CCB member organisations combined have over half a million members in all countries around the Baltic Sea. The main goal of CCB is to promote the protection and improvement of the Baltic Sea environment and natural resources.
E+Co www.eandco.net
E+Co makes clean energy investments in developing countries. With 15 years of experience and offices in 10 locations, E+Co's innovative business model provides lasting solutions to climate change and poverty. E+Co's business development support and investment capital serve to create energy businesses that have a positive social and environmental impact while generating financial returns.
Environmental Defense Fund www.edf.org
Environmental Defense Fund is a leading national non-profit organisation representing more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, they have linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society's most urgent environmental problems. Zennström Philanthropies has given a grant to the Environmental Defense Fund to support their international climate change programme.
GLOBE International www.globeinternational.org
GLOBE is the Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment founded in 1989. GLOBE facilitates high level negotiated policy positions from leading legislators from across the G8+5 parliaments and from regional dialogues which are informed by business leaders and key international experts. It’s objective is to support ambitious political leadership on issues of climate and energy security, land-use change and ecosystems and economic and population growth.
Global Witness www.globalwitness.org
Global Witness exposes the corrupt exploitation of natural resources and international trade systems, to drive campaigns that end impunity, resource-linked conflict, and human rights and environmental abuses. Global Witness is largely responsible for natural resources occupying the prominent role in the international agenda that they currently do.
Oceana www.oceana.org
Without the oceans, global warming would be far worse than it already is. Unfortunately, the oceans are being overwhelmed by the massive amounts of carbon dioxide they are absorbing. As the oceans become "full" of carbon dioxide, the rate at which they can continue to absorb carbon dioxide slows, resulting in more carbon dioxide remaining in the atmosphere, affecting the climate. Recently, it was found that the Southern Ocean, the most important "carbon sink" of all the oceans, has greatly slowed its uptake of carbon dioxide because of climate change. The absorption of heat and carbon dioxide by the oceans is currently slowing the effects of global warming; however, the oceans are becoming overburdened and may not be able to perform this function for much longer. The impacts of absorbing such huge amounts of carbon dioxide and heat include ocean acidification, sea level rise, disrupted marine food webs, depleted ecosystems and more. Oceana campaigns to stop climate change through legislative advocacy, source control, public education and awareness and ecosystem protection.
The P8 Project www.cpi.cam.ac.uk/programmes/energy_and_climate_change/p8_group.aspx
The P8 initiative involves ten leading global pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, including representatives from Europe, Asia, Australasia and North America. The P8 programme is coordinated by The University of Cambridge Programme for Industry (CPI). The CPI promotes social, environmental and economic awareness amongst leaders globally to both the benefit of the latter and society more broadly. The P8 initiative has been held under the auspices of The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change organisation. The Zennström Philanthropies has provided a core funding grant to the project.
Root Capital www.rootcapital.org
Root Capital is a nonprofit social investment fund that is pioneering finance for grassroots businesses in rural areas of developing countries. We provide capital, financial education, and market connections to small and growing businesses that build sustainable livelihoods and transform rural communities in poor, environmentally vulnerable places. Since their launch, they have provided more than $120 million in credit to 235 grassroots enterprises in 30 countries, maintaining a 99% repayment rate from our borrowers and a 100% repayment rate to our investors.
The Royal Society royalsociety.org
The Royal Society has a long track record of providing scientific advice to policy makers. Its earliest report, on the state of Britain’s forests, was published in 1664. Today, scientific advice to underpin policy is more important than ever before. From neuroscience to nanotechnology, food security to climate change, the questions being asked of scientists by policy makers, the media and the public continue to multiply. Many of the issues are global in nature, and require international collaboration, not just amongst policy makers, but also between scientists.
In the run-up to its 350th Anniversary in 2010, the Royal Society has established a Science Policy Centre in order to strengthen the independent voice of science in UK, European and international policy. They look to champion the contribution that science and innovation can make to economic prosperity, quality of life and environmental sustainability.
Sustainability Institute www.sustainer.org
The Sustainability Institute is applying scientifically-grounded system dynamics models, widely-accessible simulations (or "Sims"), and systems thinking metaphors and diagrams to the complex problem of climate change. By doing so they work to help stakeholders and decision makers understand the scientific implications of their actions. Zennström Philanthropies is funding their work on the C-ROADS — Climate Rapid Overview and Decision-support Simulator.
Swedish Society for Nature Conservation www.naturskyddsforeningen.se/
The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) is an environmental organization with power to bring about change. They spread knowledge, map environmental threats, create solutions, and influence politicians and public authorities, at both national and international levels. Moreover, we are behind one of the world’s most challenging ecolabellings, “Bra Miljöval” (Good Environmental Choice). Climate, the oceans, forests, environmental toxins, and agriculture are our main areas of involvement.
Uppsala University www.uu.se
Uppsala University is a comprehensive research university dedicated to advancing science, scholarhsip and higher education. It plays an active role in society promoting growth and innovation. In the last ten years some one hundred new companies have been created to develop research breakthroughs. Zennström Philanthropies has endowed a visiting professorship for Climate Change at the University of Uppsala.
New Ventures www.new-ventures.org
The New Ventures program of the World Resources Institute promotes sustainable growth in emerging markets by supporting and accelerating the transfer of capital to businesses that deliver social and environmental benefits at the base of the economic pyramid. New Ventures selects SMEs in fast-growth, environmental and BoP sectors such as ecotourism, renewable energy, clean technologies and water management. Since its inception in 1999, New Ventures has helped its entrepreneurs to attract over $175 million in investment. In addition, New Ventures' companies are opening new markets, growing sales, and becoming leaders in their sectors
