VIEWPOINT | A climate commitment for South African funders

Louise Driver, Executive Director of the Independent Philanthropy Association of South Africa (IPASA), shares the rationale for IPASA’s South African Funders Climate Commitment. IPASA wants to encourage funders to display bold leadership in this space through risk-taking, innovation and collaboration, and by giving voice to those who are marginalised in the climate discourse.  

What is the global context in which the South African Funders Climate Pledge is being developed?  

IPASA became the South African ambassador for the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change in 2021 as part of the #PhilanthropyForClimate global movement that encourages philanthropic organisations to take decisive action on climate change. This is within the context of the Paris Agreement, which says global greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. The commitment provides a framework for foundations to integrate climate considerations into their work, regardless of their primary mission. Some 800 foundations globally, including two IPASA members – the African Climate Foundation and the Lewis Foundation – have signed the international pledge. Stemming from this, many country climate pledges have been developed to make climate commitments more relevant and accessible to local funders. Brazil, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom have all developed pledges, while IPASA, India and the Arab Foundations Forum are currently developing theirs.  

Who is involved in the climate pledge – who are your partners and how did they become involved in this initiative?  

Twelve IPASA members, who reflect the diversity of our membership and are actively involved in integrating climate considerations into their work, have formed a task team which will co-create the climate pledge together with IPASA. Our local and international partners, including the Worldwide Initiatives for Grantmaker Support (WINGS) and Presidential Climate Commission, are equally important contributors as part of the climate philanthropy ecosystem.  

What is the objective of the pledge and what implications will it have for broader philanthropy in South Africa?  

A pledge tailored to the unique context and challenges of South African funders will enable them to find appropriate ways to respond to climate change, in line with their unique positioning, capabilities and objectives. We have observed that once funders start on their climate journeys, they can incrementally step up their climate responses with remarkable agility – with some funders now leading climate initiatives in their funding sectors within a couple of years of starting. 

Why is philanthropy uniquely positioned to respond to the climate crisis and what gives it an advantage?  

Independent philanthropy can be the forerunner in unchartered territory because it can take risks that other stakeholders cannot and have the latitude to think out of the box and pilot new ideas. By foregrounding these characteristics, philanthropy can play to its strengths. Philanthropy has the capability to shift the narrative to one that regards climate change as the context in which we operate – a context with immense potential for fresh thinking, innovation and growth. Because climate change has disproportionate impacts on the Global South and vulnerable people, especially funders can assist the communities they support to adapt, be resilient and become active participants in the climate conversation to find localised solutions for ever-changing climate impacts.  

Is the pledge relevant to South African companies? 

IPASA’s membership includes independent corporate foundations, some of which are represented on our pledge task team and others that are likely to become pledge signatories due to their corporate entities’ strong focus on climate. South African private foundations committing to the pledge could have a ripple effect on their companies. Funders who are interested to get involved are encouraged to contact IPASA.  

Why is collaboration vital when it comes to climate solutions and how can the proposed solutions help to improve the lives of those South Africans most affected by the climate crisis?  

Collaboration is essential to leverage resources that include financial capital, expert knowledge and networks, particularly because the scale and complexity of the issue is too much for one funder to address alone. Collaboration is also key in sharing knowledge and expertise in the climate space. IPASA places significant value on the benefits of our knowledge partnerships with global climate philanthropy networks and we aim to create the same value locally.  

What resources are available to assist nonprofits? 

IPASA has developed various resources to assist funders in supporting their NPO partners. Furthermore, we provide a connection between funders and other stakeholders who work to address the climate crisis through working with intermediary funders who assist communities and social justice organisations; funders who integrate climate considerations into their sector-specific funding; funding for environmental and ecosystem health initiatives; and funders who advocate for responsible investment. IPASA’s convening platform provides opportunities for ongoing discussion and networking on this important topic.