South Africa, like the rest of the world, is grappling with climate change’s far-reaching impacts on poverty, inequality, health care, and more. Unless global greenhouse gas emissions are drastically reduced, climate-induced disasters will intensify. Recognising the severity of the situation, funders are increasing their contributions to respond to the crisis. However, global funding for climate action remains below 2%.
In its publication Climate Change – A Series of Case Studies on South African Funders’ Climate Journeys, Independent Philanthropy Association South Africa (IPASA) explores the experiences of local foundations that are integrating climate considerations into their funding strategies. The series serves as a practical guide to other funders wanting to apply a climate lens to their work.
Integrating a positive climate response within philanthropic work can be overwhelming. This is especially true in the context of the Global South, where social, health, governance, and environmental issues are intertwined in a complex web.
With this context in mind, IPASA has set out to support South African philanthropic foundations in the critical role they need to play in responding to the climate crisis. The association’s Climate Change Funder Support initiative was established in 2021. It has developed rapidly, providing knowledge-sharing workshops, creating the IPASA Climate Crisis Toolkit and Resource Pack for Funders, engaging in one-on-one consultations with IPASA members, and developing member climate response case studies.
“Global funding for climate action remains below 2%.”
The IPASA climate change series explores the experience of selected South African foundations (who are IPASA members) in integrating climate considerations into their funding strategies and plans. It highlights their successes, concerns, and challenges on their climate change response journey while providing key inputs and drawing lessons from their experiences.
IPASA members consulted as part of this engagement included the DO MORE FOUNDATION, the Ford Foundation, the Grindrod Family Centenary Trust, Investec Philanthropy, the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust, the RAITH Foundation, and the Zenex Foundation.
Categorising funder climate responses
The climate change case study series presents a non-hierarchical typology of general approaches to climate action by funders.
Each participating IPASA member’s climate responses are unpacked according to the five categories identified in the typology: the aspiring climate funder; the climate action integrator; the climate lens funder; the climate action leader; and the climate investment funder.
The categorisation framework recognises the diversity of possible climate initiatives and encourages tailored, intentional approaches to including a climate perspective in funder strategy.
Case study methodology
IPASA commissioned Carbon Trust Africa to conduct one-on-one consultations with seven selected IPASA members. The consultations informed the case study series document, which can be used for knowledge sharing with other funders, both in South Africa and globally.
During the consultations, Carbon Trust Africa provided IPASA members with guidance and suggestions on how they might kick-start or advance their climate response journeys. The guidance provided to IPASA members by Carbon Trust Africa was influenced by the WINGS International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change: Implementation Guide (The WINGs Seven Pillars), as well as the 2022 IPASA Climate Change Toolkit Resource Pack.
This guidance could be summarised as either identifying, connecting, or enhancing members’ climate responses:
- “Identifying”: Supporting members identify intersectionality between climate change and their work, including interventions and opportunities for co-benefits that overlap between their core mandates and climate change.
- “Connecting”: Helping members build an evidence base and “connect the dots” between their work, climate change, and key stakeholders.
- “Enhancing”: Supporting members to advance their climate responses by scaling up climate ambition and interventions that contribute to their climate goals.
“Funders can play a key role in responding to climate change, however, funder responses to climate change have historically been relatively limited.”
Climate Change – A Series of Case Studies on South African Funders’ Climate Journeys (IPASA)
The climate change case study series distinguishes between those foundations that are starting their climate journey and those who are advancing their climate journey. Despite these two broad groupings, each funder was shown to be at a different stage of their climate journey and approached climate change in different ways.
Case studies serve as learning resource for other funders
The IPASA climate change case study series demonstrates what it is possible for independent philanthropic organisations to achieve in addressing the climate crisis. It also highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in the Global South’s climate response.
Drawing lessons from the successes, concerns and challenges of the featured IPASA member foundations, the study prompts a reconsideration of the narrative around climate integration and philanthropy in South Africa. It advocates for increased support to philanthropy in addressing climate change.
