The Philanthropy Europe Association (Philea) and Active Philanthropy have jointly launched Climate + Philanthropy: A Compact Learning Journey, which is an interactive online course to equip foundation staff with the knowledge and confidence they need to drive climate action within their organisation.

‘The philanthropy sector needs to do more to proactively tackle climate change and champion societal progress’, said Philea in a statement, citing the funding figure of less than two per cent of all philanthropy that goes to climate mitigation.

The eight-week course will teach philanthropy professionals how a climate-aligned grantmaking strategy, investment portfolio, and operations can create more resilient charitable foundations, benefitting people and planet. By the end of the course, participants should have developed a climate action plan for taking the next steps to drive climate action in their foundation.

‘The climate crisis affects all areas of philanthropic work. All foundations and philanthropy infrastructure organisations, regardless of mission, have the opportunity to take action and ensure a more sustainable future for the planet and the people who inhabit it,’ said Delphine Moralis, CEO of Philea. ‘This Learning Journey is an important piece in empowering foundation staff with the know-how and self-assuredness they need to make a difference on climate.’

‘Many funders wonder what they can do to counter the climate crisis. We designed the Learning Journey as an easy way to understand how you can integrate a climate lens in your existing giving strategy or get started as a climate philanthropist,’ said Dr Felicitas von Peter, Founder and Managing Partner of Active Philanthropy. ‘The time for funders to act is now, and philanthropy can play a crucial role in ensuring a just and liveable future for all.’