By Trimmel Gomes, Florida News Connection
As federal funding for climate initiatives faces steep cuts, nonprofits and philanthropic organizations are stepping into the breach, calling out the urgent need for private support to address what they see as an existential crisis.
The issue took center stage Wednesday in Orlando, at the Climate Correction Conference. With federal grants paused or canceled due to recent executive orders and legal challenges, nonprofits grapple with uncertainty, making private philanthropy more critical than ever.
Dawn Shirreffs, Florida director of the Environmental Defense Fund, explained the urgency.
“We don’t have time,” Shirreffs emphasized. “In fact, one of the things Environmental Defense Fund is known for is we don’t have an endowment, because we don’t feel we have the time to wait in the battle on climate change to have money sitting in a bank. We need to get our greenhouse gas emissions down now, so that we have a planet to fight for.”
Shirreffs argued it is time to rethink philanthropic giving. She stressed there is a critical need for strategic, multiyear funding rather than one-time donations to sustain climate efforts.
David S. Vogel, cofounder, trustee and chief scientist for the VoLo Foundation, which is hosting the conference, said as a data-driven funder, he prioritizes long-term investments in climate solutions, from sustainable farming to clean energy innovation. He echoed the call for proactive philanthropy in light of federal funding cuts.
“Cuts all across the board — not just climate science, cancer research — again, the government falling short on thinking proactively. It’s very reactive,” Vogel contended. “As a result, maybe the government will end up having to pay more in climate damages. But it’s more important than ever for private funding to step in and fund at least the right areas of research.”
Yoca Arditti-Rocha, executive director of the CLEO Institute, highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate change on Florida, from rising sea levels and stronger hurricanes to an insurance crisis, all while receiving minimal funding for solutions.
“It’s important to understand that only 2% of global philanthropy dollars go to climate solutions,” Arditti-Rocha pointed out. “We cannot solve this issue with just 2%. We must close that funding gap.”
The panelists agreed the climate crisis is a threat multiplier, exacerbating issues like poverty, public health and housing. They said philanthropy must step up to fill the void being left by government cuts.
Florida News Connection is a bureau of the Public News Service. Volo Foundation contributes to its fund for reporting on climate change/air quality, environment and environmental justice, and is a financial supporter of The Invading Sea. Banner photo: A graphic for the Climate Correction Conference (Courtesy of VoLo Foundation).
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