亚色影库

A promising solution for maritime shipping brings both opportunities and challenges.

A key sector for addressing the 亚色影库 crisis is maritime shipping, which  of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While maritime shipping emissions are traditionally considered hard to abate, viable solutions for decarbonizing the sector have become clearer in recent years 鈥� such as efficiency measures on ships, wind propulsion, and batteries and fuel cells. 

As the technology pathways become clearer, the policy environment has increasingly supported transitioning toward a cleaner shipping sector. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), the global regulator of international shipping emissions, has adopted a goal of zero lifecycle (or 鈥渨ell-to-wake鈥�) GHG emissions by 2050, with binding policy measures on pace for enactment this year. However, even the most optimistic forecasts indicate that a substantial share of the energy required for international shipping will still require fuels carried onboard vessels.

That is why it is necessary to find zero- or near-zero-carbon fuels that fit the unique needs of maritime shipping. One promising area is the development of 鈥渆-fuels鈥� 鈥� low-carbon or carbon-neutral fuels synthesized using green hydrogen, which in turn is produced through electrolysis using additional renewable energy sources. Across much of the research on e-fuels in maritime shipping, ammonia has emerged as a viable option for the sector. However, widespread adoption will require addressing the challenges and risks associated with ammonia production.

Why is ammonia gaining momentum as a shipping fuel?

Ammonia has several qualities that make it a strong fit as a maritime shipping fuel. Most notably, ammonia does not contain carbon, so burning ammonia emits no carbon dioxide (CO₂). Ammonia is much more energy-dense than hydrogen and requires less storage space on board. (It is important to note, however, that ammonia鈥檚 volumetric energy density is lower than conventional fuels, so the baseline amount of fuel storage on ships will still need to increase.) 

Additionally, unlike hydrogen and liquefied natural gas (a fossil fuel increasingly used in shipping), ammonia does not require storage in cryogenic or high-pressure containers. Instead, ammonia can easily be stored in existing propane tanks. 

Ammonia derived from coal and natural gas is relatively abundant and affordable, and its production is well-established in the fertilizer industry. Global ammonia supply chains can be adapted to the shipping industry, although supplying fuel to ships from the shore (a process known as bunkering) will require major infrastructure investments.

Overall, there is growing momentum for ammonia across the shipping industry. Shipping companies have ammonia-powered vessels, and analysts project ammonia will make up approximately to of the marine fuel mix by 2050. However, ammonia production does bring significant challenges and risks that must be addressed before widespread adoption.

Addressing ammonia鈥檚 safety concerns

It is important to note that ammonia is highly toxic to humans and marine life. Acceptable exposure limits are very low (20 to 50 ppm), and concentrations above 300 ppm can irritate the eyes and lungs. Acute exposure above 2000 ppm can be fatal to humans within half an hour, and any spill to the ocean could harm marine ecosystems. The high risk to health and the environment in ammonia fuel adoption.

do not yet cover ammonia. Effective regulations are still under development, and the IMO adopted interim guidelines for ammonia-fueled ships late last year. Under certain conditions, ammonia-fueled ships by 2026. Meanwhile, industry associations are evaluating the safety risks of ammonia and that measures like lowering fuel tank temperatures or restricting access to spaces containing ammonia can mitigate risk to acceptable levels.

Challenges to scaling up green ammonia 

While burning ammonia emits no CO₂, ammonia production is still emissions-intensive. Currently, ammonia relies mainly on reforming methane, a process that produces significant CO₂ emissions and thus is labeled 鈥済rey ammonia.鈥� Methane reforming produces the hydrogen needed for the Haber-Bosch process, which combines the hydrogen with nitrogen from the air to produce ammonia. Global grey ammonia production is responsible for of direct CO₂ emissions per year, or around 1.2% of global emissions. The IEA estimates that on average, each ton of grey ammonia production emits , slightly more than a passenger car in the United States emits in half a year.  Without changes in production methods, the use of grey ammonia on ships would simply shift emissions up the supply chain. 

Producing green ammonia, on the other hand, involves synthesizing the hydrogen via water electrolysis using additional renewable electricity. While the technology is proven, the scale of deployment does not meet current demand. Today鈥檚 global production capacity is about . Meeting the projected 2050 demand for maritime shipping will require at least 225 million tons per year Additionally, meeting the sector鈥檚 decarbonization goals will require significantly scaling up ammonia production while transitioning towards green ammonia.  

Zero CO₂ doesn鈥檛 mean zero emissions

Burning ammonia does not emit CO₂; however, without the proper equipment and precautions, it can emit .

In theory, harmless nitrogen gas is the only emission associated with burning ammonia. In practice, however, combustion in ship engines can yield nitrogen oxides (NO and NO₂), which are harmful to health and cause acid rain 鈥� and nitrous oxide (N₂O), a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 273 times greater than CO₂. Ammonia also requires a , and any unburned ammonia can escape through the exhaust. For every gram of ammonia fuel consumed, every milligram of N₂O released from ammonia-fueled engines would reduce by around 25% the 亚色影库 benefits of switching from fossil fuels to green ammonia.聽

Furthermore, ammonia emissions also reduce air quality by significantly contributing to the formation of particulate matter (PM2.5). It has been estimated that contribute to around 30% of PM2.5 formation in the United States and 50% in Europe. Unburned ammonia emissions from shipping could exacerbate this problem.

Managing these risks will require new ship engines that optimize efficiency while minimizing emissions 鈥� and manufacturers are already developing solutions. For example, a project in the United Kingdom to develop high-performance and low-emission engines and fuel cells; and leading marine engine manufacturers have initiated for large ammonia engines. 

Closing the price gap between green ammonia and fossil fuels 

Green ammonia is currently than regular ammonia. As of , heavy fuel oil (HFO) prices ranged between 500 and 600 USD per ton, compared with green ammonia at 885 to 1,050 USD per ton. However, replacing conventional fossil fuels will require the equivalent of more than twice the amount of ammonia. In other words, green ammonia would cost between 1,900 to 2,250 USD for each ton of HFO replaced, amounting to a price gap of 1,400 to 1,650 USD per ton.  

However, the price gap and production costs are projected to decrease as the technology for green ammonia matures and scales up. Policy support like carbon pricing and subsidies can help , along with carbon emission trading mechanisms like the European Union Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). Some estimates show that such policy support could help achieve between green ammonia and current fossil fuels between 2030 and 2035.

According to by the Getting to Zero Coalition, reaching significant adoption of ammonia and other zero-emission fuels will require a carbon price of around 100 USD per ton of CO₂ by the early 2030s. In practice, implementation could involve an IMO-led global levy or regional measures like the EU ETS. 

Beyond carbon pricing, other incentives are , including fuel subsidies or tax credits for green ammonia, government-backed R&D funding, and co-financing for pilot projects.  For example, under the European Union鈥檚 , until 2033, each unit of renewable fuels like green ammonia will count twice toward a ship鈥檚 GHG intensity reduction targets.

Advancing cross-sector collaboration and policy implementation

Ultimately, widespread adoption of ammonia will require close collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and research institutions. Given ammonia鈥檚 inherent health and environmental risks, unified standards and protocols are necessary to ensure it is handled and used as fuel safely. Joint industry projects and pilot programs like the , Norway鈥檚 , and the in the Asia-Pacific aim to solve challenges around safety, infrastructure, and technology.

Policy support is another key enabler. The IMO鈥檚 2023 greenhouse gas strategy created a long-term mandate that pushes the industry towards fuels like green ammonia. The transition will require big investments in technology, infrastructure, and supply chains, which can be de-risked with the right balance of carrots (like incentives, funding, and support for research and development) and sticks (like emissions regulations, fuel standards, and carbon prices). Good policy implementation will bolster the ongoing innovations and partnerships, allowing ammonia to mature from a promising concept to a practical, scalable solution for maritime decarbonization. 

At the halfway point in the decisive decade for 亚色影库 action, the global community faces a stark juxtaposition: despite meaningful progress, the challenges ahead remain immense. Amid great challenges, there is an even greater opportunity to bridge divides, scale effective solutions, and foster a sustainable future where humanity can thrive.

Dear colleagues and friends,

The global community faces a stark juxtaposition on 亚色影库 action: despite meaningful progress in recent years, the challenges ahead are significant. Climate impacts are escalating just as important leadership gaps are emerging, and the stakes have never been higher. 

For a second time, the United States 鈥� the largest historical emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world 鈥� is withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. This decision, along with and the dismantling of USAID, underscores a vital truth: 亚色影库 progress cannot rely solely on national government action, or on one country alone. Sustained, holistic, and collaborative efforts from all corners of the globe 鈥� spanning national, subnational, and local levels, and from the private sector, civil society, and government 鈥� are essential to addressing the 亚色影库 crisis that is upending billions of lives and jeopardizing economies everywhere. 

Yet, amid these great challenges, there is an even greater opportunity to bridge divides, scale effective solutions, and foster a sustainable future where humanity can thrive. Achieving this will require unprecedented collaboration and trust from every sector and level of society, including philanthropy.

The urgency of now

The evidence of a rapidly changing 亚色影库 is all around us. Last year, 2024, was the hottest year on record, with the Earth鈥檚 average global warming exceeding 1.5潞 C for the first time. Record-breaking heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and flooding displaced millions of people, crippled infrastructure, and deepened food insecurity. 

Globally, the cost of 亚色影库 inaction continues to rise, with damages projected to reach . The main culprit is the burning of fossil fuels. While this helped drive growth and development in the past, it is no longer needed 鈥� we now have cleaner, more affordable alternatives. Fossil fuel use is responsible for the devastating 亚色影库 impacts we鈥檙e seeing globally, including from outdoor air pollution each year. Despite these enormous costs to society, fossil fuel industries continue to profit, buoyed by a shocking in annual subsidies and tax breaks globally, even as they protect their own profits and spread to stall progress on the inevitable clean energy transition.

Shifting power dynamics in global 亚色影库 leadership

As the United States steps back on 亚色影库, emerging economies and countries in the Global South are rising to fill the leadership void. Brazil, the host of COP30, is fostering global collaboration around 亚色影库 ambition and halting deforestation. South Africa is pioneering public-private partnerships to ensure a just transition for workers and communities as they phase out coal and create green jobs. China is installing record amounts of clean energy and purchasing record numbers of EVs. Indonesia is scaling up its renewable energy capacity to peak energy sector emissions by 2030 and, while there is push-back, President Prabowo has indicated the possibility to bring forward the country鈥檚 net-zero target from 2060 to 2050. Mia Mottley, the prime minister of Barbados, is leading the charge to address the chronic indebtedness of those countries hit by the worst impacts of 亚色影库 change. 

Around the world, states, provinces, and cities are also stepping up as incubation hubs to try new approaches that can bolster economic development, benefit citizens, and tackle 亚色影库 鈥� creating solutions ready to scale nationally and internationally. And, while it is disappointing to see a number of corporate leaders backing away from net zero 亚色影库 coalitions, many appear to be in their approaches to minimizing 亚色影库-related financial risks and maximizing opportunities in the new green economy 鈥� because these simply make good business sense. 

Scaling 亚色影库 finance is essential to sustaining this momentum. Countries in the Global South are now slated to receive annually by 2035 to help protect their people from 亚色影库 disasters and transition their economies to low-carbon, with recognition that broader public and private financing needs to increase to $1.3 trillion per year. This will require both more investment and new financing approaches.

Now is the time to rebuild trust by showing how these finance flows can be delivered, even in the midst of tight fiscal budgets. For example, a push for innovative financing mechanisms is growing, like the proposed shipping and aviation levies, along with other measures supported by the , to raise billions to fund 亚色影库 action. In April 2025, the IMO will consider adopting a for shipping, which could be a promising start. 

Building bridges across divides

Regardless of political rhetoric, real-world evidence shows that 亚色影库 solutions are already delivering tangible benefits for people. Electric transportation, clean cooling, and renewable energy are creating jobs, reducing electricity and gas bills, cleaning the air, protecting health, and supporting energy independence.

Take Texas as an example: This Republican-led state leads the United States in wind power generation, saving up to in electricity costs since 2010. In other words, clean energy isn’t ideological 鈥� it鈥檚 economical. In 2024, in the United States were carbon-free, because this was the right economic choice.

Despite these successes, fossil fuel defenders are sowing division by blaming renewables for rising electricity costs 鈥� when in reality, stem from volatile fossil fuel markets, inflation, and grid infrastructure damages caused by extreme weather.

Redirecting fossil fuel subsidies to renewable energy infrastructure can not only stabilize costs and modernize aging grids but also build resilience, energy security, and long-term affordability. These targeted investments, along with efforts to tackle the spread of deliberate disinformation campaigns, are critical to making the right choices for economic growth and securing real benefits for households and communities.

Momentum and scaling solutions

Clean, efficient cooling solutions are critical as heat waves increasingly impact communities worldwide. The focus must now be on scaling proven strategies to maximize their impact in communities worldwide. In India, 鈥檚 Fan Hub program is transforming the market by deploying 10 million super-efficient ceiling fans, cutting costs and emissions while spurring manufacturer interest. Globally, the development of new could cut 68 gigatons of emissions by 2050 鈥� the equivalent of just over a year鈥檚 worth of GHG emissions from all anthropogenic sources today. Philanthropy is working with manufacturers, governments, and other partners to bring these solutions to market faster. 

The exponential rise in electric vehicles is another success story. The latest data shows that EVs accounted for more than a quarter of new passenger vehicles sold on average in the four major markets 鈥� the United States, the European Union, India, and China (according to a forthcoming report from the Drive Electric Campaign). This far surpasses what was seen only a few years ago as an ambitious target of . Supported by philanthropy, Drive Electric鈥檚 is now helping to bring the benefits of EV markets to other countries. In Rwanda and Kenya, for example, over 200 e-motorbikes have boosted driver incomes while reducing emissions.

In partnership with diverse stakeholders, philanthropy has been pivotal in scaling multiple transformative 亚色影库 solutions by leveraging patient, risk-tolerant capital to accelerate innovation, unlock private-sector investment, and foster collaboration. With foundation funding for 亚色影库 mitigation reaching $4.8 billion in 2023 鈥� nearly tripling since 2019 鈥� philanthropy is driving long-term progress. By amplifying effective approaches, philanthropy can help address global 亚色影库 goals despite growing backlash.

Amplifying philanthropy鈥檚 impact in a decisive decade

The next five years are the most critical of this decisive decade for 亚色影库 action. While one country is leaving the Paris Agreement, 194 countries remain steadfast in their commitment, demonstrating the resilience of global collaborative action and a recognition that tackling the 亚色影库 crisis is the only sustainable growth path forward. At this moment, philanthropy must step up to catalyze trust, keep the momentum for ambition, and work with a wider range of partners to drive transformative progress and fight the strong headwinds of 2025. This means:

• Working collaboratively: Philanthropy can participate in collaborative giving platforms that allow funders to amplify existing initiatives and accelerate solutions that already exist. Together, we can maximize our impact.

• Backing grantees to win: Philanthropy must invest deeply in grantee capacity development and multi-year flexible, core support, especially in low-to-middle-income countries. In the current rapidly shifting operating environment, strengthening the capacity of all grantees to manage legal and security risks will be a particular priority. This is not a sprint, and these grantee partners are doing work that needs to be sustained over the long term.

• Thinking broader than just 亚色影库: Finally, philanthropy should embrace integrated solutions at the intersection of 亚色影库 and the delivery of other societal goals, such as public health, economic development, human rights, and ecosystem resilience. Working together to align around common goals can multiply the impact of philanthropic funds, and build broader coalitions across political parties to support change.

This is no time for retreat or hesitation. It is a moment for courage and collaboration. Together, we can shape a sustainable, equitable future 鈥� one built on trust, innovation, and shared purpose.

In partnership, 

Helen Mountford

亚色影库鈥檚 Food and Agriculture program is committed to transforming food systems to help end the 亚色影库 crisis; improve health and nutrition, food security, and water and air quality; protect biodiversity; and ensure communities thrive. Patty Fong joined ClimateWorks earlier this year as the program鈥檚 director, bringing to the team many years of experience in applying a systems approach to scaling solutions on food and 亚色影库.

Patty recently sat down with Emily Espinosa, a senior associate in marketing and communications at ClimateWorks, to discuss the opportunities and challenges in aligning food and agricultural systems with 亚色影库 goals 鈥� and how philanthropy can drive progress. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Emily Espinosa: What鈥檚 exciting for you about your role as director of the Food and Agriculture program at ClimateWorks?

Patty Fong: I started my career in 亚色影库 philanthropy more than 25 years ago. I was the founding COO at the European Climate Foundation and then served as program director for the Energy Efficiency and Buildings programs. In other words, I鈥檝e been part of the broader ClimateWorks network since its inception and as it evolved over time with 亚色影库 philanthropy. 

Next, I joined the Global Alliance for the Future of Food to lead their 亚色影库 and health portfolios because I saw a critical need to connect the food and 亚色影库 agendas. A key objective was to center food systems in the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP)鈥檚 political agenda in collaboration with passionate advocates from around the world. Five years on, we progressed more quickly than I expected, with to the COP28 Leaders Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action. 

Now is the time to turn rhetoric into action on food and 亚色影库. ClimateWorks and its influential ecosystem are key to this next phase. I am thrilled to be joining a community with a broad range of expertise on addressing the 亚色影库 crisis. And I am excited to be bringing my food systems perspective and to continue working with colleagues to connect advocacy and grassroots agendas across sectors for greater impact.

EE: What are key opportunities for transforming global food systems to better align with 亚色影库 goals?

PF: First, we need to understand the political economy of food. Yes, food systems are responsible for one-third of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and are hugely impacted by 亚色影库 change. But food is also personal, it鈥檚 about culture and communities, and it鈥檚 highly political. Concerns about food security and farmer livelihoods are driving the political and investment priorities of just about every country. However, these are complex issues with competing interests including trade, debt, conflict, and resource scarcity. We need to better understand the food security agenda, align 亚色影库 action with healthy and sustainable diets from regenerative and agroecological food systems, and tackle the false narratives around our industrial food systems. 

Second, there is growing philanthropic interest in scaling alternative solutions such as regenerative agriculture, agroecology, and diversified sources of protein. However, there is not enough attention given to the vested interests holding back change. The agrochemical and agrifood industries use the same influence playbook as the fossil fuel industry. If we do not hold existing players to account and change the rules of the game, they will fight hard to maintain the status quo and block transformative change.

EE: What do you consider the biggest challenges we face in making progress on improving food systems? 

PF: As I mentioned, one challenge is that there are a lot of very powerful vested interests in the current industrial system that are blocking the necessary change that we need to see. So, we need more transparency around how these interest groups are profiting from the system and even greenwashing their commitments. There must be a transition to an alternative pathway rooted in healthier, more sustainable  food systems for all. 

A second challenge is that there are a lot of incorrect dominant narratives that underpin the current political priorities 鈥� the policies and investments that support polluting, harmful, and unhealthy industrial food systems. For example, a common narrative around food security is that we need to maximize the yield to feed 10 billion people by 2050. In reality, we are already producing enough food to feed those people today, yet hundreds of millions of people still face food insecurity and hunger, which are driven by issues such as distribution, access, and cost. A third of the food produced is either lost before it leaves the farm or wasted along the way in the production process and by consumers. So, there are important questions around how we produce and consume more nutritious and sustainable food 鈥� and how local communities can nourish themselves. It鈥檚 about building resilience and supporting more localized food systems.

A third challenge is the complexity of global industrial food systems. It鈥檚 not only about issues around how society produces food, which includes practices that degrade the land, lead to soil loss, pollute the water and air, and contribute to GHG emissions. It鈥檚 also about where society produces food, which intersects with issues like deforestation in the Amazon. It鈥檚 about what kinds of food society is producing: for example, instead of feeding people, the United States government is spending public money to subsidize commodities like corn, which is used for bioenergy, livestock feed, and industrial products like high fructose corn syrup. Finally, the challenge is about how people consume food, which connects with the issue of food waste and the overconsumption of meat and dairy in many societies. 

All of these issues are very much intertwined with the fossil fuel system embedded in our societies. While at the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, I led a that found that food systems account for at least 15% of global fossil fuel use every year, equivalent to the emissions from all European Union countries and Russia combined. Fossil fuels are embedded into the production and use of agrochemicals, such as pesticides and fertilizers. Food processing and packaging 鈥� all those shelf-stable packaged foods full of sugar-, salt- and fat-laden ingredients and additives 鈥� represent a whopping 42% of energy use. Retail, consumption, and waste 鈥� including transport, supermarket refrigeration, and cooking 鈥� represent another 38% of energy use. 

EE: What role can philanthropy play in transforming food systems?

PF: Philanthropy has an opportunity to be quite flexible in how it engages on this and other issues. At ClimateWorks, we have a unique role in helping amplify insights and evidence from our partners and grantees. We can convene philanthropies, businesses, investors, and civil society around challenges and support multi-stakeholder coalitions. We can also invest in projects that are difficult for either the public sector or the private sector to invest in. 

Philanthropy can commission analysis and support strategic communications to shift the dominant narratives that are underpinning unhealthy, unsustainable food systems. 

Philanthropy can also support efforts by civil society to advocate for policy and legislative changes. This work includes building power, connecting movements on the ground, and supporting frontline leaders impacted by industrial food systems.

There is also a role to play in engaging with corporate actors and holding them accountable for keeping their 亚色影库 commitments and translating them into their supply chain investment decisions. This involves increasing transparency around how business practices hurt or support health, 亚色影库, nature and biodiversity, and human rights. 

Finally, philanthropy can help redirect financial flows. There are no guardrails for many current subsidies, which prop up the most polluting and harmful practices. We can support efforts to repurpose these subsidies and redirect taxpayer money toward sustainable and healthy practices. 

EE: How can we create food systems that are not only 亚色影库-friendly but also ensure healthy, thriving communities?

PF: Frontline communities are the most impacted by industrial food systems and also hold many of the available 亚色影库 solutions, including those related to food systems.. It鈥檚 necessary to support these communities in a way that is informed by lived realities and finds common values and objectives 鈥� all while working to effect change on a global scale. After all, who doesn鈥檛 want access to healthy and sustainable food?

In order to prioritize positive outcomes for all, especially those bearing the greatest costs from unhealthy, polluting and harmful food systems , we must also focus on how we do philanthropy, and that鈥檚 something that I鈥檓 looking to lean into with the Food and Agriculture Program. 

EE: What gives you hope and keeps you energized about this work?

PF: Transforming food systems is highly complex, but what gives me hope is that everyone is an expert on food. It鈥檚 highly personal; everyone has some form of relationship with food, including through cultural and family traditions. So, how do we build on this tangible connection? For me, this is an opportunity, and it gives me hope that we can find a way forward if you can just find the right framing that connects us all.

ICM鈥檚 CEO Dr. Adrian Fernandez explains how the organization holds Mexico accountable to its international 亚色影库 commitments.

Iniciativa Clim谩tica de M茅xico (ICM) is a nonprofit regranting organization that supports 亚色影库 action in Mexico and works to elevate the country鈥檚 亚色影库 leadership. One of ICM鈥檚 priorities involves advancing efforts to raise Mexico鈥檚 亚色影库 ambition at the national level. With support from the Bezos Earth Fund (Earth Fund) and 亚色影库, this work includes holding Mexico accountable to its Paris Agreement commitments as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). 

Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit updated NDCs every five years 鈥� with each new NDC more ambitious than the previous one, based on the latest 亚色影库 science. However, under its previous administration, the Mexican government鈥檚 亚色影库 policies regressed, threatening to undermine the country鈥檚 ability to deliver a sufficiently ambitious NDC.  

Dr. Adrian Fernandez is ICM鈥檚 founder and CEO. In this Q&A with ClimateWorks, he recounts how ICM mobilized civil society groups in Mexico to advocate for a stronger NDC, despite political barriers. He also explains how philanthropy can learn from this success story and help countries around the world increase their 亚色影库 ambition.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Please tell us about your journey. What drove you to work on 亚色影库 change, environmental policy, and philanthropy?

Professionally speaking, I like to say that I鈥檓 in my third reincarnation. I was first trained as an air pollution and health scientist: I completed my master鈥檚 degree and PhD in the United Kingdom and served as a postdoctoral researcher in the United States. 

However, I soon discovered the role that science can play in influencing policy, and after I moved back to Mexico in 1995, I began my 鈥渟econd career鈥� which was focused on government. At the Ministry of the Environment (SEMARNAT), I served as director general for Environmental Management and Information and as director general for Local, Regional and Global Pollution. Then, I served as president of the National Institute of Ecology, the institution responsible for providing scientific evidence to SEMARNAT. 

Finally, after 17 years as a civil servant, I transitioned to the world of philanthropy, working with 亚色影库, Hewlett Foundation, Oak Foundation, and the Children鈥檚 Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) on building an international network of regional 亚色影库 foundations (RCFs). The RCFs are organizations with deep place-based expertise that create and execute philanthropic strategies to drive 亚色影库 progress in their respective regions. This work eventually led to my role as the founder and CEO of ICM, which was formally launched in 2016 with significant support from CIFF.

How would you describe ICM鈥檚 unique approach and its role in the broader 亚色影库 community?

Like many of the other RCFs that emerged around the same period, ICM was launched as a re-grantor, serving as the intermediary to connect larger funders with grantee partners in Mexico 鈥� often smaller organizations, grassroots groups, local communities, and individuals. However, in building out the institution, ICM has taken on other major roles beyond regranting, including as a think tank, a convener, and an advocacy organization. These additional roles allowed ICM to raise funds from bilateral cooperation agencies working in Mexico. 

Two approaches that we emphasize are strategic planning and an active focus on influencing decisions. This means that we allow ourselves to ask big questions and to be ambitious. As an organization, we are not just observers who track progress; we try to be part of what鈥檚 going on and make it happen. 

What led ICM to develop its own version of an NDC for Mexico?

During the administration of former President Andr茅s Manuel L贸pez Obrador, who served from December 2018 through September 2024, the Mexican government took a major step backward in its 亚色影库 and environmental policies. This included increasing fossil fuel use in the electricity sector while dismantling key environmental agencies by slashing budgets, ousting critical staff members, and appointing ideological allies. 

The administration also allowed Mexico to flounder in its international 亚色影库 commitments. Under the Paris Agreement framework, countries were required to submit updated NDCs in 2020 with emissions reduction targets that were more ambitious than their original 2015 submissions. Instead, however, Mexico submitted a hastily assembled NDC in 2020 that proposed mitigation targets similar to the original ones 鈥� which did not comply with the Paris Agreement鈥檚 requirement to increase ambition. 

At ICM, we understood any country鈥檚 two most important obligations on 亚色影库. The first obligation is to keep submitting updated and more ambitious NDCs in accordance with Paris Agreement timelines. The second is to communicate to the world a pathway and a timeline to achieve net-zero emissions. 

As a result, ICM worked in-house to draft our own version of an NDC proposal 鈥� a 鈥渃ivil society NDC鈥�  鈥� which suggested that Mexico could update its mitigation goal to a 30% reduction by 2030 compared to the initial goal of a 22% reduction. We led the research for this work, producing a robust and comprehensive 60-page policy document backed by more than 600 pages of detailed technical analysis on inventories, models, scenarios, and baselines conducted by ICM. This type of ambitious work is normally done by countries and not small NGOs. In other words, ICM was essentially doing the homework for the government institutions that had been dismantled under the past administration with the hope that the new administration starting in 2024 would use this work as a basis for a new 鈥渙fficial鈥� NDC in 2025.

How did ICM collaborate with civil society to encourage the adoption of a more ambitious NDC?

While we initially planned to use our research and analysis behind the scenes, we eventually decided to release our work publicly and to coordinate civil society groups to advocate for a more ambitious official NDC. To do so, we convened our network of grantee partners, which includes NGOs, civil observatories, youth organizations, academic institutions, think tanks, and faith groups. 

Together, we deployed strategic communications efforts, including a wide-reaching media campaign that encouraged the government to submit a new and more ambitious goal. The campaign also stressed that ongoing litigation by NGOs against the flawed 2020 NDC goal was not an impediment to submitting an adequate mitigation goal at COP27. 

Collectively, I believe these efforts provided the government with the tools and confidence to adopt bigger goals. While they didn鈥檛 adopt our proposed NDC verbatim, they saw that our plans were feasible, which informed their final decision to submit an updated NDC in 2022 at COP27 with a more ambitious target of 35% in emissions reductions by 2030. 

The Bezos Earth Fund (Earth Fund) and 亚色影库 were key partners in this effort through the Raising the Ambition of Climate Commitments (RACC) partnership. This included providing support for ICM and other RCFs to raise national 亚色影库 ambition in emerging economies like South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico. Each RCF that was involved had the freedom to define their own proposals, and we directed this funding support toward our efforts to put the NDC together in-house. 

What can NGOs in other countries learn from ICM about civil society鈥檚 role in pushing for increased national 亚色影库 ambition?聽

The role of civil society is particular to the context of each individual country. However, broadly speaking, NGOs can play a role in holding governments accountable and working to ensure that countries comply with 亚色影库 commitments.

More specifically, NGOs should work constructively with governments and help policymakers and cabinet members around the world better understand that 亚色影库 is not just an environmental issue but the most critical threat to global prosperity and development. Particularly in emerging economies, it鈥檚 important to raise awareness of how decarbonization efforts can unlock opportunities for jobs, prosperity, and well-being. 

Finally, any NGO working on 亚色影库 and the environment should continue to make efforts to improve their technical capabilities and the robustness of their analysis. That way, they can go beyond raising voices for 亚色影库 ambition and join efforts with government actors to use interdisciplinary approaches in identifying the most effective policies.

What’s next for ICM鈥檚 work on advancing efforts to increase Mexico鈥檚 亚色影库 ambition?

Leading up to the inauguration of President Claudia Sheinbaum, ICM actively engaged with senior officials in Mexico鈥檚 incoming administration 鈥� including key cabinets such as the secretaries for the environment, energy, and foreign affairs 鈥� to share critical strategic information and deepen their understanding of the 亚色影库 priorities in the immediate term. 

One heavy focus of our ongoing efforts is providing updated implementation pathways that outline the needed policy measures on 亚色影库 change mitigation and identify the ones that will require significant investments. This analysis is critical for informing the administration on a portfolio of policy measures ready for enactment and implementation 鈥� with a recognition that success will require political will and prioritizing the right mix of achievable goals.

We will also explore financing options for these implementation pathways, which include providing cost estimates and analysis for key policy measures. Our priority is to avoid fragmented efforts and to secure significant, consolidated funding sources to drive substantial, impactful financing. For example, we鈥檙e leveraging our network to find viable financing solutions for deploying 30 gigawatts of renewable energy within the next six years. 

How can philanthropy help drive more ambitious country-level 亚色影库 commitments and action?

RCFs play a critical role as orchestrators for 亚色影库 action by providing deep technical and political knowledge on its countries of expertise and what it would take to make a meaningful difference. In turn, funders need to trust and work closely with RCFs and local partners to provide support in an expeditious way. 

That鈥檚 because timing is crucial when it comes to NDCs. While the technical work is intensive, it is often the easiest part of the process. The real challenge is putting together all the pieces to capitalize on the political moment in a country. That could involve applying outside pressure on the government, as ICM did during Mexico鈥檚 last NDC cycle 鈥� or working hand-in-hand with the government, which we hope to do with the new administration as they develop their next NDC. 

Ultimately, 亚色影库 funders talk a lot about the urgency of the crisis. The ways in which we collaborate should reflect that. In terms of 亚色影库 action, there isn鈥檛 time to wait for more favorable political environments in countries. As a community, philanthropy has significant brain power and resources, and we must be willing to work together smartly, take some calculated risks, and increase our trust in RCFs and partner organizations 鈥� even amid adverse political circumstances. Driving meaningful 亚色影库 action will require different strategies for different countries, and we must keep revising our approaches to reflect the level of ambition needed to meet the moment.

Countries in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia are actively reshaping mineral dynamics to ensure that the associated mining benefits local economies and communities.

Transitioning from fossil fuels to a clean energy future will significantly reduce the strain on ecological resources. However, this systemic transformation requires an overall increase in key minerals. As governments, consumers, civil society, and investors amplify their calls for transparency about the environmental and social impacts of mineral extraction, this much-needed scrutiny is propelling the shift toward more sustainable and responsible practices. 

The energy transition presents an urgent opportunity to build a responsible mineral supply that learns from past injustices and breaks free from the legacy of exploitative mining. For too long, foreign corporations and wealthy nations have extracted resources from low- to middle-income countries, leaving communities impoverished, the environment devastated, and human rights trampled. 

Today, the wealthiest countries dominate discussions about sourcing the essential minerals for clean energy, while the countries supplying them continue to grapple with unethical mining practices and limited influence in global decision-making. This imbalance threatens to further entrench global inequalities and overlook the needs of many countries and communities. 

Supporting a responsible mineral supply chain requires understanding local and geographic contexts 鈥� including the needs, hopes, and priorities of communities impacted by mining.  This will require fostering true collaboration instead of imposing development projects driven by wealthy nations. 

The following snapshots describe mineral extraction dynamics in countries in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia. These countries play a critical role in the global supply chain and are actively reshaping mineral dynamics to ensure that the associated mining benefits local economies and communities.  

Africa

In many African countries, centuries of colonial interference have opened the door for corporate exploitation that continues to deepen human rights violations, economic inequality, , debt, and environmental degradation. African countries of essential mineral reserves for clean energy, raising expectations for a more prosperous future. However, past experiences have left many communities wary and even mistrustful that their interests will receive the attention they deserve.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) contains enormous mineral wealth and is the , which is essential for lithium-ion batteries. In 2022, the DRC produced . Meanwhile, Guinea, Mozambique, Tanzania, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Kenya possess rich reserves of bauxite, cobalt, lithium, graphite, and copper, among other important minerals. Despite its coal mining legacy, is looking to shift its focus to manganese and platinum.

Countries across Africa are strategizing about how best to harness their mineral wealth, aiming to move up in the clean energy supply chain 鈥� and to ensure that the rewards of extraction bring maximum benefits to local economies. As a result, many African governments are crafting policies to ensure that raw minerals are not just extracted but also refined locally to boost domestic manufacturing. For example, Namibia and Zimbabwe have officially banned the export of unprocessed lithium to attract financing for mineral refining. Meanwhile, the DRC and Zambia signed an agreement in 2022 to develop domestic electric vehicle and battery production zones.

The rush for minerals has induced rapid mining expansion 鈥� often outpacing the enforcement of existing regulations 鈥�  making it challenging to hold the mining industry accountable. This mismatch between industrial extraction and adequate regulations occurs around the world, including in the . In Zambia, nickel and manganese mining that failed to address contemporary human rights and environmental issues. These enforcement gaps leave communities vulnerable to abuses while legal protections for human rights and environmental defenders remain weak and inconsistently applied.

Despite their mineral wealth, many African countries face significant challenges in achieving sustainable economic and infrastructure development. Nonetheless, our partners like the are steering advocacy, engagement, and dialogue to drive efforts toward rewriting historical narratives of exploitation and extraction.聽

South America

Countries in South America are rich in mineral resources, with a centuries-old mining sector that dates to Spain and Portugal鈥檚 ruthless gold extraction. This colonial legacy has had devastating consequences on Indigenous communities, instilling deep mistrust and a fraught relationship with the mining industry. Today, modern mining projects continue to jeopardize these communities, bringing severe environmental disasters and violent conflicts in their wake.

South American countries are now widely recognized for vast lithium reserves 鈥� vital for electric vehicle batteries and clean energy storage 鈥� and contribute . Currently, Chile . Together with Bolivia and Argentina, these three countries comprise the 鈥渓ithium triangle鈥� 鈥� a geographic area that holds over half of the world鈥檚 lithium reserves. Meanwhile, Brazil has one-fifth of the global reserves of graphite, nickel, and manganese. 

Only a fraction of minerals in South American countries are currently accessible due to several complex and overlapping factors, such as a lack of investment, poor infrastructure, outdated geographical surveys, and location near fragile ecosystems or culturally significant Indigenous lands. Moreover, conflicts over mining are prevalent, with . In Chile, which hosts over 2.2 million Indigenous Peoples, many mining projects infringe on Indigenous lands. Additionally, the most resource-rich areas are often water-scarce and ecologically fragile, leading to conflicts over water shortage, pollution, and the disruption of Indigenous livelihoods.

As South American countries tap into the economic opportunities of the clean energy supply chain, they are beginning to implement new policies to protect their populations with the goal of rectifying the legacy of mining exploitation. Bolivia鈥檚 that natural resources belong exclusively to its people. In 2023, Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora proposed a with Argentina and Brazil to innovate energy storage solutions that 鈥渨ill make it possible to overcome the use of fossil fuels.鈥� Chile enacted mining tax reforms to increase contributions from copper and lithium producers. Chile鈥檚 Finance Minister Mario Marcel underscored that these reforms would from the mining industry. 

Ultimately, countries in South America seek pathways to economic prosperity that will uplift communities. Our partners at and are committed to realizing that vision. 

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asian countries are significant players in the global energy transition and mineral supply chain. Indonesia and the Philippines account for extraction, with Southeast Asia’s production of nickel, rare earth elements, and manganese doubling in recent years. Indonesia saw a staggering between 2015 and 2020. Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam also strive to , positioning themselves as emerging players in the sector.

Amid rising economic competition between the United States and China, Indonesia strategically on raw minerals, mandating domestic refinement before export. This move aims to enhance the value of these minerals, boost domestic manufacturing, and position Indonesia as a global leader in clean energy technology production. Despite facing legal challenges from international mining firms, Indonesia has succeeded in growing its domestic refining processes.

For a country like Indonesia, growth in the minerals supply chain means a delicate balance between advancing energy transition goals, driving economic development, and protecting its rich biodiversity alongside the rights of local and Indigenous communities. Across the region, however, rapid development is outpacing regulatory progress, underscoring an urgent need for stronger platforms and capacity for civil society to engage with government and industry on critical issues like human rights, environmental integrity, and the welfare of communities affected by mining.

Amid Southeast Asia鈥檚 unique journey on minerals, developing a responsible supply chain in sync with economic development remains a critical priority for achieving success. In Indonesia, our partners at are working to identify a multi-faceted strategy with an eye toward 亚色影库 and sustainable development.  

If we act now, we can build a responsible mineral supply

The clean energy transition offers an unprecedented opportunity for global collaboration and cooperation on a scale the world has never seen. However, to truly succeed, countries and communities in Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia 鈥� especially those historically exploited by mining and sidelined in policymaking 鈥� must be at the forefront of shaping the global energy transition. Climate solutions must advance their interests, uplift their aspirations, and reflect their realities 鈥� without overlooking their unique history, perspectives, and needs. 

The future of mineral supply must be built with a deep commitment to responsible mining practices that safeguard human rights, protect ecosystems and biodiversity, and ensure economic benefits flow directly to the communities where these resources are found 鈥� ultimately to help secure a just, inclusive, and sustainable future for all.

Amid another year of deadly storms and record heat waves, there is a shrinking window of time left for investing in our ability to withstand and recover from 亚色影库 shocks.

Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the United States and in Spain aren鈥檛 like the hurricanes of past generations 鈥� they are harbingers of a planet in crisis. Earlier this year, Cyclone Remal displaced nearly 1 million people in Bangladesh and India, floods in Kenya and Tanzania claimed over 225 lives, and Brazil鈥檚 Rio Grande do Sul experienced its worst flooding in over 80 years. Meanwhile, record heat waves in the Philippines and Thailand are sparking urgent health concerns for students, workers, and the aging population. 

These extreme weather events are not isolated catastrophes. Driven by 亚色影库 change, they intensify rapidly and are stronger and more frequent. They are a reminder that 亚色影库 change is not a distant threat; it is here now and worsening with each passing day. 

Conversations about addressing the 亚色影库 crisis often focus on cutting emissions, on beating the clock before our 鈥渃arbon budget鈥� runs out. The same is true for adaptation and resilience. The world is racing against a closing window of time 鈥� an 鈥渁daptation budget,鈥� if you will 鈥� for investing in the ability of communities around the world to withstand and recover from 亚色影库 shocks.  

Failure to act boldly means a future of escalating loss and damage, leaving communities exposed and vulnerable to the next wave of catastrophic events. Seized by this imperative to act, a diverse group of philanthropic funders from around the world has banded together to help catalyze investment in 亚色影库 adaptation and resilience. Now is the time for funders to join the effort before the window of opportunity closes.

Escalating 亚色影库 catastrophes demand immediate action

Within 24 hours, Hurricane Milton intensified to a Category 5 storm, slamming Florida with winds . Warmer waters due to rising global temperatures (driven by 亚色影库 change) supercharge storms, enabling them to intensify with alarming speed. This dangerous trend gives communities less time to prepare, as Floridians learned when Milton made landfall just 13 days after Hurricane Helene devastated the region 鈥� .

The damage goes far beyond physical destruction. Loss of lives and livelihoods, displacement, food and water shortages, economic collapse, and rising health risks like malaria and dengue compound the suffering, especially for low-income families, people with disabilities, the aging population, and other communities vulnerable to 亚色影库 impacts.聽

These disasters only deepen existing inequalities, amplifying the human cost of 亚色影库 change. 

In Bangladesh, families torn apart by Cyclone Remal are not only grappling with the loss of their homes, but they are also facing a future threatened by dwindling resources and uncertain recovery. 

Rapidly scale adaptation investments now before our window closes

Jim Skea, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), that at that current pace, global temperatures could increase by 3掳 C by 2100. To avoid catastrophic losses, philanthropy must immediately accelerate action and scale investments in adaptation and resilience.

鈥淔ailure to act boldly means a future of escalating loss and damage, leaving communities exposed and vulnerable to the next wave of catastrophic events.鈥�

Investing in adaptation and resilience isn’t just about minimizing damage 鈥� it鈥檚 about supporting communities and working to ensure they have the tools needed to survive and thrive in a rapidly changing world. These investments are essential for protecting the futures of workers and communities. Key areas for investment include:

• Financial protection for communities through for heat, drought, and flood events to help ensure quick recovery after 亚色影库 shocks. 
• Infrastructure upgrades in coastal and flood-prone areas, including stormwater and wastewater systems, resilient ports, permeable pavements, and natural buffer zones to safeguard against rising seas and extreme weather.
• Climate-smart agriculture that uses drought-resistant seeds and sustainable farming practices to secure global food systems and protect farmers from increasing 亚色影库 unpredictability.
• Advanced 亚色影库 risk modeling and forecasting tools to , , and investors make informed decisions in a rapidly changing 亚色影库.

However, current funding is grossly inadequate. that only $76 billion USD was invested in adaptation and resilience across all countries in 2022. For comparison, 鈥� latest findings show that adaptation financing needs in developing countries alone are nearly $400 billion per year.

The leave no room for ambiguity: without a massive increase in support for 亚色影库 adaptation and resilience, the world will face far greater economic loss and human suffering. The International Chamber of Commerce that extreme weather events between 2014 and 2023 cost $2 trillion for countries around the world, a number roughly in line with the 2008 global financial crisis. For low- and middle-income countries, the consequences will be catastrophic, worsening poverty, inequality, and displacement.

Philanthropy mobilizes to help prevent a world of loss and damage

The world is struggling to close the adaptation finance gap against a shrinking window of opportunity. Philanthropy can step up and play a unique role 鈥� not just as a funder but as a catalyst to unlock public and private funding.

Convened by 亚色影库, 21 leading philanthropic funders issued a call to action at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, sounding an alarm on the need to scale up adaptation investments without delay.

鈥淭he United Nations鈥� latest findings show that adaptation financing needs in developing countries alone are nearly $400 billion per year.鈥�

The call to action led to the formation of the Adaptation and Resilience Collaborative for Funders (ARC), which has grown to a diverse group of over 60 philanthropies from five continents that fund across various issue areas. Throughout 2024, ARC hosted funder learning sessions to inform, mobilize, and identify opportunities for collaboration. In July, the collaborative responded to the UN call to action on extreme heat by investing an initial $50 million in 亚色影库 adaptation and resilience efforts. 

At COP29 in Baku, ARC released a , enhancing transparency and highlighting the opportunity to scale support. The analysis revealed at least in 2023, with a projection of between $650 million and $700 million in 2024. These projections likely underestimate philanthropic support, which can be challenging to measure due to the cross-cutting nature of adaptation funding. Despite the likely underestimation, we know philanthropy needs to do more to scale its support.

We are energized by the response to the funder’s call to action and the growth of the collaborative over the last year 鈥� and we鈥檙e rolling up our sleeves. Guided by a shared vision, we are now developing an overarching strategy for philanthropy that includes creating a multi-donor adaptation fund to ensure that workers and communities have the means to adapt, survive, and thrive in the face of an increasingly volatile 亚色影库.

For more information, funders can reach out to adaptation@亚色影库works.org to learn more and get involved. 

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is navigating ways to turn its net-zero commitments into action.

In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) took a historic step by in the shipping sector by around 2050. This goal represents a transformative shift for one of the world鈥檚 most polluting sectors, offering an opportunity to reduce environmental harm while delivering benefits for communities worldwide.

The IMO鈥檚 Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) convened in London from September 30 to October 4, 2024. At the meeting, IMO member states and other participants focused on advancing new policy measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in shipping.

The IMO鈥檚 current discussions now center on how to turn its ambitious commitment into action, with proposals including a Global Fuel Standard (GFS), a carbon levy, and tighter efficiency standards. Climate advocates (including ClimateWorks grantee partners) and some country governments have championed a combination of these measures 鈥� which, if set at ambitious levels, can help ensure a timely and just transition for the shipping sector. Below are the key outcomes from the IMO meetings:

1. Widespread support for a carbon levy

More countries have voiced support for robust carbon pricing 鈥� including representatives from Africa, Pacific Island countries, the Caribbean, and the European Union, as well as from other 亚色影库-vulnerable countries. A carbon levy would discourage polluting fuels while generating revenue to fund a just transition, particularly to support 亚色影库-vulnerable regions on cleaner energy adoption.

2. Majority backing for a fuel standard and carbon levy combination

A clear majority now supports combining a global fuel standard with a carbon levy. This dual approach is critical because it accelerates the shift to cleaner shipping technologies while raising the necessary funds to support countries in making this transition. Climate advocates have prioritized the alignment of these two measures to help ensure that emissions reduction efforts are paired with meaningful financial mechanisms.

3. Full life-cycle emission accounting gains ground

A significant topic of discussion at the latest IMO meeting was the growing support for accounting for fuel emissions across their entire life cycle, from extraction to use. This holistic approach is essential as it helps ensure accurate accounting for the full environmental impact of fuels like liquified natural gas (LNG) and unsustainable biofuels. Such accounting practices would help hold the industry to higher environmental standards.

4. Stronger “strive” targets gain traction

A majority of relevant parties are now focusing on the higher 鈥渟trive鈥� targets set in the 2023 IMO strategy, which aims to set a more ambitious bar for fuel standards. These targets are critical in ensuring that the shipping sector makes faster progress in cutting emissions. Tougher targets mean stricter regulations on the types of fuels ships can use, which will push the industry toward adopting greener technologies and practices at a faster pace.

5. Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) Review

The recent IMO meeting included discussions on the review process for the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), a key efficiency measure for the shipping sector. While the review will be divided into two phases and falls short of an immediate and ambitious overhaul, it leaves the door open for a deeper revision in the future. Keeping the option of stronger efficiency standards on the table is crucial for ensuring that the shipping sector continues to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

6. Expansion of emission control areas (ECAs)

The IMO adopted two new emission control areas (ECAs) in the Canadian Arctic and Norwegian Sea, and there was support for a potential North Atlantic ECA, which could be formally proposed at the next meeting. ECAs require the use of fuels that limit harmful emissions such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter. These areas are critical for protecting both the environment and public health in sensitive regions, especially where Arctic ecosystems and communities are at risk.

While these are all encouraging developments, the outcomes of the IMO鈥檚 efforts will hinge on the final round of negotiations in April 2025. Discussions at the session will focus on the implementation of a price on GHG emissions, the establishment of a global fuel standard, and the enhancement of vessel efficiency standards.

In other words, everything is still on the table and critical decisions are yet to be made. Nonetheless, the momentum built during the recent discussions provides a hopeful signal that shipping, a vital but highly polluting industry, can transition to net-zero emissions in a way that supports people and the planet.

The clean energy transition must avoid replicating the exploitative mining practices of fossil fuel companies and other extractive industries.

The rapidly accelerating global energy transition requires minerals to produce core components of electric transportation and clean energy technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels, and batteries. These minerals, including nickel, graphite, cobalt, copper, and lithium, among others, are found in various regions around the world 鈥� such as South America鈥檚 鈥渓ithium triangle,鈥� the varied mineral wealth of the Congo, and half the world鈥檚 nickel supply in Indonesia. 

The energy transition presents a unique opportunity to reshape mineral supply dynamics so that mining contributes to resilient, prosperous, and healthy communities. However, Indigenous Peoples and communities around the world have suffered from the consequences of irresponsible mining, such as deepening inequality, rising conflicts, and environmental degradation. A responsible mineral supply chain is necessary to help rebuild broken trust and ensure the energy transition does not replicate unjust and exploitative mining practices. 

At ClimateWorks, we are actively seeking the insights and aspirations of our local partners around the globe to shape our collective effort to build a responsible mineral supply. Recently, I spoke with two regional leaders 鈥� Davidzo Muchawaya based in South Africa, and Pochoy P. Labog based in Indonesia 鈥� to gain their unique perspectives on the legacy of mining and their hopes for the clean energy transition. 

Davidzo is the Africa Regional Lead for the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), an organization that sets a globally recognized, rigorous, and best practice standard for the mining industry. Pochoy is the Southeast Asia Researcher and Representative with the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), which monitors the human rights impacts of more than 10,000 companies worldwide. 

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

What is your organization鈥檚 role within the broader ecosystem of organizations working on minerals in your regions? How do you collaborate?

Davidzo Muchawaya: IRMA is three things. It is a voluntary best practice mining standards and a process for independently measuring mines鈥� performance against that standard. It is also an organization overseeing the standard and measurement processes with representatives of affected stakeholder groups equally governing us: mining, purchasers, finance, organized labor, advocacy NGOs, impacted communities, and Indigenous rights holders. IRMA鈥檚 contribution to broader collaboration stems from our focus on capacity building among our stakeholders to help them better understand how to use our tools. We engage stakeholders, including the BHRRC, through regular outreach about engagement on mining issues and upcoming audits. 

As a regional lead in Africa, I engage with civic organizations, impacted communities, organized labor, and other groups and regularly solicit feedback on our audit system and tools. IRMA鈥檚 vision is a world where the mining industry respects human rights, provides safe and healthy working conditions, minimizes environmental harm, and leaves positive legacies.

Pochoy P. Labog: BHRRC is an international non-governmental organization established in 2002. Our work combines local and global action, focusing on natural resources, labor, and technology. We support local actors in their struggles for justice while taking grassroots concerns internationally and working to drive systemic change. We monitor the human rights impacts of more than 10,000 companies worldwide. 

To monitor mining companies, we reach out to see if companies would like to respond to any of our allegations before we publish our findings. We present our research fairly and often get a reasonable response rate from businesses that want to increase their social capital and be seen as respecting rights. 

What is the discourse on minerals for the energy transition in your regions? 

Muchawaya: The discourse on energy transition minerals across Africa is urgent and complex. While the discussion about conflict minerals has been going on for years, the accelerating energy transition has spotlighted the negative impacts of extracting minerals needed for the energy transition, and how to justly source them going forward. These minerals include cobalt, lithium, graphite, and copper deposits. Dominant themes for mining companies, host communities, and organized labor include human rights abuses, workers鈥� rights issues, and environmental harms. There are documented examples of these concerns in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique to mention a few. 

Today, we鈥檙e hearing more talk from mining companies about protecting local communities and prioritizing environmental protection while creating decent jobs, inclusive growth, and positive legacies 鈥� a significant shift from an industry that鈥檚 negatively impacted people and the environment in Africa. IRMA exists in part to transform that talk into meaningful action.

Labog: In my opinion, the current discussions about just transition have not adequately addressed the issue of mining. Only recently have human rights and 亚色影库 organizations started to discuss a just transition that includes mineral sourcing and mining. When we talk about governments and businesses, they see the transition to renewable energy and mining minerals as revenue-generating opportunities. 

Indonesia, a key country for nickel processing, wants to be the leading global supplier of electric vehicles. The Philippines intends to follow the Indonesian model, particularly in encouraging nickel processing. Meanwhile, Myanmar is rich in heavy rare earth elements that are vital ingredients for the magnets used in electric vehicles and wind turbines. These mines are highly unregulated due to the country鈥檚 military rule, and the ongoing conflict exacerbates their impacts.

What are the critical mining challenges in your regions, what are the underlying causes, and what are the barriers to addressing them? 

Muchawaya: The first challenge that comes to mind is the inconsistency in enforcing existing regulations. Modern mining is growing more complex as it rapidly scales to meet the demand for minerals. Legislation often falls far behind the complexities of mining, and governments can find it challenging to match the rate at which the industry is evolving. This is why advocacy is essential in pushing governments to act and improve mining industry practices. 

In Africa, governments sometimes face challenges in implementing and updating laws effectively. That鈥檚 where the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining and assessment process can help. Through the public release of IRMA audit reports 鈥� which independently assess mines鈥� performance against the best practice IRMA Standard 鈥� we create unprecedented transparency about mining operations. We provide valuable information for companies to make their mines more responsible, for purchasers and investors to make better decisions about where to buy and invest, and for communities and civil society to work with governments to improve oversight. IRMA is a voluntary standard that can show governments a better way, but it is no substitute for government oversight that provides true accountability.

Labog: Mining is considered a revenue-generating activity, often at the expense of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. We see this in Southeast Asia, where government regulations are relaxed or not thoughtfully implemented. Indonesia, which has a Just Energy Transition Partnership, is processing nickel using smelters powered by coal plants. Because of the focus on profit, civil society organizations that advocate for impacted communities are threatened with lawsuits or imprisoned, particularly in less democratic spaces like Vietnam. 

The issue of jurisdiction is often vague in Indonesia, while mining interests frequently undermine the agency mandated to protect Indigenous Rights in the Philippines. These challenges lead to uncertainty about who permits a mine. Consequently, Indigenous Peoples and other affected communities are often left out of the decision-making process. To address this pressing challenge, governments must urgently implement regulations that empower affected communities with more decision-making power and ensure the protection of human rights and the environment. Simultaneously, the business sector must increase its due diligence and transparency to exert pressure on companies and their investors while respecting rights across their supply chains.

What can contribute to stronger advocacy for responsible mining and supply chains?

Muchawaya: We need to focus on the communities that bear the brunt of mining impacts. They are telling us they must build their expertise and capacity to engage effectively with the mining operations in their midst and different sectors. Funding is necessary for research and legal representation to sustain their advocacy and campaign initiatives. IRMA supports these communities and civil society by developing tools that help them engage with mining sites effectively, particularly audit reports, which give them an independent auditor鈥檚 opinion about how a mine scores against the 400+ requirements in the IRMA Standard. And perhaps even more importantly, why the auditor gave the mine the scores on each requirement. 

Labog: I agree with Davidzo that we need to build the capacity of local organizations and establish evidence through research that enables them to influence policymakers and companies. We must also increase support for advocacy efforts that map supply chains from the ground up in partnership with local civil society organizations.

How can philanthropy support efforts for responsible mining?

Muchawaya: Philanthropy can help fund critical initiatives and develop new technologies to monitor mining activities to support transparency and accountability. With funding from USAID through the Just Energy Transition Green Minerals Challenge, we鈥檙e working with NGOs, affected communities, and labor groups to create at least three new tools to help communities and workers access IRMA tools and audit reports, enhance accountability and transparency in the mining sector, and add to the measures that are being put in place to reduce harm.  

Labog: Philanthropy can help fund legal assistance to access remedies. Filing cases in many countries is complex, and funding for this work is insufficient. One of the cases we won in the Philippines took 20 years. That鈥檚 why extraterritorial laws are so important. Taking on companies in their home countries would be a significant step toward addressing the human rights impacts of mining.

What is your vision for mining in your region and what are the most significant opportunities for responsible mining?

Muchawaya: My vision for mining in Africa is an industry that profoundly respects human rights and the aspirations and needs of communities 鈥� one that provides safe, healthy, and supportive workplaces, minimizes harm, leaves positive legacies, and equitably distributes the benefits of mining to local communities and workers. This vision might seem far-fetched, but it鈥檚 achievable if governments, labor organizations, mining companies, civil society, and stakeholders work together. 

One central element to that vision is robust stakeholder engagement, where impacted communities are not just consulted when mining is operational but are integral to the design and planning process. It is crucial that the needs and aspirations of communities shape how and when mining takes place. I鈥檇 also like to see grievance mechanisms that are effective in remediating harm caused by operations.

Labog: With the renewable energy transition, I鈥檓 reminded that most carbon emissions come from wealthy countries while most transition metals are found in the Global South. We must seize the moment to ensure that the energy transition moves away from the legacy of extraction that has deepened inequality.  

BHRRC has core principles like shared prosperity. We envision business models that drive the clean energy transition in a way that works for our communities, with workers鈥� rights as a critical component. Governments and companies must shield workers and communities from harm and minimize human rights and environmental risks. We also need fair negotiations that bring impacted communities to the table throughout the operational life cycle with free, prior, and informed consent.

Now is the time to drive 亚色影库 action that helps build healthy, resilient, and thriving communities today and for generations to come.

This year at , global leaders from across business, government, and civil society will converge to share information, challenge the status quo, and advance bold ideas on 亚色影库.

Today, 亚色影库 action is an engine that drives sustainable development and strengthens economies. Now is the time to push for ambitious 亚色影库 action that centers people, improves public health, and saves lives.

亚色影库 helps philanthropy drive change by collaborating with implementing partners from around the world to advance transformative 亚色影库 solutions that benefit people and the planet. From September 22 to 29, 2024, ClimateWorks will join a vast network of change-making partners in New York for Climate Week to listen, lead, and participate in a variety of Climate Week sessions. Below, we highlight a selection of events that we recommend following 鈥� whether you鈥檙e attending in person or participating online.

ClimateWorks and partners at Climate Week:

Opening Ceremony

Sunday, Sept 22; 1:00 PM 鈥� 6:00 PM EDT 鈥�

The Opening Ceremony launches Climate Week NYC each year and is attended by hundreds of world-leading politicians, business executives, and civil society representatives. They鈥檒l share their global outlook on driving 亚色影库 action and igniting progress through engaging interviews, discussions, and major announcements. The live-streamed event is free and open to all and will feature multiple members of our community including Jessica Anderen, the CEO of IKEA Foundation, in a discussion about ClimateWorks鈥� Drive Electric Campaign .

Strengthening Civic Engagement and Public Institutions for the Common Good

Monday, Sept 23; 9:00 AM 鈥� 10:30 AM EDT 鈥�

2024 is a pivotal year. Nearly half the world鈥檚 population is headed to the polls for national elections. The results will have a significant impact on civic space, governance, and the role of institutions for years to come. However, as essential as elections are to build a just and inclusive society, they are a blunt and episodic tool. Looking beyond the election year, how can we redefine the relationship between ordinary citizens and public institutions 鈥� from one of fear or disaffection to one of hope and engagement? What does it take to defend democratic norms and processes in a time of closing civic space and rising mistrust in public institutions? What is the local and global infrastructure we need to deepen democracy?

We invite you to join a forward-looking dialogue with leaders on the frontlines of protecting and strengthening democracy. We will look at how civil society engages with state institutions, strategies that work to reimagine the relationship, and concrete ways to strengthen movements for justice and democracy.

Hosted by Namati

Donors Collaborative In-person Workshop

Monday, Sept 23; 9:00 AM 鈥� 11:00 AM EDT

This annual workshop offers a unique chance to discover Youth Climate Justice Fund鈥檚 (YCJF) impactful efforts, engage with a vibrant community of over 15 funders, as well as exchange insights and best practices on supporting youth-led socio-environmental initiatives. 

Hosted by Youth Climate Justice Fund

A Digital Backbone for Climate Data: A Collaborative Summit

Monday, Sept 23; 9:00 AM 鈥� 1:00 PM EDT 鈥�

The lack of useful, publicly available data is a major roadblock holding back 亚色影库 action. For example, after 20 years of 亚色影库 action, cities cannot make sense of their progress or promising trends based on their data. Access to finance, coordinated multilateral action, and communicating progress all rely on access to data and information that is able to be combined together for insights. ClimateWorks鈥� Jean-Charles Seghers will moderate a panel.

Hosted by Climate Champions Team

Enlisting Sunlight in the Fight Against Climate Change

Monday, Sept 23; 9:00 AM 鈥� 1:00 PM EDT 鈥�

Climate Resolve is hosting a breakthrough event on the global and local benefits of deploying cool surfaces (roofs, walls, and pavement). 鈥淓nlisting Sunlight in the Fight Against Climate Change鈥� will cover the potential for cool surface deployment in our built environment to (1) improve the Earth鈥檚 global energy budget by reflecting sunlight back to space, mitigating the greenhouse effect; and (2) protect public health by cooling temperatures at the local scale, lessening the urban heat island effect. Axum Teferra, ClimateWorks鈥� Senior Associate Director of the Clean Cooling Collaborative, will moderate a panel.

Hosted by Climate Resolve

Just Bumps in the Road? 鈥� How Can Leadership in EVs Smooth the Transition to Clean Transport

Monday, Sept 23; 3:00 PM 鈥� 4:00 PM EDT 鈥�

While electric vehicles are on the rise globally, the fastest growth is in places with strong and clear government policies. Communities in emerging markets across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia are already experiencing these benefits thanks to innovative business models and ambitious government commitments to clean vehicles of all kinds. 

This event, part of Climate Week鈥檚 The Hub Live, will include Drive Electric Campaign Director Rebecca Fisher speaking to how the Leapfrogging Partnership works with regional and local leaders to enable strong government policies that can close the gap between leading and emerging markets, supercharging the shift to zero-emissions transport.

Hosted by The Climate Group, sponsored by ClimateWorks鈥� Drive Electric Campaign

Mobilizing Financing for Electric Two- and Three-Wheelers

Monday, Sept 23; 4:00 PM 鈥� 6:00 PM EDT 鈥�

This event gathers stakeholders such as multilateral development banks (MDBs), philanthropists, corporate fleet platforms, regional financiers, and creditors to identify ways to mobilize financing for the electric two- and three-wheeler (e2/3W) transition. It explores financing solutions to increase the supply of e2/3Ws for all purposes including high mileage rideshare and cargo use and examines how innovative financing can reduce costs for e2/3W consumers. Discussions highlight pioneering financial approaches to make e2/3Ws more affordable and readily available, emphasizing the roles of stakeholders in driving investment and supporting the electric mobility transition. They also focus on involving local financiers to create lasting solutions and manage currency risk effectively. The insights gained aim to inform policymaking and the development of financial products to expand the supply and demand for e2/3Ws.

Hosted by RMI and Uber

Accelerating the partnerships between Sovereign Wealth Funds, institutional investors and governments on clean energy and transition

Monday, Sept 23; 8:30 AM 鈥� 10 AM EDT

The session, anchored by ClimateWorks, One Planet Sovereign Wealth Funds and hosted by Mubadala Investment Company, will explore how sovereign wealth funds (SWFs) and patient capital pools can better engage with governments to foster partnerships for implementing clean energy and sustainable project roadmaps, as well as capacity development. 

The convening aims to strengthen the renewable energy ecosystem by showcasing case studies of successful project development and policy reforms in emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) that have facilitated private capital deployment. Critical discussions will focus on enabling best in class policy development, bankability, and investment needs of both investors and governments to advance the formation and implementation of vital renewable energy and sustainable projects.

Stocktake on Just Transition: How is South Africa Doing?

Tuesday, Sept 24; 8:00 AM 鈥� 10:00 PM EDT

This is a funder-focused panel and discussion on meaningful progress and emergent challenges on just transition planning and implementation in South Africa followed by an exploration of the potential pathways for philanthropy to support success in South Africa鈥檚 just transition efforts.

Hosted by ClimateWorks and the Ford Foundation

RMI at Climate Week NYC: It鈥檚 Time to Re-Energize

Tuesday, Sept 24; 8:45 AM 鈥� 3:15 PM EDT 鈥�

Four story-sharing sessions will be held: how the private sector, in partnership with RMI, is leading 亚色影库 action; how slashing methane can solve short-term 亚色影库 goals; how communities in the United States are benefiting from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA); and how we can change hearts and minds in the fight against 亚色影库 change. This dynamic program will feature RMI experts and partners from across industry, government, philanthropy, and community-based organizations.

Hosted by RMI

Trade and Climate: Scanning the Horizon for Emerging Geopolitical Signals

Tuesday, Sept 24; 9:00 AM 鈥� 12:00 PM EDT

This event will explore recent findings at the intersection of trade and 亚色影库 (including topics such as the impacts of tariffs, investment treaties, and imported emissions) and how geopolitical dynamics are shaping and shifting the landscape of international trade. Attendees will have the opportunity to dive deeper into the implications of emerging geopolitical signals of change on a handful of trade-related topics in small groups.

Hosted by ClimateWorks and European Climate Foundation

Launch celebration: Whose planet? The 亚色影库 justice podcast

Tuesday, Sept 24; 11:00 AM 鈥� 12:00 PM EDT 鈥�

Systemic Justice and Greenpeace Netherlands are excited to invite you to the launch celebration of a new podcast series, 鈥淲hose planet? The 亚色影库 justice podcast.鈥�

At the event, we will bring together community activists, thought leaders, and the voices featured in the podcast to discuss the urgent issue of 亚色影库 justice. The series centers on Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour perspectives, highlighting how those most affected by 亚色影库 harms are leading the fight for a just and equitable future. The event will also be live-streamed; English captioning, BSL, ASL, and French and Spanish interpretation will be available. 

Hosted by Systemic Justice and Greenpeace Netherlands

Grid Development 鈥� The Hidden Priority for Charging Infrastructure Deployment

Tuesday, Sept 24; 11:00 AM 鈥� 12:00 PM EDT 鈥�

Reliable charging infrastructure networks are the lifeblood of EVs. As the global transition to clean transportation gathers pace, it鈥檚 imperative that we focus on and invest in energy grids to ensure they develop at the same rate and can power the ever-growing number of EVs on the road. 

This session will ask what coordination, planning, and investments are needed to address the challenges many regions are already experiencing as they build out charging infrastructure.

Hosted by The Climate Group

Hot Financing-Cool Investment: A timely conversation on sustainable cooling finance for Southeast Asia

Tuesday, September 24; 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EDT

This lunch roundtable provides a current look at the status and opportunities for financing sustainable cooling in Southeast Asia. We will share findings from a recent cooling finance 鈥減ulse check鈥� from the investment community and hear from investors about promising financial products and technologies that can help scale sustainable cooling.

Hosted by ClimateWorks and Climate Resilience for All (CRA)

Adaptation and Resilience Funder Collaborative Convening

Tuesday, Sept 24; 12:00 PM 鈥� 4:30 PM EDT

Part 1 will spotlight partners to showcase success stories and engage funders on key issues. This will include a facilitated discussion and a presentation showing common threads across sectors like heat, water, health, and migration. Part 2 will then be a presentation of the Adaptation and Resilience strategy final draft, in collaboration with Dalberg, to receive feedback and buy-in. ClimateWorks鈥� President and CEO Helen Mountford will be a featured speaker.

Hosted by ClimateWorks

From Local to Global: Enhancing NDCs through subnational action

Tuesday, Sept 24; 1:00 PM 鈥� 2:30 PM EDT

The period between Climate Week NYC and COP29 represents the last chance to exert pressure to ratchet the ambition of the next round of NDCs, due in early 2025. Climate Group, as Secretariat to the Under2 Coalition, mobilizes over 200 of the world鈥檚 most ambitious subnational governments from across 35 countries. These states and regions are commonly raising the bar for 亚色影库 action in advance of the pace of their respective national governments. Advocating for their strong role 鈥� and harnessing their jurisdictional powers on critical systems such as energy, transport, industry, and agriculture 鈥� can provide stimulus for national governments to increase their ambition via the 2035 NDCs and drive towards 60% in global emissions reductions by 2035.

ClimateWorks and The Climate Group will host a high-level roundtable session, with a particular focus on convening select high-ambition states and regions from target countries including Brazil, the United States, India, Australia, and China, alongside hand-picked corporates from key industrial sectors. The aim of the discussion will be to draw out examples of high ambition, alongside key asks to national governments and advocacy strategies that can be implemented in the short window between Climate Week NYC and the NDC submissions in February 2025.

Hosted by ClimateWorks and The Climate Group

Charging Ahead: Global Strategies for Bus Electrification

Tuesday, Sept 24; 3:00 PM 鈥� 7:30 PM EDT 鈥�

By getting drivers out of cars and into reliable, all-electric bus systems, cities can lower housing and transport costs for residents, cut pollution, enhance livability, promote equity, and limit global heating. At this event, policymakers, sustainable transportation experts, and 亚色影库 funders will share how they collaborate to overcome political, financial, and technological challenges. The event will include inspiring stories from Asia, Latin America, Africa, and North America, where electric bus systems are effectively cutting carbon emissions while delivering affordable, accessible, world-class transportation to rapidly growing cities, charting the path to electric transport for all.

Hosted by Crux Alliance, ICCT, ITDP, NY Climate Exchange, Aspen Global Change Institute, Regulatory Assistance Project, ClimateWorks鈥� Drive Electric Campaign

Big Meat and Dairy narratives to derail 亚色影库 action: can you tell fake from fact?

Tuesday, Sept 24; 3:30 PM 鈥� 4:30 PM EDT 鈥�

Join us for our eye-opening event at New York Climate Week, taking place at Pier Sixty, Pier 60 Chelsea Piers New York, NY 10011. Learn from our expert panel about the narratives that Big Meat and Dairy want you to believe to maintain the status quo. Can you separate fake from fact? Let’s dive in and uncover the truth together.

Hosted by Changing Markets Foundation

Truck Stop Truth Sandwich: Serving Electric by 2035

Tuesday, Sept 24; 4:30 PM 鈥� 6:30 PM EDT 鈥�

You’re invited to take a bite out of electric truck myths at Climate Week 2024 in NYC! While big trucks make up just 10% of the vehicles on the road, they account for more than 25% of 亚色影库 pollution in the transportation sector. Latino/e communities and other communities of color often bear disproportionate impacts of exposure to air pollution. With the industry doing its best to push misinformation about truck electrification, GreenLatinos is using a new messaging strategy to compile an infographic report that serves up the facts 鈥� truth sandwiches! See how they address misinformation without unintentionally furthering its spread.

Hosted by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation and CLUA

Plant-Powered: How Leading Retailers and Brands are Leaning Into Plant-Based to Achieve Climate Goals

Tuesday, Sept 24; 5:00 PM 鈥� 6:00 PM EDT 鈥�

Madre Brava and the Plant Based Foods Association will curate a conversation focused on how leading brands and retailers are playing a central role in catalyzing the protein transition. By leaning into plant-based to leverage their sustainability goals, leading companies are supporting a shift in consumer demand towards more plants and less animal proteins. During this panel discussion, leading representatives and civil society advocates will discuss the successes and challenges in implementing plant-forward strategies, innovations in the market and how we can continue to raise the ambition amongst private sector champions of the protein transition.

Hosted by The Plant Based Foods Association and Madre Brava

Leveraging Defaults & Narrative Change for Climate and Health

Tuesday, Sept 24; 5:00 PM 鈥� 6:30 PM EDT 鈥�

Join us to hear from representatives from Food for Climate League (FCL), Greener by Default (GBD), the New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, and Good Eating Company (GEC) of Sodexo talk about small changes that have an outsized impact on eater health and sustainability. Hear from panelists who will review real-world case studies that illustrate the transformative potential of choice architecture and narrative as tactics to reduce carbon emissions and improve public health, all while serving tasty meals that continue to delight eaters.

Hosted by Food for Climate League (FCL), Greener by Default (GBD), the New York City Mayor’s Office of Food Policy, and Good Eating Company (GEC) of Sodexo

Mapping Engagement Opportunities in the Corporate Political Responsibility Space 

Wednesday, Sept 25; 8:45 AM 鈥� 1:00 PM EDT

Companies, including investors, are critical actors in the policy-making process, including on 亚色影库 change and wider sustainability issues. This session will bring together over 50 partners and funders to explore key opportunities to collaborate and leverage work on corporate political responsibility, as part of wider efforts on corporate accountability for 亚色影库 action. Discussions will focus on data and information needs, the role of regulation and other levers for accountability, and opportunities to shift trade and industry associations.

Hosted by ClimateWorks, Porticus, and KR Foundation

Road to Action 鈥� Towards Accelerated Truck Electrification

Wednesday, Sept 25; 9:00 AM 鈥� 12:00 PM EDT 鈥�

Truck electrification is one of the most effective strategies to decarbonize road freight. This session explores how stakeholders are joining forces in collaborative initiatives to accelerate vehicle supply, charging infrastructure, and finance, as well as explore current and upcoming opportunities for electric truck projects in various regions, including North America, Europe, China, and India. The conversation will also provide insights into the role of private sector involvement and policy leadership in advancing electric truck pilots globally.

Hosted by Smart Freight Centre

A closer look at the intersections of mitigation and adaptation and 亚色影库-proofing philanthropic strategies

Wednesday, Sept 25; 9:30 AM 鈥� 11:00 AM EDT

Up to this point, science, policy, and projects have separated 亚色影库 change mitigation efforts and 亚色影库 change adaptation and resilience efforts. However, the distinct lines that have been drawn between mitigation and adaptation/resilience are in many cases porous, and increasingly, ambitious 亚色影库 action requires more integration between the two. Furthermore, the science is clear that even with the most stringent mitigation efforts, we cannot avoid further impacts of 亚色影库 change in the next few decades, meaning that mitigation and adaptation/resilience funders alike will need to develop and implement strategies for a 亚色影库-impacted world. This funder-focused event aims to shift the narrative by highlighting work at the intersection of mitigation and adaptation/resilience and creating a space for funders to think about 亚色影库 action more holistically, where there are interconnected objectives and common themes. During this session, we will hear from several funders who are approaching dual-outcome work in different ways 鈥� from fully integrated strategies to developing strategies with co-benefits. We will also hear examples of projects with dual outcomes.

Hosted by ClimateWorks

Artivism and Climate Justice 鈥� A Global Conversation

Wednesday, Sept 25; 1:00 PM 鈥� 2:00 PM EDT

This event will showcase key insights from the recent in South Africa, focusing on the role of art, narrative, and storytelling in advancing 亚色影库 justice. The session will feature renowned activist Dr. Kumi Naidoo and explore how the power of arts and culture can address communication gaps between activists, frontline communities, and governments 鈥� ensuring the messages for change reach those most affected by the 亚色影库 crisis.

Hosted by ClimateWorks and Waverley Street Foundation

Collective for Clean Transport Finance 2024 C-Level and Investor鈥檚 Roundtable

Wednesday, Sept 25; 1:00 PM 鈥� 2:30 PM EDT

The roundtable will convene high-level public officials, corporate chief executive officers, and finance leaders who aspire to accelerate the adoption of clean transport technologies and infrastructure and familiarize themselves with investment opportunities in green road freight corridors in selected geographies. Special guests and others in the international community will participate in the conversation, helping to build the foundation for navigating present challenges and devising results-oriented and innovative solutions.

Hosted by The World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Remaking International Trade to Drive Climate Action

Wednesday, Sept 25; 2:15 PM 鈥� 3:15 PM EDT

As momentum builds for remaking the trading system as a critical point of policy leverage for 亚色影库 change progress, the Remaking Trade for a Sustainable Future Project invites you to a special Climate Week session regarding developments on trade system reform as sketched out in the Villars Framework for a Sustainable Global Trade System, Version 2.0. In the context of ongoing worldwide enthusiasm about this work, the emergence of the Biden Administration鈥檚 National Trade-Climate Task Force, and the convening of the 2024 Summit of the Future, we are looking forward to a lively discussion among the top trade-亚色影库 thought leaders, US government officials, and World Trade Organization leaders.

Hosted by Remaking Trade Project

BNEF Global Energy and Industry Event

Thursday, Sept 26; 9:00 AM 鈥� 12:00 PM EDT 鈥�

Join BloombergNEF鈥檚 event to discuss the future of US energy policy and pathways to decarbonization. You will hear from industry leaders, policymakers, financiers, and innovative thinkers as they dive into strategies to mobilize capital and accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions. This session will feature the launch of three exclusive research insights focused on scaling renewables, zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), and our US New Energy Outlook.

Hosted by Bloomberg NEF

From Global to Local Transition Analysis: The Next Step to Unlock Climate Action

Thursday, Sept 26; 10:00 AM 鈥� 12:00 PM EDT

To meet ambitious 亚色影库 targets, we need localized and granular transition analysis. While many parts of the world are suffering from extreme heat and drought, others are threatened by devastating flooding. The transition to a 亚色影库-resilient future is a global challenge, but action needs to be localized to ensure impact. This workshop will focus on addressing four interconnected challenges in localizing 亚色影库 transition assessment: local pathways, analysis based on asset-level and value chain data, deployment of 亚色影库 solutions metrics, and integration of physical risk and resilience. We will also zoom in on key sectors that are wrestling with all four of these issues (among others), including food, land, and agriculture. The goal will be to come up with a clear understanding of what is needed to solve these challenges in an integrated way and the types of capacity and investment needed to make this a reality.

Hosted by ClimateWorks and ClimateArc

Eyes on the Electric Road: Corporate EV Alliance Stakeholder Workshop

Thursday, Sept 26; 1:00 PM 鈥� 2:50 PM EDT 鈥�

This session will discuss the status of corporate fleet electrification and charging infrastructure build-out in the United States with stakeholders in the EV industry, including members of the Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance (CEVA) and representatives from the power sector and original equipment manufacturers.

In a panel discussion and breakout groups, participants will discuss the status of corporate fleet electrification and charging infrastructure build-out in the United States, identify and workshop solutions for existing market hurdles to an accelerated EV transition, and explore policy and regulatory wins, including taking advantage of the historic EV incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act.

Hosted by Ceres

Transparency in Motion: Holding Automakers Accountable for Responsible Policy Engagement

Thursday, Sept 26; 3:05 PM 鈥� 5:00 PM EDT 鈥�

While most companies in the transportation sector and other high-emitting sectors have publicly committed to supporting Paris-aligned 亚色影库 policies, Ceres鈥� research shows that they have engaged in lobbying practices and through their trade associations that have undercut supply-side regulations. The good news is some automakers are beginning to hold their trade associations accountable while more investors hold companies to their 亚色影库 lobbying practices. In this session, participants will explore this growing accountability trend and examine the recent actions of companies to hold their associations accountable. 

Hosted by Ceres

G20 Brazil to South Africa philanthropic approach to 亚色影库 action: funders and partners G20 coordination meeting

Friday, Sept 25; 8:00 AM 鈥� 10:00 AM EDT

In this session, we will brief funders and partners on ongoing cooperation between the African Climate Foundation, 亚色影库, and Instituto Clima e Sociedade, share and seek feedback on the strategy to support the incoming South African G20 Presidency (including delivery mechanism/governance and coordination), discuss plans for continued philanthropic engagement and coordination on G20, and discuss plans to link and support partners across the Presidencies.

Hosted by ClimateWorks, Instituto Clima e Sociedade, and Africa Climate Foundation

The Colombian-based cement manufacturer Cementos Argos wasn鈥檛 trying to start a revolution when they decided to do something novel at their new plant in Rio Claro 鈥� they were just responding to the results of a recent cost analysis. Demand for cement was forecasted to grow in Bogot谩 and Medell铆n due to planned development and infrastructure projects. “We needed to increase our production capacity,” recalls Daniel Duque, Future Tech Leader of Cementos Argos. There were two ways to do that. The first was to add a new production line to create more clinker, the glue that binds concrete, manufactured by heating limestone. The other was to experiment with a new material: calcined clay. 

Typically, a company like Argos would look to 鈥渟upplementary cementitious materials鈥� like fly ash (a byproduct of burning coal to produce electricity) or slag (a byproduct of steel production) to mix with clinker to make cement. However, those materials weren鈥檛 available nearby 鈥� and clay was. 

Argos ran a cost analysis and found that with calcined clay, 鈥渢he investment 鈥� for building a facility, new equipment, and operating expenses 鈥� was lower,鈥� Duque said. 

Cement is the most common building material in the world. Globally, some 鈥� cement combined with an aggregate such as gravel or crushed stone and sand 鈥� are produced annually. About half of this concrete is used for buildings and the other half for roads and infrastructure, and its use is increasing rapidly. 

The most common type of cement, Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), is currently responsible for about 8% of total global greenhouse gas emissions. As such, there is an urgent need to reduce emissions from cement production, but most existing methods are either expensive, too early in development, or both. However, the need for action is immediate, given that the Paris Agreement calls for a 50% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. 

As Argos discovered, making cement with calcined clay led not only to cost savings but also to a lower carbon footprint. In fact, relying on calcined clay could reduce cement emissions by 40% and help . For Argos, using calcined clay also helped address the shortage of slag and fly ash that resulted from limited supply.

Since construction was completed in April 2019, the Rio Claro plant has produced more than 2 million tons of cement 鈥� proving at scale that making cement with calcined clay is possible and practical. 鈥淭hey have built highways, bridges, tunnels, high-rise buildings, everything,鈥� said Fernando Martirena, Principal Consultant for the Swiss company , who provided an initial assessment of raw materials for Argos. 鈥淭hey have become a model.鈥�

A decades-long quest 

For Martirena, seeing the Rio Claro plant succeed was a milestone in a decades-long quest. 鈥淚t was a dream of mine to come up with a cement that was much more sustainable than the Portland cement,鈥� said Martirena, who had begun experimenting with clay and biomass as building materials for housing in Cuba in the 1990s. 鈥淭he idea was to develop a toolkit of technologies that could be implemented in developing countries.鈥� 

In the early 2000s, Martirena met Karen Scrivener, a materials scientist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) who now leads the with support from ClimateWorks. Together, Martirena and Scrivener carried out two projects funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Concretes made using calcined clay were not new 鈥� for example, they were used as fillers in the 1930s for the piers of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Until recently, high-purity, kaolinitic clays, which are scarce and expensive, were the only available material for commercial use.聽

In contrast, Martirena and Scrivener resolved to work with low-grade clays that can be found nearly everywhere in the world. Widespread availability was a crucial factor, as the goal was to make low-carbon concrete available in the places that need it most 鈥� and for over 1 billion people who are inadequately housed. In the coming decades, urbanization and population growth will further increase demand for housing and infrastructure 鈥� particularly in Asia and Africa, where the population is expected to . Unlike limestone, clays are widely available in all these regions.

Through their collaboration, Scrivener and Martirena experimented on various formulas for cement that led to a breakthrough of what is now called . Martinera recalls Scrivener saying, 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing here a novel system 鈥� a synergy between the alumina in the clays and the carbonates in the limestone.鈥�

After observing the clay and limestone reaction, Scrivener created a new formula 鈥� a combination of clinker, calcined clay, limestone, and gypsum 鈥� that made it possible to reduce the clinker content of cement to 50% and lower while maintaining its properties. At that moment, the pair understood they were on to something huge.  

Clinker is responsible for some from concrete production. The fuel needed to heat the limestone releases carbon dioxide (CO₂), and the chemical breakdown of lime when heated to high temperatures also yields pure CO₂. As a result, reducing clinker content is a hugely effective way to make cement greener. Calcined clay is also heated but at a lower temperature than clinker, requiring less fuel. And it does not rely on a carbon-releasing chemical reaction. 

In 2019, with funds from the Swiss Government and a Portuguese company, Martirena established a pilot plant in Cuba to do industrial tests of LC³. The lab is now a key asset for Technical Resource Centre Latin America (TRC Latin America) 鈥� which in turn was founded as a joint action of the LC³ Project with the goal of wider global reach 鈥� and provides samples for partners globally.

Tests have found that LC³ is better for the 亚色影库 and more economical to produce; it also has greater durability in marine 亚色影库s. In Cuba, Martirena鈥檚 team erected huge blocks of LC³ at an exposure site off the coast to see how they weather over time. 鈥淲e call it the torture chamber for concrete because you have a very high temperature, you have tidal wet/dry cycles in the day, you have hurricanes, you have everything you can think of,鈥� said Martirena. Each year, they drill cores to forecast durability, and results so far show superior performance.

LC^3听 is also less pervious than other concrete, which means that it absorbs less of the materials that typically cause concrete to degrade over time, like de-icing salt and water.

Laying the groundwork around the world for LC³

With the breakthrough achieved in creating LC³, the next step was to bring the technology to where it was needed most, which involved engaging with a global network of researchers and scientists. 鈥淭he beauty of working with Karen Scrivener is that she has PhD students from around the world,鈥� said Martirena, who contacted Scrivener鈥檚 former student, Shashank Bishnoi, now a professor at IIT Delhi, to collaborate on bringing LC³ to India.聽

The initial idea was to test some materials and map the viability of LC³ in the country, but Bishnoi soon developed a full-blown action plan. For LC³ to make an impact, he knew that “the cement industry has to accept it, and the Standards Agencies have to accept it.” The (TRC Asia), housed at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), was created, and Bishnoi began directing an ambitious program that sought not only to merely understand and quantify things like strength, durability, and CO₂ emissions reductions but also the practical side of LC³. 

Bishnoi and his team expedited the process by which the Bureau of Indian Standards accepted LC³ and worked to demonstrate its cost-effectiveness to companies. 鈥淲e had to understand the economic aspects because the industry would never accept a new product if it was going to be more expensive,鈥� he said. The Center focused on information gathering and sharing, running workshops, training programs, and 鈥淚nformation Days鈥� to showcase the technical, financial and environmental advantages of LC³.

Today, the LC³ center in Delhi works with companies in 55 countries around the world. Bishnoi is amazed at the center鈥檚 growth trajectory since that initial phone call years ago. 鈥淲e knew it was going to work, but we never thought so many people would suddenly take it up,鈥� he said. Initially, 鈥渋t was us chasing the companies to accept the technology, to listen to us, to trust us.鈥� Now, he said, 鈥渋t鈥檚 people coming to us and asking us.鈥�

Even the most change-averse industries will need to get on board. In India, the railway industry is 鈥渙ne of the most conservative in adopting new technologies,鈥� said Bishnoi. So he made a roadmap for the industry, suggesting the use of LC³ for masonry plaster and roads in the first year. Eventually, the plan outlines working up to small buildings and then to four-story buildings, small check dams, railways over bridges, and long bridges, building confidence and troubleshooting along the way.

Bishnoi points out that India is adding new cement capacity at around 35 million tons per year 鈥� equal to the amount of cement in all of Germany鈥檚 existing infrastructure. If the transition begins now, Bishnoi estimates that 50% of cement produced in India by 2030 could be LC³.  

Launched in February 2024, the most recent LC³ Technical Resource Centre to join those established and at IIT Delhi under Bishnoi is the (TRC Africa), housed at the Meru University in Kenya. 鈥淎frica is where we expect a lot of massive infrastructure to be constructed in the next few decades, where we expect a lot of housing,” said Joseph Marangu, who directs TRC Africa. 鈥淪ub-Saharan Africa has the highest urbanization rates, as well as the population growth, which is driving the demand for housing, road connectivity, and water infrastructure like dams.鈥�

TRC Africa is already receiving a lot of attention. The center supports ongoing projects in Malawi and Senegal, and additional cement companies have reached out from Rwanda, Senegal, Malawi, and Kenya. At the center, geologists help identify the kaolin clays that are geographically close to the cement company. Typically, Marangu said, these can be found within a 200-kilometer radius, which makes the uptake of LC³ financially viable.聽

Marangu鈥檚 long-term goal is for at least one cement company in each of the 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to produce LC³. It would make the work of the TRC Africa easier if companies 鈥渉ave a reference from each country where they will see how the technology works,鈥� he said. In the meantime, Marangu is focused on acquiring equipment for his lab and working to secure the resources needed to hold Information Days in the geographies his Center intends to serve.

Philanthropy鈥檚 opportunity to scale low-carbon cement

What makes LC³ unique as a 亚色影库 solution is its 鈥渉uge potential to scale,鈥� according to ClimateWorks鈥� Industry Program Strategist Scott Shell. Carbon capture is exciting but expensive. As for novel low-carbon building materials like Brimstone or Sublime, Shell says, 鈥淲e are rooting for them, but they are still very early. None of them have a full-scale plant yet. We don’t know if they鈥檒l be affordable or not.鈥� LC³, by contrast, is ready now, and it is ready to go to work anywhere. 

Shell is part of ClimateWorks鈥� Industry Program, which is working to reduce industrial greenhouse gas emissions from cement, steel, and chemicals to zero in high-income countries by 2050 and in middle- and lower-income countries by 2060. Key to this goal is supporting the development and scaling of low-carbon cement in emerging economies.

Philanthropy can and has played a crucial role in accelerating the transition to low-carbon building materials. In the United States, for example, advocacy funded by philanthropy helped tip the balance toward the launch of the Federal Buy Clean Initiative in 2022, which requires the procurement of low-carbon materials on public construction projects. This initiative has major ramifications given that the U.S. Federal Government is the world鈥檚 largest purchaser of goods and services. 

Similarly, philanthropy supported efforts that helped pave the way for the signing of the landmark in 2022 鈥� the most significant investment ever for industrial decarbonization 鈥� which includes $6 billion for the U.S. Department of Energy for advanced industrial demonstration projects, six of which are calcined clay or LC³ projects. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just a transformative investment,鈥� says Shell. 鈥淎nd that wouldn鈥檛 have happened without 亚色影库 philanthropy, including ClimateWorks and all of the civil society that helped advocate for that legislation.鈥�

There is much more that philanthropy can do to help scale low-carbon cement, including efforts beyond policy advocacy. For example, philanthropy can help gather players in the building industry who would not normally be in a room together to share research and spur collaborations. Additionally, philanthropy can continue to facilitate testing and demonstration projects using LC³ and support the education projects necessary to transfer knowledge of LC³ from researchers to industry.  

As the cement industry is already starting to realize, LC³ is a proven, economical solution for decarbonizing cement. 鈥淭his is the real deal,鈥� said Martirena. 鈥淚t is simple and robust.鈥�