Role of Philanthropic Organizations in Mitigating Climate Change

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently issued its AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023, which effectively warns that the global climate warming this century has reached 1.1 degrees Celsius and can exceed 1.5 degrees if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced. 

In responding to the report, KEHATI Foundation executive director Riki Frindos says the IPCC report underlines the importance of urgent and real action to make any changes in mitigating the climate crisis.

“One of the ways is by strengthening regulations that enable significant breakthroughs,” said Frindos. 

According to him, the problem lies in the uneven spread of knowledge about the environment and climate change, which becomes an obstacle to several climate change mitigation efforts. This is even though the government has issued regulatory frameworks such as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Net Zero Emissions for 2045.

Based on research from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, as many as two-thirds of the 1,178 Indonesian respondents stated that they knew little about climate change. Some even claim to have never heard of it.

Within philanthropic circles, the impact of climate change has yet to become a major issue. According to Indonesian Philanthropy 2022, only 19 percent of respondents have implemented climate-related programs. The majority chose to support the health and education sectors.

Climateworks Center argued that independent institutions are one of the main stakeholder groups that can strengthen messages about the risks of climate change. Philanthropy plays a critical role in the world's response to climate change by targeting specific geographies, industries, and people who need support the most.

"Philanthropic institutions need to prioritize programs and activities related to the climate crisis, and take a role in overcoming the impacts of climate change," said Guntur Sutiyono, Indonesia Country Lead Climateworks Center.

Guntur explained that philanthropists need to be part of the climate change momentum and build knowledge about what climate change is, what climate risks they face, and what is the relevance of climate change to their existing programs.

One of Indonesia's philanthropic networks, the Indonesian Philanthropy Association, asserted that it understands the urgency of the climate and the formation of environmental and conservation philanthropic clusters as anchors for climate mitigation. This cluster accommodates foundations interested in leveraging climate action collaboration among their members.

"We also provide a discussion forum for environmental activists to be able to provide ideas in environmental preservation," said Dolly Priatna, Executive Director of the Belantara Foundation and Coordinator of the Indonesian Philanthropy Conservation and Environment Cluster.

However, Dolly made it clear that the climate crisis remains a cross-sectoral issue. Internalizing the climate action strategy is crucial for philanthropy operating not only in the environment or conservation sector, but also in other fields, such as health, education, empowering marginalized groups, and local economic development.

He believes that achievements in overcoming the impact of climate change are considered to require the participation of all stakeholders by pursuing multi-stakeholder creation and collaboration.

MARIA FRANSISCA LAHUR 

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