Only 2 per cent of the world’s philanthropy is devoted to the climate

On June 13th, 2022 Kara Swisher interviewed billionaire venture capitalist John Doerr on “Sway” that
was published in the NYT. The title of the interview was The Planet Is Burning. Are Billionaires the
Answer?

John Doerr
John Doerr (copyright: Thomas Hawk)

During the interview, Doerr, who recently pledged $1.1 billion to Stanford University to fund a
school focused on climate change, stated that only 2 per cent of the world’s philanthropy is devoted
to the climate. According to Doerr, it needs to be 20 to 30 per cent.

The Pledge

The Climate Change Permaculture Project (CCPP) is a new private operating foundation devoted to
creating a critical mass of farmers who will adopt regenerative farming practices to reverse the
effects of climate change and help address food insecurity.

CCPP pledges to devote 100% of its philanthropy to reverse climate change.

The Challenge

CCPP challenges its fellow foundations to devote 20 to 30 per cent of their philanthropy to the
climate.

To those foundations who say that they have other funding priorities (e.g., children, families and
communities), CCPP says, if the planet becomes uninhabitable, your funding priorities will become
moot.

A caveat

When we foundations readjust our funding priorities to the climate, it needs to be more than just
putting money into alternative energy. CCPP is focusing on regenerative agriculture initiatives. There
need to find a balance.

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