Funder Commitment on Climate Change: our work in 2023

Launched in 2019, the Funder Commitment on Climate Change is a holistic, high-level framework supporting funders to play their part in tackling the causes and impacts of climate change.  We're proud to be part of this growing movement of funders.  As a founding signatory, we report yearly on our progress towards its six goals, which cover different aspects of our work including our funding and investments as well as our organisation. 

Below, you'll find more news from us alongside news from the sector you may have missed.  If you'd like to get in touch with us about any of our work, do send us an email: communications@esmeefairbairn.org.uk.

The RACE Report and diversity of Esmée's people

The second annual RACE (Racial Action for the Climate Emergency) Report shared its findings on the diversity of the environment sector.  They also shared Transparency Cards for each participating organisation. Learn more about Esmée's Transparency Card, which includes the diversity data of Esmée's Trustees and staff in terms of race and ethnicity, as well as gender and age.  It also shares progress on 38 recommendations for improving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within Esmée.

We've also published a separate blog with the diversity data of our Trustees and staff in 2023, covering  a broader range of categories including disability and socioeconomic background, as well as reporting Esmée's pay gap data.

We'll shortly be sharing more about what we've been doing to make progress on DEI both in our work and as an organisation.  In the meantime, you can learn more about our DEI commitments and previous actions on our website. 

In case you missed it

• The latest round of the Co-op Foundation and Co-op's £3.5m Carbon Innovation Fund will support organisations who are finding new ways to grow food without damaging peatlands. They're offering grants of £50k to £150k.  The deadline for applications is 15 March 2024.

• With farming in the political spotlight this week, Times Radio spoke to Soil Association and the National Union of Farmers about what's needed to support farmers and ensure food security whilst nurturing the environment.  Food, Farming and Countryside Commission has shared reflections from farmers on what they need to farm sustainably. And Nature Friendly Farming Network's CEO shares his response to farming protests and thoughts on what's behind them.

• Common Purpose has launched two new Nature Recovery Leadership Programmes for the North of England and Scotland.  The programmes bring together emerging leaders from different disciplines, communities, and backgrounds who share a common ambition: to restore and regenerate nature.  They're now accepting applications, with a closing date of midnight on 7 April 2024.

• Involve has published an explainer on Citizens' Assemblies, which have been increasingly used to engage the public in policymaking.  In it, they talk about five common myths about how they work in practice.

• The World of Work Programme by Clore Leadership is designed to explore and leadership challenges the cultural sector is facing today.  They are holding a series of in-person and online assemblies for leaders to discuss and co-create solutions, and are also carrying out a research project to understand how the world of work has changed and its impact on the cultural sector.  Learn about how to join the Leadership Now Assemblies.  You can feed into the World of Work research by responding to this survey.

• Gendered Intelligence has joined forces with other LGBT+ organisations to publish a guide to the Government's draft guidance for schools on how to support transgender students, which is now open for consultation. They also offer guidance on responding to the consultation, which closes on 12 March 2024.

• The End Violence Against Women coalition has published a new snapshot report highlighting how the foundations of what's needed to tackle violence against women and girls are crumbling.  They also share their joint manifesto, making the case for a comprehensive, whole-society approach to tackling violence against women and girls.

• Peer Power and the Youth Justice Board have developed new resources for youth justice services on co-creation with young people to help them improve their services and support. 

• The Decelerator has shared their reflections on the patterns they're seeing around closures in civil society.  They look at three themes: what the funding challenges mean for the non-profit business model; what the loss of services might mean for society in the longer term; and what the closure of infrastructure organisations tells us about the future of collaboration and collective action. 

Finally, there has been an increase in pooled funds in recent years, but what are they and what do they mean for the UK funding landscape?  Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published research on the value and potential of pooled funds, exploring what this means in terms of shifting power as well as the opportunities and challenges created.