Climate Change Solutions Update

Author: Climateworks

  • Making climate action stick

    The global transition from fossil fuels to renewables is well underway, with solar and wind emerging as the cheapest forms of power. However, challenges such as job losses in coal-dependent communities highlight the need for a "just transition" that prioritizes community ownership and governance in new energy systems. Philanthropy plays a crucial role in advancing energy transitions that empower communities and ensure long-term sustainability. Initiatives like INSPIRE in South Africa demonstrate the importance of shared ownership and community involvement in renewable energy projects. Climate philanthropy must focus on building a global infrastructure for just transition work, funding civic engagement, and addressing funding disparities to ensure equitable and inclusive energy transitions for all stakeholders.

    https://www.climateworks.org/blog/making-climate-action-stick/

  • Building resilience to extreme heat: lessons from the field

    ClimateWorks' Adaptation & Resilience Fund received a significant response to their open call for proposals focusing on extreme heat solutions for urban communities in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, with nearly $2 billion in project funding requests. The 78 organizations that submitted full proposals emphasized innovative finance and institutional capacity strengthening to address barriers to lasting resilience. The article highlights the need for increased funding and prioritization of efforts to address extreme heat resilience in the Global South, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. Proposals focus on Heat Action Plans, community response planning, and governance integration, with a strong emphasis on government engagement, community engagement, and equity considerations. Blended finance and insurance are proposed mechanisms to unlock action on heat, particularly for low-income communities, emphasizing the importance of investing in grassroots initiatives and scaling up successful local models to address the rising threat of extreme heat.

    https://www.climateworks.org/blog/building-resilience-to-extreme-heat-lessons-from-the-field/

  • Meet the grantees from our global call for extreme heat solutions

    Recent philanthropic commitments have aimed to build momentum for climate adaptation and resilience efforts, particularly focusing on extreme heat. The Adaptation & Resilience Fund (A&R Fund) was launched in August 2025 to address the shortage of funding and political will in heat-vulnerable urban communities, awarding $9.3 million to organizations working on building resilience to extreme heat with innovative solutions such as parametric heat insurance and climate-adaptive social protection. Various climate finance initiatives are being implemented in different regions to address heat resilience for vulnerable populations, embedding heat resilience into city governance by strengthening interconnected systems of inclusive heat action plans, early warning systems, cooling shelters, and green tenements. Efforts are also being made to strengthen informal worker advocacy for inclusion in urban heat action plans and climate adaptation strategies through capacity building, research, and occupational health guidelines.

    https://www.climateworks.org/blog/meet-the-grantees-from-our-global-call-for-extreme-heat-solutions/

  • Investing in movement building: How flexible funding is helping agroecology take root across Africa

    The industrial agricultural system in Africa heavily relies on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, which are becoming more expensive and harmful to ecosystems and human health. Agroecology, a farming approach that works with nature, is gaining traction as a sustainable alternative to agrochemicals. Grassroots organizations in Africa are leading the movement towards agroecology, but they require flexible and unrestricted funding to drive real systems transformation. ClimateWorks and the African Climate Foundation are supporting these organizations to advance agroecology and reduce the use of agrochemicals across the continent. The grant focused on supporting grassroots leaders in Africa passionate about agroecology, providing flexible funding that allowed for the strengthening of farmer networks and building connections across regions. Local organizations and farmers were able to contextualize solutions in ways outsiders cannot, leading to the development of resilient, locally-led food systems. The importance of deep cultural and ecological knowledge in implementing agroecology was highlighted, with local knowledge informing global discourse and farmers being recognized as active co-creators of solutions. The grant facilitated the establishment of national networks to combat counterfeit agrochemicals and drive policy influence at various levels. Grassroots organizations in Africa are collaborating and learning from each other to address systemic barriers and inequalities within food systems. Trust-based, locally-led funding is seen as more effective in driving systemic change in climate philanthropy. The collaboration between organizations has led to the adoption of new technologies and practices to strengthen interventions. Securing adequate and sustainable financial resources is crucial for deepening agroecological work and reducing inequalities in rural communities. These lessons are shaping the strategy for future climate solutions. The Food and Agriculture program at ClimateWorks focuses on coalition building, narrative shifting, and mutual learning to transition to more sustainable food systems. Frontline actors are essential in these coalitions to increase political representation and create durable solutions. Diverse actors are reframing public narratives about food and agriculture to drive change. Mutual learning across regions accelerates the adoption of new ideas and practices. The program aims to create the conditions for change to be possible and support organizations in creating more sustainable food systems for future generations.

    https://www.climateworks.org/blog/investing-in-movement-building-how-flexible-funding-is-helping-agroecology-take-root-across-africa/