What we can learn from New York Climate Week.

Members of the GIF team recently attended Climate Week New York  which took place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. It was an action-packed week with inspiring conversations and high-level meetings throughout the city. Although our work to support climate adaptation is just getting started, it was clear from our discussions that there is still so much more work to do. Here are some of the highlights: 

Our CIO, Avinash Mistra, joined the 2024 Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit hosted by the Bloomberg Philanthropies. This summit follows previous success of two GIF funded projects: in 2023, S4S Technologies won the Earthshot Prize for its innovative approach to building a waste-free world, while Boomitra was a winner for its work to fix our climate. We applaud this type of recognition for innovations that are making a difference and hope that others will join us to support more impactful projects like these. We will continue to make the case for increased investment into impactful climate projects, showcasing and highlighting what’s working - and that progress is not only possible, but already happening.

GIF is a proud member of the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) Climate Action Platform. We were pleased to attend an informative discussion led by AVPN and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) who were launching their new joint report, People-Centric Energy Transition in Asia Pacific: The Now, The How, and The Future. The report emphasises the often-overlooked social dimensions of the energy transition, and frames actionable insights on how to put workers, communities, consumers, and SMEs at the heart of this transformation. Featuring real-world examples and interviews with over 30 stakeholders across the region, and outlines challenges and solutions for ensuring a truly equitable transition.

The report also sets the stage for developing a Collective Action Platform designed to unite governments, investors, and social enterprises in scaling People-Centric solutions. This platform will drive collective action, unlock funding, and foster innovation to ensure that the benefits of the energy transition are equitably shared, leaving no one behind.

GIF participated in a Rockefeller Foundation-hosted event on Climate and Health Financing: Moving from a Shared Vision to Joint Action. With participation from WHO, The Green Climate Fund, Foundation S, the FCDO and others, the group workshopped ideas on where the various public and private sectors can come together to support scaling those innovations that can deliver solutions. Rockefeller also previewed its Climate and Health Action Report. A key insight from the report is the call for funders and donors to “recognise the immense economic benefits of preparing health systems for climate change and make meaningful investments in urban resilience planning.” 

Lastly, I was able to participate in the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting where I was inspired by so many amazing people and organisations working across the world to tackle issues like climate change, gender equality and mental health. Across all of these areas, the need for additional smart capital and easier access to funding is consistent, and the world needs to do more to support these critical areas. These challenges will require partners like GIF to play a key role to help unlock the power of incredible partners around the world to do their best work, and we are inspired and ready to collaborate with those who are keen to work together to do so.