Outrage + Optimism: The Climate Podcast27 Helmi 2025

Can philanthropy fill the hole left by USAID?

Development programmes across the world are still reeling from the swingeing cuts to USAID, whilst other western nations such as the UK and Germany have announced plans to scale back their own aid commitments.

With Mike Bloomberg agreeing to fill the gap in climate funding left by the US's withdrawal from Paris, is it up to wealthy philanthropists to fill the hole of state funding? Is it realistic or appropriate for them to do so? And do competing interests from funders compromise work on the ground?

Tom Rivett-Carnac, Christiana Figueres and Paul Dickinson examine the potential for a slippery slope in which governments increasingly abdicate their responsibilities for minimising problems for people and the planet.

To delve into the topic more broadly, Christiana speaks to Helen Mountford, president and CEO of ClimateWorks Foundation, a global platform of researchers, strategists and grantmakers aiming to end the climate crisis by amplifying the power of philanthropy.

Since 2008, ClimateWorks has granted over $2 billion to more than 850 grantees in over 50 countries. Whether electric vehicles or clean cooling for air conditioning units, Helen cites examples of philanthropic programmes that not only tackle climate destruction but also improve standard of living for people. And after expressing some much justified outrage, Christiana and Helen agree on a moment of optimism for bottom-up community coordination.

Learn more:

📖 Read up on the ClimateWorks Clean Cooling programme.

🧑‍🎓Learn more about wider trends of slashing global aid

💬 Let us know whether you think philanthropy can or should fill the gap left by governments by sending us a voice note!

🎟️Be a part of it: We’re very excited to announce we are hosting an event at The Conduit Club in London on the 22nd March and we’d like to invite you, our wonderful listeners, to join us. We’ll have just been to see the West End play Kyoto, an incredible dramatisation of the 1997 Climate Summit and will be hosting an evening of thought-provoking conversations with key insiders who were in the room at this negotiation, plus activists and thought leaders who can help us think about how we shape the next chapter of climate action. Click here to find out how to get your tickets.

Instagram @outrageoptimism

LinkedIn @outrageoptimism

Or get in touch with us via this form.

Producer: Jarek Zaba

Video Producer: Caitlin Hanrahan

Exec Producer: Ellie Clifford

Commissioning Editor: Sarah Thomas

This is a Persephonica production for Global Optimism and is part of the Acast Creator Network.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(394)

30. Banking on the Climate with Mark Carney

This week we drop in to talk money with the Governor of The Bank of England, Mark Carney. Mark is leading the way on banking with the climate in mind, keeping banks accountable for investments towards...

15 Marras 201951min

29. The Sounds of Antarctica: A Sonic Expedition!

Back in January, Christiana set sail to Antarctica with Homeward Bound, A Global Leadership Initiative for Women with a STEMM background. This week, we play back her recordings, both interviews and im...

8 Marras 201944min

28. What a Great IKEA with Jesper Brodin

Tom and Christiana are in Costa Rica this week! They reminisce over their time at the UN and discuss how generating business ambition on climate led to national confidence in the Paris Agreement. Late...

1 Marras 201939min

27. No Room for a Sinking Feeling with Hilda Heine

In our new format, this week Tom, Christiana, and Paul bring in what they're optimistic for or outraged by to kick things off. Later on, we talk with President Hilda Heine of The Marshall Islands. We ...

25 Loka 201939min

26. Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast with Jonathan Safran Foer

With a little too much going on in the world of climate change, we try something new this week with Christiana, Paul, and Tom each bringing something they are outraged by or optimistic for. Later, we ...

18 Loka 201948min

25. Going Beyond Meat with Ethan Brown

You've probably been seeing Beyond Meat showing up in your local grocery, your favorite restaurants, and major fast-food chains. But what exactly is it, and can it really help us solve the climate cri...

11 Loka 201950min

24. It's Time to Rebel with Gail Bradbrook

This week, we prepare for mass civil disobedience with the International Rebellion beginning Monday, October 7th. We get on the line with Gail Bradbrook, co-founder of Extinction Rebellion and hear he...

4 Loka 201942min

23. Innovating Breakthroughs with Sir Richard Branson

It's been a busy week at the UNGA! We signed The Climate Pledge with Jeff Bezos from Amazon, saw world leaders stepping up their climate ambition, heard Greta Thunberg's scathing speech, and even had ...

27 Syys 201945min