Since its inauguration in the run up to the to the G20 Summit in Hamburg 2017, the Foundations Platform F20 keeps its focus on the climate agenda of the G20 countries and in particular the role philanthropy can play. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations are a key reference for all its activities in advocacy, research and convening.
Each year, the Foundations Platform F20 develops and publishes its F20 Recommendations, a set of key asks calling upon the G20 Heads of State to act on the global climate crisis and to agree on concrete targets and tools. These include upscaling renewable energy, protecting biodiversity and the decarbonisation of the global finance markets. The F20 Recommendations are jointly developed by the F20 Steering Group throughout the presidential term of the respective G7/G20 host countries and are presented prior to the G7 and G20 summits. With its broad network of foundations and philanthropic organisations, F20 is eager to contribute to the global climate agenda – and be part of the solution.
Through its events and networking activities, F20 provides dialogue spaces for effective discourse between civil society, the business and financial sectors, think thanks, politics and academia aiming to find global, holistic, cross-sectoral solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges.
With its research activities F20 aims to showcase science-based solutions and policy recommendations for a transformation towards sustainable development.
Climate change presents significant challenges and puts further pressure on global health, food systems and biodiversity. And they are closely intertwined. They and cannot be tackled in isolation. For example, the environmental pollution and massive degradation of nature leads to grave impacts on global food production, exarcerbates water shortages, and fuels energy crises and extreme weather events. Those countries who have contributed least to the climate crisis, are most often affected the most. Bringing the climate and biodiversity, water-energy-food-health nexus on top of the G20 agenda is key for a climate-safe future leaving no one behind.
The Green Transition refers to the environmental, ecological and social transformation towards sustainable societies respecting planetary boundaries. Remaining under 1.5 degrees largely depends on the speed and scale of embarking on a just energy transition and exploiting the potential of renewables. A low-carbon transition offers business opportunities, jobs and economic development, and a whole range of co-benefits like cleaner air and a healthier environment. This also requires shifting the flows of investment necessary to leverage these opportunities. The foundations and philanthropic organisations of the F20 Platform acknowledge and emphasise their self-commitment to increase sustainability efforts within their own organisational context. This may include divesting their capital from fossil fuels and instead investing into renewable energy solutions.
Societies are changing rapidly. The global population is expected to grow by about 2 billion until the year 2050 and by today, humanity already uses the resources of 1.6 planets. Economic growth and innovations will be necessary to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. At the same time, if current patterns do not change significantly, sustained growth increases the pressure on the environment and particularly the world’s climate. With the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the pillars of a ‘new global social compact’ were already established and can deliver sustainability across the three pillars of economy, society and the environment. Especially civil society organisations play a key role within this shift towards a new paradigm of sustainable economic development, while maintaining jobs and mitigating climate change. Transforming our economy and getting our societies engaged in the spirit of the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement is possible.