March 19, 2009 - To promote low-carbon prosperity, McKnight supports both Midwest innovation and a pioneering collaborative network operating around the world.
The McKnight Foundation announces today that it will commit $100 million over the next five years to support a comprehensive strategy to prevent dangerous climate change, by reducing heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions from key regions and sectors around the world. McKnight's multifaceted approach includes:
"Decisions we all make in the next 10 years will affect the planet's climate and its people for generations," said McKnight President Kate Wolford. "Without immediate action, climate change will put at risk all those served by our programs. As a private foundation, McKnight has the flexibility and the resources to respond strategically to this extraordinary challenge."
Because of the issue's global scale, ClimateWorks targets its efforts in the nations and sectors with the highest greenhouse gas emissions. These efforts include support for Regional Climate Foundations in China, the U.S. and Europe that fund and coordinate policy campaigns in priority nations and regions; and support for Best Practice Networks that provide deep technical analysis for policymakers and regulators developing low-carbon policies in five sectors: power/utilities, vehicles and transportation, industry, buildings/appliances and forestry/agriculture.
ClimateWorks' initial strategies are to prevent the creation of large, new sources of carbon emissions, promote the adoption of a carbon cap and trade system in the U.S.A. and to help establish the next generation of international carbon reduction policies. McKnight's baseline funding will help ClimateWorks establish the systems, expert networks and operational capacity to improve policies in key countries. These policies include proven mechanisms like energy-saving requirements for buildings and appliances, renewable energy standards for electricity generation, green fuel solutions, making factories more efficient and preserving tropical forests.
The Foundation's commitment of $100 million over five years to prevent climate change complements about $100 million in environment grants since 1991 to protect the Mississippi River Basin and to promote the development of renewable energy in Minnesota and the Midwest. In partnership with the Energy Foundation, McKnight has supported organizations such as Fresh Energy (Minnesota), the Great Plains Institute (Minnesota) and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (Illinois), and helped to build the Midwest's capacity to address energy issues and to pioneer supportive policy change.
"For decades, McKnight's interests have included regional livability, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy production," explained Wolford. "ClimateWorks' comprehensive strategy aligns well with our history, combining deep research with local approaches where needed to address this global issue."
Likewise, McKnight's board of directors views the commitment as an opportunity to serve the Foundation's central mission, transcending traditional program boundaries.
"While the scope of this initiative is global, our home state of Minnesota is well positioned to profit from related innovations in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy production and transmission, a green workforce and more," said McKnight board chair Robert J. Struyk. "This comprehensive strategy will provide smart people with appropriate resources to put good ideas to work — an operating principle that has long guided the Foundation's historic partnerships."
McKnight does not accept unsolicited requests for funding to combat climate change. As noted above, McKnight engages the Energy Foundation and the ClimateWorks Foundation to administer efforts to slow the pace of global climate change. For more information about these programs, please visit www.ef.org and www.climateworks.org.
ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION
The McKnight Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for present and future generations through grantmaking, coalition-building and encouragement of strategic policy reform. Founded in 1953 and independently endowed by William and Maude McKnight, the Minnesota-based Foundation had assets of approximately $1.6 billion and granted about $99 million in 2008.
ABOUT CLIMATEWORKS
The ClimateWorks Foundation is an international philanthropic network dedicated to achieving low carbon prosperity. ClimateWorks supports organizations around the world and promotes policies that accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies, trigger new investments in low-carbon infrastructure and prevent the destruction of tropical forests. Grantmaking is guided by rigorous quantitative analysis, a strong belief in the power of strategic advocacy and a commitment to supporting solutions that work. www.climateworks.org