Distinguished environmentalists from 44 countries are today calling on Foundations and Philanthropists to use their endowments, worth 100s of billions of dollars, to turn the tide on global warming – to divest from fossil fuels and invest in low carbon markets.

The group, all winners of major environmental awards, issued their call to action in an ‘Environmental Laureates’ Declaration on Climate Change’, published in the International New York Times, a week before world leaders arrive in New York for a UN Climate Summit.

‘We, 160 winners of the world’s environmental prizes, call on foundations and philanthropists everywhere to deploy their endowments immediately in the effort to save civilization,’ say the laureates. ‘The world’s philanthropic foundations, given the scale of their endowments, hold the power to trigger a survival reflex in society, so greatly helping those negotiating the climate treaty.’

Call to action for foundations and philanthropists

The European Environment Foundation (EEF), which circulated the declaration to prize-winning environmentalists for signature, will now write to foundations individually asking them to use their financial power to create a tipping point in climate action:

By investing directly in clean energy companies and low-carbon projects; By withdrawing investments from fossil fuel companies or campaigning as shareholders for them not to develop new reserves; By making grants to support clean energy start-ups and stimulate the development of low-carbon markets.

Dr Jeremy Leggett, the EEF Trustee who coordinated the declaration, said: ‘The world’s philanthropic foundations fund work improves the lives of millions of people around the world, but if they want that work to last they can’t afford to ignore climate change. Investing in a clean energy future is the best way to safeguard their work and their finances. ‘

‘We hope this appeal will stimulate vital investment in a clean energy future, demonstrate support for an ambitious climate change treaty, and create space for a tipping point in climate action,’ said Dr Leggett, who is a Hillary Laureate for Exceptional Leadership in Climate Change Solutions.

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The environmental laureates warn that the Paris Climate Summit may be the last chance to agree a treaty capable of saving civilization. However, they say that foundations and philanthropists have the financial resources to respond on a scale that would materially increase negotiators’ chances of success in Paris.

The signatories include figures with national and international reputations such as AimÃ©e Christensen (USA), Paul Gilding (Australia), Prof Dr Ernst von WeizsÃ¤cker (Germany), Peggy Liu (China), Dr Harish Hande (India), Jeunesse Park (South Africa).

For more information http://www.european-environment-foundation.eu/declaration