Sequoia Climate Foundation

At #UNGA, our President, Christie Ulman, joined Beyond Oil and Gas (BOGA)'s High Level Dialogue on Financing the Global Transition away from Oil and Gas, chaired by Eamon Ryan. Christie and other panelists underscored the urgent need to move away from fossil fuel extraction and reduce countries' dependence on oil and gas revenues. Without this shift, a rapid global transition to clean energy risks creating entrenched opposition and causing economic and social harms to the countries least able to bear them. Christie also emphasized the central position of philanthropy in supporting the transition away from fossil fuels. In her words: "philanthropy has a critical role in addressing these challenges by providing fast, flexible funding to catalyze the analysis and support needed to start envisioning a different future." At Sequoia Climate Foundation, we’re proud to support initiatives like BOGA that provide the analytical, policy, and technical assistance for countries navigating #justtransitions away from oil and gas. #ClimateAction #CleanEnergy #JustTransition #Philanthropy

After India endured some of the highest temperatures on record this summer, the urgent need for sustainable cooling solutions is more apparent than ever. During #ClimateWeekNYC, Bishal Thapa, Senior Director at CLASP, emphasized the crucial role of appliance efficiency in providing effective cooling for over a billion people. Doubling energy efficiency over the next four years is essential to achieving this goal. For policymakers, this is a bold decision, and CLASP is working to providing them with the technical assistance, evidence, and tools they need to pursue it confidently. Visit clasp.ngo to get our research, tools and resources. Thank you to the Sequoia Climate Foundation and the Harvard Club of New York City for hosting these vital conversations. Photo Credit: Monica Tiwari, SPI

Thank you to our “Sustainable Cooling in India” panelists at New York Climate Week for an inspiring discussion on how equitable access to cooling can be a cornerstone of India’s climate resilience and economic prosperity. Richard Duke, Deputy Special Envoy for Climate; Mirik Gogri, Climate Tech Investor, and Philanthropist; Reema Nanavaty, Director of Self Employed Women's Association; Bishal Thapa, Senior Director of the India Program at CLASP; and Dipa Singh Bagai, Director of NRDC India, discussed India’s growing cooling need and innovative ways to address extreme heat, ranging from passive cooling solutions to energy efficiency to supply chain solutions. Some of these strategies were also central to a new U.S.-India roadmap announced earlier this week, aimed at building secure global clean energy supply chains. The bilateral initiative focuses on expanding manufacturing capacity in key areas like solar, wind, batteries, energy grids, and high-efficiency air conditioners and ceiling fans. Equitable access to cooling ensures that vulnerable communities are not left behind, and sustainable cooling solutions are a win-win for public health and economic development. Sequoia Climate Foundation is proud to support efforts that alleviate the strain on energy systems and reduce emissions. #ClimateWeekNYC  #climatechange #energyefficiency

Against the backdrop of New York Climate Week 2024, Sequoia Climate Foundation joined with the Council on Foreign Relations, Observer Research Foundation America, and MIT - Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research to convene experts and practitioners across the climate, economics, and foreign policy communities for a dialogue on global decarbonization and its role in advancing a wide range of policy objectives. Speakers Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for the United Kingdom’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, Mari Elka Pangestu, Indonesia’s Special Envoy for Climate Finance, and John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy and Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation, traded perspectives on how civil society can deploy levers like technical expertise, advocacy, and diplomacy in concert to ensure new domestic and foreign economic policies are implemented in a way that delivers climate action for leaders, the people they serve, and to future generations. The consensus was clear: decarbonization isn’t just a mechanism to advance rapid emissions abatement. It’s a powerful tool to create jobs, drive economic growth, and build resilience, all while advancing national interests at home and abroad. We’re excited to continue the conversation with our partners and policymakers as they implement domestic and foreign policies that deliver economic growth today alongside a clean energy future for everyone.  #ClimateWeekNYC  #climatechange

Sequoia supports ambitious organizations and coalitions catalyzing rapid emissions reductions, transforming global markets, and accelerating the transition to clean energy around the world. Our grantee Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP)’s combined “top down” and “bottom up” approach empowers its key partners to build local capacity for renewable energy projects that result in economic growth, energy security, and improved quality of life for millions of people. In the Philippines, for example, ETP is helping the Philippines Department of Energy – Energy Utilization Management Bureau and a multi-stakeholder working group to cultivate what is known as Demand Side Management (DSM). “With DSM in place, the Philippines will have a robust grid system that balances the supply of clean and variable renewable technologies, such as wind and solar power,” says Yoshiko De Villa, ETP’s Programme Management Officer for the Philippines. “The combined impact of DSM allows for an energy transition that will equitably displace fossil-fuel based power generation and reduce energy intensity, thereby contributing to significant greenhouse gas emissions reduction.”   You can read more about ETP’s work on our website. #climatechange #cleanenergy #renewableenergy

A key energy transition challenge is helping energy suppliers update and modernize their systems to account for growing dependence on renewable energy. The members of the ESIG (Energy Systems Integration Group), an education nonprofit, have developed technical and topical workshops, reports, white papers, fact sheets, technical and policy briefs, tutorials, and webinars and blog posts that help define and address engineering challenges. Their ongoing efforts are shaping the future of energy grids, making renewable energy integration a practical reality. Debra Lew, Executive Director of ESIG, describes the importance of the group’s work: “It’s about educating regulators and policy makers to understand a systems view of decarbonization. If you look at one piece in isolation, it won’t be as effective as a holistic view.” To learn more about ESIG’s efforts, check out our full “Impact Story” below. hashtag #renewableenergy #FutureOfEnergy #energyefficiency https://lnkd.in/d3b48_iW

Sequoia supports global cooperation efforts to achieve a sustainable energy future. The International Energy Agency (IEA), an organization at the forefront of the global transition to clean energy, enhances global energy security, affordability, and sustainability through comprehensive analysis and global partnerships. One key aspect of IEA’s work revolves around bringing stakeholders together to network and to learn from experts about emerging best practices and standards in the energy industry. One example of this work is IEA’s Training Weeks, which bring together policymakers and industry experts, to learn about everything from appliances and equipment, to transport and buildings. IEA hosted three Training Weeks in 2023 alone. Melanie Slade, a Senior Programme Manager at the IEA, described the importance of the Training Weeks: “The Training Weeks are about the public good. Energy efficiency experts…are now connected to an international community of energy professionals, whom they might not have met had this training not existed. We designed it to be a long term investment …and we are proud of its success so far.” To find out more information about their work, visit our website. #energyefficiency #futureofenergy #cleanenergy

Aggressively reducing super pollutants and phasing out fossil fuels could prevent four times more warming by 2050 than focusing on CO2 alone. Climate super pollutants such as methane, hydrofluorocarbons, ground-level ozone, nitrous oxide and black carbon are tens, hundreds and even thousands of times more powerful in trapping heat per pound than CO2. Most are also short-lived, so cutting them provides fast benefits for the climate while preventing trillions in climate impact costs and millions of deaths every year – especially in vulnerable communities. In a recent op-ed, Christie Ulman, President of Sequoia, and Dr. Gabrielle Dreyfus, Chief Scientist at the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD), argue that more funding must be directed towards addressing super pollutants if we want to minimize the effects of climate change and reverse a growing trend towards climate fatalism: “As costly climate change impacts painfully manifest across the United States and globally, the risk of climate fatalism can grow. Yet, the assumption that nothing can be done to limit climate change is simply incorrect. We know how to solve the problem and prevent the worst climate impacts.” #superpollutants #climatechange

On Tuesday, the Global Methane Hub announced a commitment of over $300 million in new funding to support methane emission reductions. The announcement was made during The White House Super Pollutants Summit, which convened philanthropies, policymakers, financial institutions, and representatives from the private and nonprofit sectors to discuss potent greenhouse gasses called super pollutants. The announcement reflects the growing momentum around reducing methane emissions, which are responsible for nearly 45% of current global warming. “Super pollutants have contributed to over half of recent warming. They also account for millions of annual deaths due to air pollution, which disproportionately affects vulnerable communities. Mitigating methane can help reduce 0.3°C and reduce health risks in the short term. The Global Methane Hub – and philanthropy broadly – are key players in continuing to accelerate our progress,” said Christie Ulman, President of Sequoia Climate Foundation. Sequoia is proud to support organizations and coalitions working to catalyze rapid and just emissions reductions around the world. https://lnkd.in/e-DN5vJC #superpollutants #methane #climatechange

Sequoia Climate Foundation had the opportunity to kick-start London Climate Action Week 2024 with a reception that brought together climate leaders from the public sector, private sector and civil society. We were fortunate to be joined by two inspiring keynote speakers: Shirley Rodrigues, London's Former Deputy Mayor of Energy and Environment, and Emma Howard Boyd CBE. Shirley shared the story of London's success in halving roadside emissions in just 7 years through innovative and well-planned public policy. Emma offered reflections from her deep experience working at the intersection of climate, finance and policy. Thank you both! You have been vital catalysts for climate progress in London and further afield. We look forward to seeing many of you at New York Climate Week in September. #ClimateWeekNYC #LCAW #climatechange #energytransition