A call from #ShiftThePower to COP28 participants
09 Dec 2023
The #ShiftThePower movement, a global network of grassroots organizations, offers an unprecedented opportunity to efficiently and effectively work in solidarity with communities to address our greatest challenge, the climate crisis. As global leaders met at the COP in Dubai, over 700 change-makers who work in communities in over 80 countries met in Bogotá with a focus on harnessing and mobilizing resources so that all may thrive, even in the midst of the climate crisis.
Helene Desanlis of ClimateWorks echoes what many other researchers are saying: “There is a growing recognition that the voices and leadership of frontline communities must be at the center of climate action.” However, funding for these innovative home grown-solutions is almost non-existent. According to the International Institute for Environment and Development in 2020 only 10% of climate funding reaches local communities in the Global South and 97% of international humanitarian aid is channeled through international intermediaries that dilute the funds. The most recent studies show no improvement.
Around the world, communities at the forefront of the climate response are investing their local knowledge, finances, energy, and leadership. They are creating solutions that are locally-led and owned, often at a lower cost-benefit ratio.
With access to greater funding, these organizations, individually and collectively, could accelerate and expand their climate activities and better sustain their organizations. This network has the potential to absorb, direct and deploy financial resources in ways that recognize and harness local assets, build local power and – of greatest importance – do no harm.
We invite you to partner with this ecosystem of locally-led organizations in order to accelerate and scale local climate action. Strengthening the collective voice of grassroots communities and movements in the global climate discourse will empower climate justice.
We envision trust-based relationships that are transparent and inclusive. These partnerships would encourage risk-taking, reciprocal learning and capacity building. Successful solutions would be shared, scaled and adapted as needed with measurable impacts and accountability for all.
We are already hard at work, and that work will continue. But we can do so much more, so much more effectively, if we tackle this together. Please engage with us.
Signatories (if you would like to add your voice to it, please sign here):
Africa’s Voices Foundation
Agenda Joven Magdalena
Aksyon sa Kahandaan sa Kalamidad at Klima AKKMA
Alianza Fondos del Sur
Alianza Territorial De Mujeres ALIATE
Allies In Caring
Assifero
Associação Nossa Cidade
Barbara Klugman Concepts
Barranquilla+20
Better World Communications
Bole District Community Foundation
Bucharest Community Foundation
Cada Socio-Environmental Fund
Casa Fluminense
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
CESE – Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço
CISU – Civil Society in Development
Collective Change Lab
Comunidad AC
Coop Dayton
Corporación Cavendishia
Corporación PODION – CTGA ANDEAN REGION
Corporación TAMSA
Cotyledon Fund
Cultivate
Development Expertise Center
Divine Foundation for Disabled Persons
ECES
Emerger Fondo Socioambiental Colombia
Esperanza Peace and Justice Center
Fair Funding Solutions
FarmworkersAssocicion of Florida
FASOL
Firelight Foundation
Fondo Comunitario Monteverde
Fondo Emerger
Fondo Ñeque
Fondo Potosino A. C.
Fondo Socioambiental del Perú
Fondo Tierra Viva
Fondo Tierra Viva
Fundacion ACDI/VOCA LA
Fundación Comunitaria Puebla
Fundacion Dar Amor – FUNDAMOR
Fundación DARVIP, red Latiendo, juzta paz
Fundación Hijos de la Sierra Flor
Fundación Ideas para la Paz
Fundacion Ñeque
Fundacion Punta de Mita
Fundación Socioambiental Semilla
Fundación SOLE Colombia
Fundación Territorial Barichara
Fundación Territorial Barichara Regenerativa
Fundación Territorial Barichara Regenerativa
Fundación Váyalo
Fundo Casa Socioambiental / Casa Socio-Environmental Fund
Global Alliance of Impact Networks
Global Fund for Community Foundations
GlobalGiving
Instituto Comunitario Baixada Maranhense
Instituto Sociedade, População e Natureza
Junta de Acción Comunal vereda Tiestos – Grupo Familias Ecológicas para el Buen Vivir
Lanzaa
Maskani Digital Peacebuilding
Monteverde Commission for Resiience to Climate Change (CORCLIMA)
Monteverde Community Fund
Moving Minds Alliance
National Foundation for India
Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust
Nguvu Collective
Nguzo Africa Community Foundation
NTFP EP Asia
Partners of the Americas
Peace Direct
Redepaz
Regenerosity
Reimagine Peacebuilding
STAR Ghana Foundation
Taboa Fortalecimento Comunitário
Taranaki Foundation
TechSoup
TerritoriA
Thubutu Africa Initiatives
Torchlight Collective
Union Temporal Construyendo Esperanza
University of New Mexico – Health Sciences Center – Office for Community Health – Community Health Worker Initiatives
Utah valley University
Yemenis in Exile
Zambian Governance Foundation for Civil Society