Sustainable Development

Goal: Advancing solutions to climate change

Ceres helps mobilize investors, companies, and public interest groups for a sustainable world, as well as to integrate the risks of climate change into their decision-making.
The 2030 Challenge is an initiative calling on the global architecture and building community to dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.
The Better World Fund is leading the fight for America's farms, forests, and ranches to provide 25 percent of the total energy consumed in the United States, by 2025: 25x'25.

Program Guidelines

The Sustainable Development program advances global stewardship that is ecologically based, economically sound, socially just, culturally appropriate, and consistent with intergenerational equity. Human activity is causing global warming, rapid loss of biodiversity, and accelerating degradation of Earth’s life support systems. With the recognition that the impact of unchecked climate change threatens all other conservation efforts, the program focuses its grantmaking on advancing solutions to climate change.

Featured Grantees

Young oysters are growing on this recycled oyster shell in New York Harbor as part of the Billion Oyster Project's habitat monitoring. (Courtesy of Peter Malinowski/BOP)

New York Harbor Foundation, Inc.

The Port of Shenzen in Guangdong province is one of the world's fastest growing and busiest ports. It handles a variety of transportation types including ships, trucks, and cargo handling equipment. (Photo cc-by Chris.)

Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.

The President and Directors Georgetown College (Georgetown University)

2030, Inc.

News and updates

The Philanthropic Sector Must Remain Focused on Paris Climate Targets

Many of the major climate commitments agreed on in Paris last December were made voluntarily, and now is the time to ramp up engagement to keep the international community on track, says Michael Northrop, in the latest issue of Alliance Magazine.

Michael Northrop: Is the Post-Fossil Fuel Era Now Inevitable?

The Fund’s Sustainable Development program director reflects on the atmosphere of the UN climate conference in Paris and highlights 80 agreements and achievements which contributed to the landmark meeting.

Stephen Heintz Praises the Agreement Reached at the Paris Climate Conference

The Rockefeller Brothers Fund is proud to support the Paris climate agreement as a monumental step forward for the world. This agreement would never have been possible without a strong, vital climate movement, an impassioned groundswell of work from the local and state levels building from the ground up, and a historic shift among investors and businesses.

Search form