Holistic education policies can help address climate change by promoting system-wide solutions that bring together development finance providers to build climate-resilient labour markets and communities. International frameworks such as UNESCO’s Greening Education Partnership reflect this approach, aiming to turn joint education–climate commitments into co-ordinated, multi-stakeholder engagement, including philanthropy.
A new report from the OECD Network of Foundations Working for Development (netFWD) analyses how education philanthropy integrates climate objectives and aligns with international frameworks. Based on data from large cross-border foundations reported to the OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS), climate-related funding remains limited, rising from 0.5% of total education funding in 2020 to 4.8% in 2022. Likewise, although total environmental philanthropy ranged from USD 654 million to USD 1.04 billion annually between 2020-2024, education-related projects accounted for just 0.4% on average.
This session will explore how despite these figures, evidence shows philanthropy plays a meaningful role in the education–climate nexus, especially in low- and middle-income countries, focusing on green skills, teacher training, curriculum integration, climate justice and essential child services. Panellists will discuss the findings of the report which calls for stronger data and clearer evidence to better scale philanthropic engagement in this space and align with international harmonisation efforts.