FICS has today published the first in our Shifting the Momentum series for climate philanthropy: a primer setting out how shrinking civic space is undermining effective climate action, sharing the strategies donors are using to counter this trend, and highlighting some of the excellent work being done by civil society across the globe.

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – through transition to clean and renewable energy, preservation of forests, transformation of our food and agriculture systems, and other strategies – relies on our broad rights to influence policy and practice by speaking, participating, and organising freely. Without the space to advocate and operate, progress on climate goals stalls or reverses, making shrinking civic space a fundamental issue for all working toward a safe, healthy climate.

Shifting the Momentum: Reclaiming Civic Space for Climate Mitigation draws on FICS’ decade of expertise on both the manifestations of shrinking civic space and its drivers; conversations with climate donors from private philanthropy and intermediary funds, climate groups working at the international, national, and local levels; and desk research. 

The briefing identifies four key enabling conditions that are crucial for momentum and change in climate policy and practice:

1. Civic freedoms such as the right to speak and publish freely, form and fund non-profit organisations, and dissent without fear of repression
2. A healthy information ecosystem, with a broad spectrum of ownership and voices, transparency, and resilience against manipulation
3. Transparent and accountable corporate governance, which operates in the public interest
4. Inclusive and participatory decision-making

Shrinking civic space erodes these conditions. FICS identifies three complementary sets of approaches that climate funders can use as entry points to halt and reverse this erosion, and ensure that climate action is able to succeed in meeting its goals. The briefing makes the case that – to safeguard civic space for climate action – philanthropy must invest in all three. 

Shifting the Momentum: Reclaiming Civic Space for Climate Mitigation goes on to make concrete recommendations for what these interventions can look like, and introduces emerging and existing best practices. Poonam Joshi, Director of FICS and co-author of the report, said, “Shrinking civic space presents a growing, existential threat to the climate field. Climate mitigation funders are supporting some of the bolder upstream work, on democratic renewal or challenging corporate power; understanding their work as part of a joined-up approach – and collaborating with funders working in other fields such as human rights and tech justice – can help scale these solutions to match the scope and urgency of the problem”.

The Shifting the Momentum series seeks to assist climate donors to understand shrinking civic space in the climate policy and advocacy field, and, for those who are ready, to support efforts to reverse the trend.

In the coming months, this primer will be followed by additional in-depth resources on unchecked corporate power, informational integrity, abuse of national security paradigms, and other drivers of shrinking civic space.

Read the full briefing here. Follow FICS on LinkedIn or subscribe to our newsletter to be among the first to find out when these resources are published.