Managing our environmental impact
As a global philanthropy committed to improving the lives of children, CIFF recognises both the urgency of the climate crisis, and our responsibility to contribute to solutions through our operations.
Climate change is one of the greatest threats to children globally. It impacts health outcomes, food insecurity, displacement, loss of opportunities. All these impacts are most acutely felt by the world’s most vulnerable communities, particularly children. For this reason, climate action is central to CIFF’s work and operations.
Objectives of CIFF’s climate transition plan
To ensure our operations match our programmatic goals, CIFF’s climate transition plan outlines how we will reach the following internal targets:
Reduce CIFF's scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions in line with best available global climate benchmarks
Enhance CIFF’s resilience to climate-related risks
CIFF’s climate transition plan has been developed in line with the transition plan taskforce disclosure framework, which is owned and recommended by the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), ensuring our plan meets international best practice. All targets and actions are guided by the best available global climate benchmarks, including those from the International Energy Agency (IEA), as well as reflect the local contexts in which we operate.
Following this best practice has enabled us to develop a comprehensive plan, covering Scope 1, 2 and 3, as well as financed emissions. The plan has been adopted by CIFF’s Board of Trustees, and progress is reported on annually. The plan is being embedded into our business planning, governance and culture to ensure that it is fully integrated across the organisation.
Climate transition plans are not static and need flexibility to adapt depending on changing policy landscapes, scientific advances, and new technology. Our plan is therefore one that will be continuously reviewed on an annual basis, ensuring that we are holding ourselves accountable while adjusting accordingly depending on external factors. By doing so, CIFF can ensure that our transition plan remains ambitious while also being realistic. We will continue to explore ways to address critical barriers to the climate transition, both through our engagement strategy with stakeholders, and through our continued grant making catalysing climate action.
CIFF’s climate transition plan reinforces all of our work – helping to create a world for children that is safe, healthy and provides opportunities, which in turn creates a better world for everyone.
