Stalled Climate Effort Has Grant Makers Rethinking Approach

After spending some $500-million in recent years to press for federal legislation and international agreements on global warming, grant makers and other wealthy donors are rethinking their giving as the White House push on the issue sputters, according to Politico.

With the Obama administration backing off efforts to limit carbon emissions through “cap and trade” approach, donors are wondering whether their money would have been better spent on other environmental efforts. “There’s some serious soul searching going on,” said Betsy Taylor, a philanthropy adviser. (Read a Chronicle opinion article by two top officials at the Cummings Foundation on the ideas donors should explore.)

Environmental donors are looking at other ways to pursue the climate agenda, such as backing green groups that challenge specific industries on emissions and using their money to build a stronger political network.

“We’re not very good at supporting our friends and we’re not particularly good at punishing people who vote the wrong way,” the philanthropy adviser Kathleen Welch said during a conference call for green donors shortly after last November’s elections.