Can environmental causes be funded in an apolitical way?

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This week’s issue picks out a key theme in the Environmental Funders Network 's latest report: how environmental funders must navigate the political landscape.

Can environmental causes be funded in an apolitical way?

Environmental philanthropy is often seen as a means to address global ecological crises in an impartial and unified manner. However, as the Where the Green Grants Went 9 report reveals, funding environmental causes is rarely apolitical.

The role of policy advocacy

Environmental issues are deeply tied to policy and regulation, making it almost impossible for environmental philanthropy to remain apolitical. Much of the funding directed towards environmental causes supports advocacy work that aims to influence policy changes, whether it’s pushing for stronger climate regulations, conservation laws, or sustainable energy policies. This inherently places environmental grantees in a political arena, where they often confront opposition from governments, corporations, or industries that benefit from weaker environmental regulations.

The report notes that grantees involved in policy advocacy frequently face resistance from political forces, especially when the policies they support challenge entrenched economic interests. For instance, advocating for renewable energy policies or carbon taxes often conflicts with fossil fuel industries, whose influence extends into government policy-making.

In these cases, environmental funders are perceived as aligning with political causes, whether or not that is their intent, which can result in political pushback. This creates a dilemma: funders must either commit to policy advocacy, with all its political complexities, or risk undermining the effectiveness of their partners.

The challenge of bipartisan support

While the environment should, in theory, be a concern that transcends political boundaries, in practice, environmental issues are often polarised along party lines. Climate change has become a particularly divisive issue; political parties can take sharply opposing stances on climate science, policy responses, and the urgency of action.

Environmental issues can also become intertwined with broader political debates about the economy, jobs, and regulation. For example, funding efforts to reduce carbon emissions can be framed by opponents as a ‘job-killing’ measure, leading to reduced political backing for these initiatives from certain political factions.

This can become particularly contentious around elections. When one political party shows bias towards policies that are likely to have severe consequences for environmental health, such as granting mining licenses or changing laws around land rights, one particular party coming into power can become a threat to the work of on-the-ground partners.

How political changes affect the small scale

Political shifts can have a profound impact on small-scale environmental organisations, many of which rely on grants to continue their work. For instance, grantees working on issues that challenge government-supported industries, such as fossil fuels or intensive agriculture, may find their funding jeopardised under administrations that prioritise economic growth over environmental protection.

Moreover, government regulations around charitable giving and environmental advocacy can shift depending on the political climate. In some cases, these regulations are tightened, making it harder for environmental organisations to receive funding or carry out their work without facing legal or financial barriers. The report points out that this creates an uneven playing field, where organisations working on politically contentious issues are at a disadvantage compared to those aligned with government priorities.

Environmental justice and racism?

Perhaps the most politically charged area of environmental philanthropy is the intersection of environmental issues with social justice and racism.

The report highlights the growing recognition that environmental causes are not just about protecting nature but also about addressing inequalities. Environmental justice advocates work to ensure that marginalised communities, often disproportionately affected by pollution, climate change, and resource extraction, are included in environmental decision-making processes.

However, environmental justice efforts often face political opposition, especially when they challenge existing power structures or economic systems that perpetuate inequality. For instance, campaigns to stop industries polluting areas with high population density frequently encounter resistance from political leaders and corporate interests that benefit from the status quo. In these cases, environmental philanthropy cannot avoid being political, as it becomes intertwined with broader struggles for racial and economic justice.

The report also notes that funders are increasingly aware of the need to address racism within environmental philanthropy itself.

Many grantees working in environmental justice are underfunded compared to larger, more established environmental organisations. These organisations are often led by people of colour and focus on grassroots, community-led initiatives, which are often overlooked by traditional funding models.

Funders need to recognise the political intersections

The report makes it clear that funding environmental causes is rarely an apolitical endeavour. From policy advocacy to grassroots initiatives, politics permeates nearly every aspect of environmental philanthropy.

While some funders may attempt to remain neutral, the challenges outlined in the report suggest that environmental philanthropy will continue to intersect with politics. Ultimately, to be effective, funders must recognise the political dimensions of their work and strategically engage with them to address the systemic causes of the environmental crises and support the communities most affected by them.

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