USAID, SBTi, Scams, Trees & Octopus

A global blow

In just a few weeks, 40% of global humanitarian assistance has ceased. This abrupt halt is due to President Trump and Elon Musk’s decision to suspend all USAID funding, placing thousands of staff on administrative leave. USAID’s budget was around $40bn per year, amounting to roughly 0.6% of US federal spending.??

The consequences are profound. The cuts have led to food shortages, reduced access to essential health services, and the interruption of life-saving care for HIV and maternal health in many low-income countries. Women’s empowerment programs, which are crucial to our work with the Gates Foundation, are also facing closure. Our partners across Africa are seeing the end of programmes that protect women and girls from harm and that provide essential life skills to support their families. There is a risk of millions of deaths;?this article?in the New York Times sheds light on the real and shocking impact.???

Critics of USAID often question the legitimacy of international development.?Martin Wolf?recently reflected on USAID’s journey, highlighting the importance and necessity of foreign development assistance. After World War II, the US aimed to be a different kind of great power, focusing on economic development, building global alliances, and establishing international law. Since its founding in 1961, USAID has contributed to a significant decline in extreme poverty, from 59% in 1950 to 8.5% in 2024, despite a tripling of the world population. This is an incredible achievement that the US should be proud of.??

Instead, Musk has branded USAID as a “one of the biggest globalist terror organizations in history” and stated, “time for it to die”. This nonsensical attack comes at a time when supporting global wellbeing is more crucial than ever. The World Bank’s latest?Global Economic Prospects?report notes, global economic growth is slowing, and the performance of low-income developing countries is particularly concerning.?

International development and multilateral institutions can continue to drive the creation of a more equal, prosperous, and healthier world. That’s not just good for the people that are directly helped; it’s also good for businesses who do better when citizens thrive in stable and prosperous economies. While the US may have temporarily lost its way in this mission, it is now up to other nations, businesses, philanthropists, and foundations to bridge the gap.

Net ￡0

Last week, it was reported that Jeff Bezos’s $10 billion environmental philanthropy fund, the Bezos Earth Fund,?would stop funding the SBTi,?the international non-profit that sets the standards for corporate decarbonisation targets. Since 2021 the fund has been one of the largest funders of SBTI; together with the IKEA Foundation it provided 61% of the non-profit’s total funding last year.??

The Bezos Earth Fund’s support for SBTi has not been uncontroversial. Bezos’s influence over the body?was credited?by some as a factor in the SBTi’s surprise announcement last year to consider allowing companies to use offsets to meet their climate targets. Critics argue that Bezos had an interest in boosting the offset industry because of his fund’s links to pro-carbon market initiatives – an allegation the fund disputes.??

The latest funding decision is being reported by both parties as the natural end of a pre-defined three-year commitment, although many suggest the true cause may be Bezos’s desire to align with Trump’s climate denying politics. The SBTi has stated plans to develop “a diversified funding base going forward” which includes income from the fees it charges to validate companies’ decarbonisation targets.??

Setting a standard SBTi target currently costs just over ￡8,000. The SBTi hasn’t stated any intention to inflate these fees in the future, but we fear that if driven to do so by funding shortfalls, there’s a chance this could erode interest in pursuing certification and the rigorous science-backed targets it yields.??

The SBTi has a hugely important role to play as the most widely accepted authority on credible corporate climate action. Its future is not quite in peril, but it’s not entirely clear either. We hope that a diversified source of funding can be found to keep this entity around. Perhaps not another billionaire with deep pockets – unless they also come with strong morals.

Trolling the trolls

Everyone’s heard tales of elaborate psychological ploys to steal money through online scams, often with devastating financial and psychological impacts. People in the UK?lost over ￡11B?to scammers last year, with impersonation fraud and counterfeit goods scams being the?most common.?

While scams have always been around, digital technology makes it much easier to reach – and manipulate – people from afar. But the technology to counter scammers has been advancing too, including O2 (Telefónica UK)’s new?AI ‘scambaiter’ bot. The idea is that that the bot, an AI ‘granny’ called dAIsy, wastes scammers’ time, keeping them away from potential (human) victims. It is an effective way of trolling the trolls, and highly entertaining too – check out the video?here.?

Wasting scammers’ time is only one part of the solution, as the scambaiter has additional benefits including gathering information on how scams work, which in turn can support O2’s development of educational efforts around scams and preventative technology. The constant battle between scammers and those trying to prevent them uses lots of time and energy (particularly with AI involved). These measures help tip the balance against the scammers, and can make cybercrime less lucrative.??

Of course we all have a part to play too. Luckily, there’s plenty of information out there on?how scams work, how to?protect yourself?and how you can join dAIsy in ruining a scammer’s day by?reporting it?too.?

Rooting for tree equity

It would be wonderful to live in a city where every neighbourhood has plenty of trees, offering cool shade and cleaner air. Trees do more than beautify streets: they reduce pollution, lower temperatures, and improve mental well-being. A high tree canopy can?reduce urban temperatures by up to 2.8°C.

However, greenery is not shared equally.?Studies?show that low-income urban areas in the U.S. have 15.2% less tree cover and are 1.5°C (2.7°F) hotter than wealthier neighbourhoods. This imbalance, known as “tree equity,” highlights both environmental and social inequality.

That’s why we are interested in the new?Tree Equity campaign?from the Woodland Trust. This initiative raises awareness about tree coverage inequality, its impact on communities, and how we can all push for change. It encourages action to plant more trees in the areas that need them most, to create greener, healthier spaces for all.

Businesses have a real opportunity to help. A simple way to contribute is by involving employees in tree-planting efforts, especially in areas that lack greenery. This improves the local environment while creating a sense of shared responsibility and improve the work culture. Companies can also fund urban forestry programs, working with local councils and environmental organizations to plant trees where they are needed most.

Another effective way is for businesses to integrate tree equity into their sustainability strategies. This includes adding tree-planting to nature restoration goals or using nature-based solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. Some even connect tree-planting to their business activities.?Trainhugger for example, plants a tree in the UK for every train ticket sold in partnership with the Royal Forestry Society.

By promoting tree equity, businesses do more than improve the environment, they help create healthier, more inclusive cities for everyone. And that’s good business.

Power up your investments

Looking for a sustainable investment opportunity? Octopus Energy’s new platform,?The Collective, is giving you a chance to directly invest in renewable energy projects. With as little as ￡25, you can invest in wind power infrastructure and play a part in the transition to greener energy.??

Octopus aims to raise ￡1 million through this platform to fund two wind turbines in Yorkshire and Wales. Investors can look forward to projected returns of 6% annually, while supporting the expansion of clean energy. Even better, Octopus customers can choose to reinvest their dividends into their energy bills, effectively lowering household costs.?

As with any investment, there are risks to consider: weather conditions, policy changes, and energy price fluctuations can all impact returns. However, this platform provides a unique way to participate in the green energy transition. By making renewable energy investment accessible and combining potential returns with real-world impact, Octopus is creating a new path for sustainable investing.?

So, as you’re looking to make a real impact with your investments, consider checking out The Collective. It could be a win for your wallet and the environment, but don’t rely on us for investment advice!??

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