Our Climate Policy

The science is clear that human-induced climate change is real. Minderoo Foundation accepts the scientific assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In the same spirit, Minderoo Foundation supports:

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the ultimate objective of which is to stabilise atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic (human induced) interference with the climate system.
The Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global temperature rises to well below 2 °C relative to pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.

The IPCC has identified 2020-2030 as the critical decade for action on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the World Meteorological Organization, the average global temperature has already risen by over 1 °C since the pre-industrial era. Globally, we are witnessing more extreme weather events, which are set to be more frequent and more intense. Here in Australia, floods and bushfires are a clear example of how increased weather volatility due to climate change is already contributing to the intensity and scale of natural disasters.

The time to act is now. Collectively, we must act with speed and determination to reduce emissions and create pathways to achieve a net-zero emissions global economy. Climate change is already exacerbating environmental degradation and societal inequalities. We must act immediately if we are to effectively mitigate climate change and achieve net-zero emissions well before 2050. If we do not act, we risk leaving enormous challenges, and terrestrial and marine ecosystem-wide destruction to our next generation. Minderoo Foundation accepts this call to action.

Minderoo Foundation has estimated its emissions associated with its philanthropic activities and from the investment activities which fund its philanthropic work. This provides critical data upon which Minderoo Foundation can base its emissions reduction strategy, including the development of emissions reduction targets, and emissions avoidance and mitigation projects.

Aligned to our environmental focus, we will embed our response to climate change across the organisation, with a particular focus on the nexus between oceans and climate change across both climate mitigation and adaptation. We will support efforts to adapt to the already changed natural environment, through programs of work on resilience, marine research, over-fishing and ocean plastics.

In addition, Minderoo Foundation’s Fire & Flood Resilience Program is driving a new model for global leadership in climate-induced disaster resilience, reducing societal, environmental and economic harm, to position Australia as the emerging global leader in fire and flood resilience by 2030. Minderoo Foundation is also supporting research to examine the environmental impacts of frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence. We will progressively add new areas of focus, to ensure we are contributing to critical advocacy on key environmental topics and protection of the most vulnerable from the impacts of climate change.

Our Strategy

Minderoo Foundation will achieve its commitment to this policy by:

Decarbonising our operations and achieving carbon neutrality across our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, (excluding our scope 3 financed emissions) by 2030, applying the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, reduce and offset emissions.
Addressing our scope 3 financed emissions through the continued evaluation of the climate strategies of the businesses in which we invest, to ensure they are Paris-aligned through credible net zero pathways.
Working with communities, governments and other stakeholders to ensure a just transition where negative impacts to workers, businesses and communities are avoided and benefits maximised, as countries transition to greener economies.
Including Indigenous peoples as an active part of the transition, prioritising Indigenous leadership, knowledge and solutions in caring and protecting Country.
Aligning our policies and advocacy activities to our Climate Policy to accelerate the transition towards a Paris-aligned future.
Encouraging our partners to make a net zero commitment, including measuring their own carbon footprint and disclosing their performance against these targets.
Creating strategic alliances to collectively work towards the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Working to address gender inequalities and supporting women and girls who are disproportionately impacted by climate change, recognising that climate change can amplify existing gender inequalities and poses unique threats to both women and girls’ livelihoods, health , and safety.
Acknowledging and rewarding our suppliers, who understand the impact of their operations on climate change and actively work to reduce their emissions
Encouraging our partners to measure their own carbon footprint, make a net zero commitment and disclose their performance against these targets.
Joining the UN Race2Zero campaign as a clear signal of our commitment to net zero emissions and encouraging our partners to also join the race to net zero emissions.
Committing to carbon neutrality for all future Minderoo Foundation constructions and ensuring that these constructions have the highest green energy or equivalent rating available.

Minderoo is signatory to the International Philanthropy Commitment on Climate Change.