About us

The New Zealand Climate Foundation has been formed to help address the ongoing and urgent climate crisis happening not just in Aotearoa New Zealand but across the globe.

What we do.

The New Zealand Climate Foundation addresses critical gaps in Aotearoa New Zealand's response to climate change by activating climate solutions that deliver material emissions reductions at the pace and scale the climate emergency demands.

We identify high-impact opportunities where evidence-based solutions exist but face barriers to implementation - whether due to fragmented efforts, insufficient capital, or misaligned institutional settings. We design credible pathways that combine policy insight, solutions to mobilise finance, and expert delivery to unlock progress.

Through rigorous analysis and strategic partnerships, we unlock philanthropic capital and convene the expertise needed to turn stalled potential into demonstrated impact, working independently and constructively across sectors to help Aotearoa achieve rapid emissions reductions this decade.

What makes us different.

We are focused on speed, scale, and integrity.

The New Zealand Climate Foundation has a specific focus on emissions reductions that can be delivered at scale within the next decade.

We prioritise initiatives with clear emissions impact, defend high-integrity standards, and challenge approaches that delay action or weaken ambition.

Our work is designed for impact.

Closing the implementation gap.

Rapid emissions reductions are feasible, affordable, and in New Zealand’s interests, and the technical knowledge exists to achieve them. However, commitment to stronger ambition and progress in delivery are stalled by:

  • Fragmented delivery efforts

  • Insufficient capital mobilisation for proven solutions

  • Policy gaps

  • Weak coordination in climate response

The New Zealand Climate Foundation is established to address these systemic barriers by acting as a catalyst that unlocks high-impact opportunities and strengthens delivery conditions. We work across the full landscape: strengthening policy integrity, enabling coordination, and activating high-impact initiatives.

Our Principles

  • Innovative and ambitious

    We pursue solutions that match the urgency and scale of the climate challenge, with a focus on delivery and impact.

  • Independent and non partisan

    We work constructively across political perspectives while maintaining independence from funders, partners, and partisan influence.

  • Evidence based and results focused

    We prioritise rigorous analysis and assess our work by real-world emissions reductions and improved system performance.

  • Aligned with Te Tiriti and sector supportive

    We embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles into how we prioritise and deliver our work, and act in ways that strengthen the wider climate sector.