On CSR for climate – A letter from the CEO

Dear ICC community,

A few years ago, I sat in a meeting with a group of CSR leaders, discussing how corporate philanthropy could support climate action. One executive candidly admitted, “We want to do more, but we don’t know where to start. Climate change feels too vast, too complex. How do we ensure our funding makes a real difference?” It was a sentiment I had heard many times before. Despite the growing urgency of climate change, CSR funding largely remained focused on more traditional areas, like education, healthcare, and livelihoods, because climate solutions often seemed abstract, difficult to measure, or disconnected from immediate community needs.

There is a massive opportunity with corporate philanthropy; total CSR expenditure in FY22-23 amounted to nearly INR 30,000 crores, of which only a minor portion was directed to climate action. This capital can be catalytic for climate progress; it can support various models of development for India, de-risk investments, and scale community-led solutions over a particular landscape or theme. But we also realised funders needed someone to make this process easier for them. 

To harness this potential, the ICC launched Earth Exponential 1.5 years ago to help CSR funders accelerate inclusive climate solutions. We curate and vet high-impact climate projects from credible non-profits and enable connections between funders and non-profits so both find a good fit.

We help funders find better solutions and make informed decisions.  

In doing so, we actively focus on two main challenges today. Historically, due to regulatory restrictions and low visibility of holistic solutions, CSR funding has tended to flow towards projects that prioritise short-term results. At times, this can be at odds with long-term sustainable development. We are addressing this gap with two steps: first, we help NGOs develop a robust climate lens and ensure their projects align with communities’ long-term climate action goals, and then we help funders identify suitable projects. This includes persuading CSR funders to consider diverse solutions in vulnerable geographies and helping them better understand the climate implications of their investments. 

We help non-profits boost their climate capacities and visibility.  

Many non-profits lack the capacity to position and/or communicate the climate benefits of their projects, hindering opportunities to access climate finance. We actively bridge this gap by assisting non-profits in developing and articulating their climate lens, through detailed project proposals, compelling storytelling, and a strong impact measurement framework. We also spend time directing funder attention to expert insights and evolving conversations at the grassroots, through collaborative conferences and knowledge products around grey areas like blended finance, carbon credits, and urban resilience.

It’s been an exciting journey so far, with several learnings. In this special edition, we detail some of the insights we’ve gained from supporting the CSR ecosystem and feature five additional projects from our catalogue. 

We dedicate this edition to our community of non-profit partners and CSR funders, who are driving transformation across India and advancing our collective understanding of equitable climate action. We remain committed to supporting CSR and working collaboratively to channel this capital in catalytic ways, towards a climate-resilient future for all. 

On behalf of the ICC team,
Shloka Nath

Read the ICC’s January 2025 newsletter on CSR for Climate here.