Washington (February 9, 2021) – Today, Lever for Change announced that Turning Point, a project in which WRI is a collaborator, and four other finalist teams will advance to the next stage of the 2030 Climate Challenge, a $10 million award launched last year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 2030. The Challenge, sponsored by an anonymous donor, will fund proven, data-driven solutions tackling greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings, industry, and/or transportation sectors in communities across the country.
“While the world is rolling out a rapid response to the coronavirus pandemic, there is no vaccine for climate change,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. “The global nature of this threat requires a similar sense of urgency and commitment to significantly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.”
Sixty-eight proposals for the 2030 Climate Challenge were evaluated during a three-month process that included peer reviews, as well as a final review by an expert panel of more than 45 philanthropic and civic leaders, and climate experts. Applications were evaluated based on four criteria: whether they were impactful, feasible, scalable, and durable.
Over the next few months, the finalists will work with a team of technical experts to strengthen, revise, and re-submit their proposed solutions for the $10 million award.
Turning Point, a project from World Resources Institute, Electrification Coalition, EVHybridNoire, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, seeks to drive Southeast transportation electrification, increasing EV market share to 50% and reducing transportation emissions by 50 million tons per annum by 2030.
“With transportation being the largest source of emissions in the United States, it is a critical time for the country to move toward clean electric cars, buses, and trucks that not only benefit our climate but also our health and our economy,” said Dan Lashof, United States Director of World Resources Institute. “We are thrilled Turning Point has been selected as a finalist for the 2030 Climate Challenge. This prize would enable WRI and our partners to greatly accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles in a pivotal region of the United States.”
“Electrifying the transportation sector in America is an immediate strategy for reducing carbon emissions, and the Southeast is a critical region to focus on,” said Stan Cross, Electric Transportation Policy Director for Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “Although the region has been lagging in EV adoption, the market is gaining traction as the Southeast has captured over 30% of the nation's EV manufacturing investment to date, leading to job growth and sparking state and local policymakers' interest. We have the opportunity to transform transportation in the Southeast into a cornerstone of an equitable clean energy economy.”
The Challenge is being managed by Lever for Change, a nonprofit that helps donors to find and fund solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, including racial and gender equity, economic development, and the future of refugees.
A final grant recipient will be announced in the summer of 2021. Learn more about the 2030 Climate Challenge and the five outstanding finalists: www.2030climatechallenge.org.
World Resources Institute
WRI is a global research organization that spans more than 60 countries, with offices in Africa, Brazil, China, Europe, India, Indonesia, Mexico, and the United States. Its more than 1,000 experts and staff work closely with leaders to turn big ideas into action at the nexus of environment, economic opportunity, and human well-being. More information on WRI can be found at www.wri.org or on Twitter @WorldResources.
Lever for Change Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, helps donors to find and fund solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, ranging from racial and gender equity to economic development and climate change. Building on the success of the MacArthur Foundation’s $100 million competition, 100&Change, Lever for Change customizes and manages open and transparent competitions for donors. In addition, we match donors with nonprofits and social enterprises in our Bold Solutions Network whose solutions to significant social challenges were highly ranked after rigorous evaluation in one of our competitions. Currently, Lever for Change is managing nine competitions, ranging in size from $10-to-100 million, awarding $295 million to grant recipients and strengthening dozens of top organizations. For more information, visit www.leverforchange.org.
