Climate & Environment

Conservation, Adaptation & Co-creation

Climate Change threatens to undo decades of developmental progress and disproportionately affects those most marginalised. At the same time, we are also witnessing the sixth mass extinction and can see the anthropogenic impacts on our rich biodiversity and ecosystems. The complex web of interconnections between the biosphere and the economy are more apparent than ever before. This crisis affects our planet, people and nature alike. The foundation is focused on the twin goals of building the adaptive capacities of communities to make them more climate resilient, and nourish and conserve our biodiversity to enhance the ecosystem’s resilience.

 

OPPORTUNITIES

Being cognisant of the interconnectedness between developmental and climate-related challenges and recognising the distinct risks each of them poses, the Foundation applies a climate-sensitive development approach to its focus areas. Our areas of work include: 

  1. Conservation and Biodiversity: Within this focus area, we examine a rich mosaic of sub-themes that include, but are not limited to, human-wildlife interactions, species conservation and habitat loss, community engagement and livelihood generation, biodiversity loss, and protecting and restoring ecosystems.  
  2. Climate Change Resilience and Adaptation: Under this focus area, we look at building the capacity and resilience of communities to adjust and adapt their ecological, social and economic systems to climate-related shocks, while also balancing their developmental and livelihood needs. Our work prioritises disaster risk reduction and prevention, heat adaptation and investments in nature-based solutions and sustainable agricultural practices. 
2024-25 2023-24 2022-23

Resources in this field

March 27, 2026
Article

SSIR | Does Everything in the Social Sector Need to Scale?

by Tanya Kak For at least two decades, one question has structured much of how philanthropy and the social innovation ecosystem think about change: Can it scale? The question appears in grant[...]

March 24, 2026
Others

Press Release | Supported by Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, a New Public Observation Tower Project Planned at Bannerughatta Biological Park, Bengaluru

Through a grant of INR 5 Crore, the project aims to enhance visitor experience and increase conservation awareness, and visitor engagement  Bengaluru, March 24, 2026 — Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies (RNPF)[...]

February 28, 2026
Article

IE | Rohini Nilekani writes: Indian philanthropy can step in to mitigate climate disasters’ effects

Whether in education, healthcare, skill building, agriculture or any other sector, there are severe climate adjacencies that will have to be addressed urgently. Philanthropy can provide both the high-risk capital[...]