Dear IISD Community,

It’s an understatement to say that 2021 has been a difficult year. Whether because of the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic, an increase in extreme weather events due to climate change, or mounting threats to our ecosystems, many of us are feeling overwhelmed as we head into 2022.

But what I’ve learned from my time here at IISD is that, while these challenges are extremely daunting, they aren’t insurmountable. Every day, our staff and associates choose to confront these challenges head-on, actively creating a world where people and the planet thrive.

And we’re making progress, too—I’ve witnessed it first-hand.

But we need your help to make sure this work continues ([link removed]) .

Looking back at the past couple of months, IISD has seen huge strides forward:
* At COP 26, IISD and our partners helped secure a multilateral commitment to shift international public finance away from fossil fuels. The Statement on International Public Support for the Clean Energy Transition ([link removed]) now has 39 signatories and will potentially free up USD 20 billion per year for clean energy.

* Together with the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the MAVA Foundation, and UNIDO, IISD launched the Nature-Based Infrastructure (NBI) Global Resource Centre ([link removed]) , which will play a crucial role in building the case for greater investment in NBI and getting more natural infrastructure projects up and running, especially where they’re needed most—in the developing world.

* Canada announced it would contribute CAD 10 million toward the NAP Global Network ([link removed]) , which is actively helping more than 50 of the world’s most vulnerable communities adapt to climate change. A few days later, more funding announcements ([link removed]) came from Germany, the United States, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. IISD hosts the secretariat for the NAP Global Network.

* Scientists at IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) kicked off urgently needed research into the effects of antidepressants and single-use plastics on our fresh water. We’re also celebrating a CAD 37.5 million pledge from the Government of Canada to continue the important work our team is doing at this one-of-a-kind “natural laboratory” into the years ahead.

I hope you are as encouraged as I am by this momentum. At this critical juncture, the key is to invest in the critical work ([link removed]) our 200+ experts are doing to create a stable climate, sustainable resource management, and fair economies.

Now is the time to help IISD bring the right people together with the right tools—evidence-based research and actionable policy recommendations—to make change happen. This is what we do best, and we’re ready to do more.

But we need your help. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of donors to provide the stability and agility we need to continue our work around the globe. Please join me in making a personally significant gift ([link removed]) —because tomorrow needs us today.

As we head toward a future where so much remains unknown, let’s remember this: It’s still in our hands. We can reach net-zero by 2050. We can protect ourselves and future generations from the devastating effects of climate change. We can create equitable, inclusive economies. We have the roadmap, and we know the way forward. Together, we can get there.

I'm ready to support IISD! ([link removed])
With gratitude,
Dr. Richard Florizone
President and CEO
International Institute for Sustainable Development

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