The Global North accounts for only 15% of the world’s population – yet is responsible for 80% of global emissions. The Global South, by contrast, contributes just 8% of emissions but bears the greatest burden of climate impacts. This study examines the extent to which leadership in climate organizations reflects those most affected by the crisis. In 2024, zedela surveyed 19 funded organizations in the Climate Finance Fund’s EU portfolio on the diversity and inclusivity of their boards and senior staff.
Project Information
- Conducted by Zentrum für Data-driven Empowerment, Leadership und Advocacy (zedela)
- Funded by the Climate Finance Fund
- Project period: 2024
Methodology
- 64 board members and senior staff from 17 of 19 invited organizations
- Quantitative online survey (English, French, German)
- 4 investment areas: Bank Lending, Financial Policy, Asset Management, Venture Capital
- Response rate: 89.5% (organizations) | 45.4% (individuals)
- Data collection: 2024 | Publication: 2025
Key Findings
1. Representation in the Total Sample
- 21% non-white (n=13) – 9 percentage points above the US GAO study (2017)
- 50% women (n=32) – 21 percentage points above the US GAO study
- 16% LGBQA (n=10) – above the global average of 9% (Ipsos Global Survey 2023, 30 countries)
- 33% with caregiving responsibilities (n=21) – aligned with the EU average of 34%
2. Distribution Across Investment Areas
- Bank Lending: 26% non-white, 50% women, 15% LGBQA, 29% with caregiving responsibilities
- Venture Capital: 25% non-white, 50% women, 12% LGBQA, 0% with caregiving responsibilities
- Financial Policy: 12% non-white, 54% women, 12% LGBQA, 42% with caregiving responsibilities
- Asset Management: 0% non-white, 33% women, 33% LGBQA, 17% with caregiving responsibilities
3. Representation Gaps
- No non-white individuals were reported in Asset Management
- No trans*, inter*, or non-binary individuals in the sample
- All single parents and all caregivers for relatives in the sample are women
Recommendations
- Regular survey implementation for continuous monitoring of representation trends and the identification of structural developments
- Comprehensive internal diversity assessments integrated into broader strategic and organisational development processes to drive meaningful, structural change
Citation
Yıldırım-Caliman, D., Bremberger, T., Gyamerah, D., & Aikins, J. K. (2025). Climate Finance Fund Equality Data Survey Report. Zentrum für Data-driven Empowerment, Leadership und Advocacy (zedela) gUG. https://zedela.org/en/publications/climate-finance-fund-equality-data-report/
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