Alliance for Development and Climate Foundation

The Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima (Alliance for Development and Climate Foundation) is a German civil-law foundation based in Berlin that serves as the institutional home of the Alliance for Development and Climate, a multi-stakeholder initiative launched in 2018 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Its central idea is to link climate protection with sustainable development: companies, institutions, organisations and private individuals are encouraged to finance high-quality climate protection projects in countries of the Global South, where the development impact is greatest. In doing so, supporters simultaneously strengthen economic development, improve local living conditions and protect the planet. The Alliance was founded in 2018 as a BMZ initiative and was transferred into a foundation in 2020. Until 2021, its secretariat was hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, working on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and in cooperation with the Forschungsinstitut für anwendungsorientierte Wissensverarbeitung/n (FAW/n). Since 2021, the foundation has carried the Alliance, taking over the secretariat's tasks and securing and multiplying its work over the long term. The foundation describes itself as an independent platform that informs, advises, networks and supports exchange. It publishes studies, provides a broad range of educational and orientation materials for anyone interested in sustainable development, climate protection and voluntary greenhouse-gas compensation, and offers dedicated formats for Alliance supporters. Its vision is that the Earth's natural life-support systems, and especially climatic conditions, remain intact in the long term while global prosperity grows and sustainable prospects open up for developing and emerging countries in line with the goals of the 2030 Agenda. Its mission is to promote engagement by state and non-state actors for sustainable development and international climate protection, so that more high-quality projects are implemented in developing and emerging countries, improving local living conditions, the global climate balance and biodiversity. By its own account, the Alliance now counts more than 1,600 companies, cities and districts, educational and scientific institutions, associations and private individuals among its supporters. The foundation connects these actors with providers in the voluntary CO2 compensation market ('Partner für Entwicklung und Klima'), bundles their offerings on its website and helps select concrete projects in the Global South that deliver both climate and development benefits. Projects and the climate certificates they generate must meet recognised standards defined by a working group within the Alliance. The foundation also organises annual conferences with workshops and expert talks, produces the podcast 'Grad° Global', and since 2023 has offered the independently verified SDGold seal to organisations that demonstrate commitment to sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The foundation is led by board chair Peter Renner and board member Olivia Henke, with its office in Berlin.

The Alliance for Development and Climate was launched in 2018 by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as an initiative to promote the simultaneous advancement of global sustainable development and international climate protection, grounded in the UN 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement. Its approach centres on voluntary compensation of greenhouse gases through climate protection projects in countries of the Global South that both bind or reduce emissions and foster economic and technological progress, protect the environment and biodiversity, and improve local living conditions. In 2020, the initiative was transferred into a foundation of civil law (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts), the Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima, established in autumn 2020. Until 2021, the Alliance's secretariat was hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, implementing the Alliance's goals and activities on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and in cooperation with the Forschungsinstitut für anwendungsorientierte Wissensverarbeitung/n (FAW/n). From 2021, the foundation took over the secretariat's tasks and has since carried the Alliance, securing and multiplying its work over the long term. The foundation operates as an independent platform that informs, advises, networks and supports exchange. It connects companies, organisations and institutions with providers in the voluntary CO2 compensation market ('Partner für Entwicklung und Klima'), bundles their offerings on its website and provides an overview of the voluntary carbon market. Projects and the climate certificates they generate must meet recognised standards defined by a working group within the Alliance. The foundation also organises annual conferences with workshops and expert talks for its supporters, and carries out educational and awareness-raising work on development and climate. It commissions and produces studies to accompany and shape the voluntary carbon market, the development and climate policy framework, and trends in development and climate finance. Examples include a 2021 study on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and its significance for the voluntary market, a 2022 study on the development impacts of projects in the voluntary carbon market, and a guide for implementing a contribution claim model. Fact sheets and guides compile information from basic knowledge to practical tips. The foundation also produces the regular podcast 'Grad° Global', hosted by Anja Backhaus. Since 2023, the foundation has offered its supporters an independently verified seal, SDGold, awarded to organisations that demonstrate commitment to sustainable development and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The seal is assessed in five steps, including organisational policy for development and climate, accounting of organisational greenhouse gas emissions, and ambitious climate protection targets and measures. By its own account, the Alliance now counts more than 1,600 companies, cities and districts, educational and scientific institutions, associations and private individuals among its supporters. The foundation is led by board chair Peter Renner and board member Olivia Henke, with its office in Berlin. The board of trustees is chaired by Laura Schmidt (BMZ), with Martin Schröder (KfW Banking Group) as deputy chair.

• 2023

  SDGold seal introduced for organisations committed to sustainable development and the SDGs.

• 2022

  Study on the development impacts of projects in the voluntary carbon market published.

• 2021

  Foundation takes over the secretariat's tasks from GIZ and carries the Alliance.

• 2021

  Study on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and its significance for the voluntary market published.

• 2020

  Initiative transferred into a foundation of civil law (Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima), established in autumn 2020.

• 2018

  Alliance for Development and Climate launched by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

Independent, non-profit multi-stakeholder platform linking voluntary climate compensation with sustainable development in the Global South.

• Voluntary climate compensation projects

  Projects in the Global South that reduce or bind emissions while fostering development, environment and biodiversity.

• Climate protection certificates

  Certificates from projects meeting recognised standards defined by an Alliance working group.

• SDGold seal

  Independently verified seal for organisations demonstrating commitment to sustainable development and the SDGs, assessed in five steps.

• Studies and guidelines

  Publications on the voluntary carbon market, development and climate policy, and contribution claim models.

• Podcast 'Grad° Global'

  Regular podcast hosted by Anja Backhaus on development and climate topics.

1. 1Startseite - Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klimaallianz-entwicklung-klima.de
2. 2Karriere - Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klimaallianz-entwicklung-klima.de
3. 3Über uns - Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klimaallianz-entwicklung-klima.de
4. 4Alliance for Development and Climate Foundation - Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org