The Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy, which welcomes philanthropic partners to join, has members including Blue Horizons Foundation, CleanEcon, Founders Pledge, Ray Rothrock, and the Rodel Foundation, with the Oppenheimer Project serving as strategic partner.
In its launch announcement at the Philanthropy Asia Summit in Singapore, the coalition said that “philanthropy has, for decades, under-invested in the nuclear space. According to analysis by Founders Pledge drawing on ClimateWorks Foundation data, only 0.1-0.2% of climate philanthropy supports nuclear energy, less than USD2 of every USD1,000”.
The Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy plans to “grow and align philanthropic capital for nuclear across four strategic pathways, with the aim of supporting more countries in exploring the safe and credible integration of nuclear into their energy mix over the next 5 to 10 years”.
The four pathways are to: build the case, using “data-informed, culturally grounded narratives that connect nuclear energy to concrete outcomes” and build durable public support; grow the field, expanding the global talent, institutions and networks needed to deploy and govern nuclear power safely and effectively; make it bankable, by de-risking financing structures and attract the public and private capital needed; strengthen governance, by building on successful initiatives to strengthen safety, security and governance frameworks.
The initiative stresses its goals align with the COP28 Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, the pledge now supported by 38 countries backing an at least tripling of global nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
Ashvin Dayal, Senior Vice President for Power at The Rockefeller Foundation, said: “Universal energy abundance – the kind that powers industries, anchors economies, and raises living standards for billions – requires firm, clean power alongside renewables. The next generation of nuclear technologies, including small modular reactors, is advancing fast and costs are coming down, opening a real prospect that many developing and emerging economies could add safe, abundant, clean baseload power to their energy mix. Getting there will take serious work on policy, regulation, finance, and human capital. That is precisely why we are forming the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy now.”
Desmond Kuek, Executive Director and CEO of the Temasek Trust, which was established by Singapore-state-owned global investment company Temasek Holdings, said: “Nuclear power is a vital clean energy source that can help address the climate crisis. Through the Global Coalition for Nuclear Philanthropy, we aim to convene like-minded partners to support informed dialogue and responsible approaches to nuclear energy in upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and responsible waste management.”
As strategic partners, the Oppenheimer Project, which helped develop the coalition, says it will continue to identify high-impact opportunities and ensure the coalition operates effectively across a complex, multi-stakeholder landscape. TT Foundation Advisors, the philanthropy advisory arm of Temasek Trust, will provide infrastructure support, including tailored donor-advised funds, and grant management support in the initial years.
