The ClimateWorks Foundation in partnership with the Howden, Laudes, Quadrature Climate, and Rockefeller foundations, has launched a $50 million Adaptation and Resilience Fund (A&R Fund), which will assist people facing the greatest climate risks such as extreme heat, floods, and droughts.

Led by the ClimateWorks Foundation, the A&R Fund will spur community resilience in low- and middle-income geographies with projects ranging from early warning systems to innovative financial tools. The funding fulfills a $50 million commitment made by the funding partners last year in response to the UN Secretary-General’s Call to Action on Extreme Heat and reflects the growing momentum to invest in climate resilience, which saw more than $650 million awarded in 2024.

According to the partnership, adaptation remains one of the most underfunded areas of climate action, as public finance flows cover only 10 percent of adaptation costs in low-income countries. Moreover, business investments in adaptation and resilience can yield returns ranging from $2 to $42 for every dollar spent, and can help build climate resilience at a local scale with people-centered solutions.

“Adaptation is where local innovation meets global momentum,” said ClimateWorks Foundation senior director of adaptation and resilience Jessica Brown. “With bold investments in climate adaptation, philanthropy can help connect the dots to strengthen collaboration, pilot scalable solutions, and build resources for community resilience.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Angelica Zander)