George Gund Foundation’s climate director named civil society delegate to United Nations Climate Conference in Scotland
CLEVELAND, OH – John Mitterholzer, director of The George Gund Foundation’s Climate and Environmental Justice program, will be participating in the international United Nations Climate Conference as a United States Civil Society delegate. Mitterholzer is co-chair of the Climate and Energy Funders Group, the largest group of climate change related funders in the world.
In his role at the U.N. Climate Conference, Mitterholzer will co-convene daily gatherings of philanthropic funders from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Europe to develop collaborative relationships and share best practices that work together and leverage more effective work toward meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord adopted in 2015.
“Ohio is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the United States,” Mitterholzer notes. “Collective action across all sectors is urgently required. Human activity already has triggered a chain of damaging climate change and environmental degradation. Those who suffer first and foremost are disproportionately people of color who live in more vulnerable locations and the poor who have fewer resources to adapt. The U.N. Climate Conference brings together the best minds in the world to address climate change. It is the most important work we can do.”
Foundation President David Abbott adds, “We believe that Cleveland can continue to help develop original responses to issues that can benefit people everywhere. Our focus on Cleveland offers an important point of leverage to affect issues that go well beyond the city’s boundaries and climate change certainly does.”
Mitterholzer will be sharing insight and information throughout his time at the U.N. Climate Conference via the Foundation’s social media accounts. Follow him on Twitter at @GundFoundation, Instagram at @GeorgeGundFoundation, and Facebook at @GundFoundation.
The 26th U.N. Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) takes place in Glasgow, Scotland, October 31–November 12, 2021. The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action toward the goals of the Paris Agreement and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs in climate and environmental justice, creative culture and arts, public education, thriving families and social justice, and vibrant neighborhoods and inclusive economy. Foundation commitments to date have totaled over $816 million.
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John Mitterholzer
Program Director, Climate and Environmental Justice
John Mitterholzer is the Foundation’s program director for Climate and Environmental Justice. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2008, he was a program officer at the Cleveland Foundation. Mitterholzer is the former chair of the Funders Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities, the current co-chair of the Climate and Energy Funders Group, and an active member of the Environmental Grantmakers Association. He holds a B.A. in history from Baldwin Wallace University and an M.A. in history from the University of Memphis.
Advancing environmental justice and climate change action reflect core values of The George Gund Foundation. Every nonprofit organization applying for grant support is required to include a climate change statement with their proposal. Guidelines and samples can be found on the Foundation’s website.