Who We Are
SCCF is in a unique position as a Climate Change foundation because it was initiated and endowed by Sindicatum Sustainable Resources Ltd. (“SSR”), a leading project finance company active in the emissions abatement and clean energy markets. This background helped to develop a pragmatic and commercially-savvy approach to charitable activities around the world. We understand renewable energy technologies and are capable of making rapid assessments of their viability in any given context. We will implement this approach to fulfil our purpose: Addressing the challenge of Climate Change by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and by supporting adaptation to its impacts, while also considering related opportunities for sustainable development.
What We Know
Vast areas of potential GHG emissions reductions in the developing world are not touched by commercial developers working under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) because the small scale of many projects and/or the difficulty of operating in certain regions diminishes economic incentives. Aid and development agencies, meanwhile, often are not focused on promoting change that reduces emissions.
lack of motive
SSR's experience in Asia and the Middle East has highlighted an obstacle to Climate Change mitigation - an inadequate depth of local engineering expertise to undertake emission reduction projects.
lack of experience
Action to mitigate Climate Change in the developed world is often delayed as different actors (e.g. governments, businesses, NGOs, citizens) shift responsibility from one to the other.
lack of agreement and action
Efforts to address Climate Change in the developed world are also slowed by a lack of relevant information and capacity among key stakeholders. Poor understanding of renewable energy technologies is widespread, particularly amongst major decision makers.
lack of information
Our Plan
To reduce GHG emissions in developing countries as well as alleviate suffering via adaptation and/or sustainable development initiatives:
- We will undertake projects that combine GHG emission reduction with Climate Change adaptation and/or development aid.
- We will demonstrate that these kinds of combined project can be successfully implemented in developing countries, often at a profit.
- Additionally, we will work to stimulate the widespread uptake of similar types of project and encourage the flows of appropriate funding.
To fund education at post-graduate level; taking science graduates in developing countries and providing them with the expertise to become directly involved in sustainability, clean energy and related industries:
- We will provide - with the help of partner universities - post graduate scholarships and a living allowance to engineering graduates in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Africa and the Middle East.
- We will support them in conducting applied MSc level research in disciplines germane to their home-country Climate Change challenges.
- An example would be funding a Chinese engineering graduate to attend a world-class programme on coal mine methane management systems.
- Using our global network, we will also support scholars in finding an appropriate job or internship on completion of their studies.
To facilitate technology and methodology transfer between regions. Commercial solutions are being developed in many different areas (energy efficiency, waste to power, re-cycling), though often on a small scale and with locally specific characteristics.
- Through our network we will identify and check out these technologies.
- We will try and encourage the spread and take-up of such ideas in other regions, adapting them to different conditions.
- Normal commercial channels would eventually get around to doing this, but the process is usually very slow.
Targeted Outcomes
- Stimulation of the flow of capital into emission reduction projects (with adaptation and/or development co-benefits) increases sustainability in communities and contributes to the reduction in the rate and magnitude of Climate Change while fostering energy independence and security.
- Increase in pool of local engineering expertise enables Asian, African and Middle Eastern countries to introduce more sustainable energy programmes and reduce GHG emissions more quickly.
- Government bodies, businesses, NGOs and citizens become more effective in their contribution to reduce GHG emissions and/or build resilience to Climate Change.