Apolitical has received a $2M Bezos Earth Fund grant to expand its Government Climate Campus, aiming to provide climate education to twelve million public servants by 2026. This initiative will help governments worldwide address the climate crisis.
The UK-based global online learning platform for public servants, has secured a $2M grant from the Bezos Earth Fund to scale its efforts in training government workers to address climate change. The funding will enable Apolitical’s Government Climate Campus to expand its reach, aiming to provide essential climate training to twelve million public servants by the end of 2026.
Climate education empowerment
Apolitical’s Government Climate Campus, which launched in January 2023 with The Bezos Earth Fund as its founding funder and the Smith School of Enterprise and Environment at the University of Oxford as its founding expert partner, has already exceeded expectations by training over 40,000 public servants across the US, Brazil, South Africa, and the UAE—six times its initial goal. With this new funding from the Bezos Earth Fund, the platform will enhance its training programs, using advanced technology to scale up the programme at the speed required to combat the climate crisis.
The need for this initiative is critical, as Apolitical’s Government Green Skills Survey reveals that while 68% of public servants acknowledge the impact of climate change on their work, only 35% have received any climate-related training. Bridging this gap is essential for meaningful climate action, making wide-scale training for government officials a top priority.
Expanding the Government Climate Campus
The Bezos Earth Fund grant will support the creation of seven new online training modules, covering topics like the low-carbon transition, forest management, and the design and delivery of countries’ NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions). These modules will be complemented by communities of practice, leadership briefings, virtual masterclasses, and in-person gatherings at key climate forums. The initiative will focus on countries like the United States, Brazil, India, South Africa, and Indonesia, where governmental action on climate is particularly urgent.
Robyn Scott, CEO and co-founder of Apolitical, emphasised the vital role governments play in climate action, stating, “Governments are essential climate actors and are increasingly aware of the need for strategic partners to rapidly upskill their large workforces at speed and scale to enable the action the climate emergency requires. The government green skills gap is a critical global threat to climate action. The Government Climate Campus is working to close this gap at speed and scale. We are delighted to continue our work with The Bezos Earth Fund and our many brilliant subject expert collaborators enabling us to provide evidence backed training governments urgently need.”
Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, echoed this sentiment, “Governments need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to deliver transformative policies. The Bezos Earth Fund is so proud to partner with Apolitical to support climate-capable governments.”
A global approach to climate training
Apolitical’s Government Climate Campus offers a world-class curriculum developed in collaboration with leading academic institutions like the University of Oxford, the World Resources Institute, and RMI. The platform has garnered international recognition, including being named one of Fast Company’s ‘World Changing Ideas’ and a nominee for the Earthshot Prize in 2024.
With the additional funding, Apolitical is set to play an even larger role in equipping public servants with the tools they need to meet ambitious climate targets, helping governments worldwide respond effectively to the climate emergency.
Apolitical is a UK-based global network and learning platform designed to support public servants and policymakers. With over 250,000 members in 160 countries, it provides a space for government workers to share best practices and develop critical skills in areas like climate change and AI. The platform partners with leading universities and research institutions, including the University of Oxford and Georgetown University, to create innovative learning programmes.