Why Did Rihanna Donate $15 Million to Climate Justice? The Reason Will Surprise You

Rihanna, the Barbadian singer and businesswoman, is known for her philanthropic ventures. Her Clara Lionel Foundation has made significant contributions to various charitable causes such as education, health, and disaster relief efforts. Now, Rihanna is expanding her philanthropy to climate justice, pledging $15 million to 18 organizations working in seven Caribbean nations and the United States, as per Popwrapped.

Rihanna's donation reflects her belief that climate change is a social-justice issue. She highlighted that climate disasters do not impact all communities equally, with communities of color and island nations facing the brunt of climate change. Therefore, Rihanna's foundation is prioritizing both climate resilience and climate justice work, recognizing the disparities and injustices that exist.

The donation is being made in partnership with Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey's #StartSmall philanthropic initiative. The two organizations are focusing on groups with female, LGBTQ, Black, and Indigenous leaders because their communities are at the greatest risk. Justine Lucas, the Clara Lionel Foundation's executive director, emphasized the importance of building partnerships with grassroots organizations and acknowledging their deep understanding of what is necessary to achieve climate justice in their own communities.

Rihanna's donation will support 18 organizations, including the Climate Justice Alliance, the Indigenous Environmental Network, and the Movement for Black Lives. These organizations work on various climate-related issues, such as promoting renewable energy, advocating for environmental policy changes, and supporting communities affected by climate disasters.

The Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) is a national network of environmental justice organizations. The CJA works to combat climate change while addressing the root causes of economic, racial and environmental injustice. The Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) is a grassroots organization that works to protect Indigenous lands and the rights of Indigenous peoples. IEN focuses on climate justice, environmental justice, and the protection of sacred sites. The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) is a coalition of over 150 Black-led organizations that advocate for policies to end systemic racism and promote the well-being of Black communities. M4BL works towards solutions that prioritize racial justice and recognizes that climate change exacerbates existing inequalities.

Rihanna's donation comes at a crucial time when the effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, with more frequent and severe climate disasters. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the world must take immediate action to limit global warming to 1.5°C, in order to prevent catastrophic climate change, as per The Third Pole. The IPCC has highlighted the urgent need for transformative changes in society, which include transitioning to renewable energy sources, reducing emissions, and supporting vulnerable communities affected by climate change.

The Caribbean region, where Rihanna is from, is particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as hurricanes, sea-level rise and ocean acidification. The region has also experienced devastating climate disasters in recent years, such as Hurricane Maria, which caused widespread destruction in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands. Rihanna's donation will support organizations working in the Caribbean, where climate change poses a significant threat to people's lives and livelihoods, as per CNBC.

Rihanna's philanthropic ventures are not limited to climate justice. She supports various causes such as coronavirus relief efforts and anti-Asian hate protests. In April 2021, she joined an anti-Asian hate protest in New York, holding up a neon green sign that read, "HATE = RACISM AGAINST GOD" and a bright pink sign with #StopAsianHate written across it, as per USA Today. Rihanna has also shown support for Black Lives Matter protests and other social justice movements.