- Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of Programs at The Rockefeller Foundation, leads the Foundation’s global efforts to address the climate crisis, focusing on building resilient communities and systems. The Rockefeller Foundation has committed $1 billion over five years to tackle climate change, emphasizing solutions in renewable energy, food systems, health, and finance that benefit vulnerable populations.
- Yee emphasizes the importance of cross-sector partnerships—governments, private companies, and civil society—to drive systemic change and scale innovative solutions like clean energy access and AI-driven resilience.
- The Asia-Pacific region plays a central role in the Foundation’s climate strategy, as its success will be pivotal in global climate action, with Yee highlighting the region’s leadership in climate innovation and research.
- Yee recently spoke with Mongabay’s Matthew Boyer.
In the world of philanthropy, few institutions carry as much historical heft as The Rockefeller Foundation. Founded over a century ago with the grand ambition to promote the well-being of humanity, it has, over the years, evolved to confront the most pressing global challenges of the time.
Today, the climate crisis looms largest among these challenges, and Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of Programs, finds herself at the helm of a multifaceted response. Her leadership encompasses not only managing the Foundation’s vast portfolio of global programs but also steering its strategy to ensure the well-being of the world’s most vulnerable populations in the face of climate upheaval.
Yee, who joined the Foundation in 2019, is no stranger to this type of work. Prior to her current role, she held leadership positions in the Foundation’s climate initiatives and at 100 Resilient Cities, where she worked to mobilize financial solutions for cities grappling with the consequences of a changing planet. Her background reflects a commitment to blending strategy with action, to turning abstract notions of resilience into concrete benefits for communities and ecosystems alike.
“The Rockefeller Foundation was founded 111 years ago with a clear mission—one that has never changed: to leverage the latest scientific and technological solutions to promote the well-being of humanity,” Yee notes. “Today, the climate crisis is the single biggest threat to that mission.”
The Foundation’s approach to this existential challenge is one that blends ambition with pragmatism. Yee speaks of a $1 billion commitment over the next five years to scale climate solutions. This isn’t philanthropy as usual—it’s a tactical effort to accelerate transformations in energy, food, health, and finance systems. At its core is the desire to empower the nearly one billion people still living without access to reliable electricity, a basic necessity in the modern world. Here, the vision is not just to decarbonize but to democratize: to ensure that clean energy transitions also address inequality, bringing opportunity to those who have historically been left behind.
The Rockefeller Foundation’s signature initiative in this arena, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), is not just a well-funded project—it’s a calculated “bet” on a future where clean power transforms lives. GEAPP aims to end energy poverty in over 80 nations, mobilizing public and private capital to reach a billion people with reliable, abundant, and sustainable energy. If successful, it will also avert some four billion tons of carbon emissions, roughly a tenth of the world’s annual output.
Yet, the ambition doesn’t end with energy. The Foundation is also reimagining global food systems, which Yee describes as critical not only for planetary health but for the equitable future we all strive towards. The facts are stark: one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions stem from food production. Yee makes the case for regenerative agriculture—an approach grounded in Indigenous ecological wisdom that prioritizes soil health and the well-being of people, animals, and the environment. It’s a sweeping vision, but one grounded in the same kind of pragmatism that has marked the Foundation’s work since its inception: real solutions that create ripple effects across systems.
Yee talks of partnerships not in the typical philanthropic sense of check-writing but as dynamic collaborations between governments, private sector entities, and civil society. It’s about building ecosystems where innovation can take root—whether through clean energy solutions in low-income countries or by leveraging AI to improve the resilience of communities on the frontlines of climate change.“Climate change poses a singular threat to humanity,” Yee says, “and to The Rockefeller Foundation’s 111-year mission of promoting its well-being throughout the world. To meet our mission today, we must directly confront climate change and take specific actions to transform how humanity farms, powers its communities, prevents and protects against disease, and lives and works.”
Looking ahead, Yee envisions a future where the Foundation plays the role of convener and catalyst, pooling resources and fostering collaborations that can scale solutions. Her focus on Asia is particularly telling. With 45% of global GDP and over half of the world’s carbon emissions, the region’s trajectory will define the success of global climate action. And, as Yee highlights, countries in Asia-Pacific are already leading in sectors like electric vehicles and climate research, offering a glimmer of hope in what often feels like an otherwise bleak global landscape.
Of course, the challenges remain vast. But the Rockefeller Foundation has never been one to shy away from them. It built its reputation on “scientific philanthropy,” a term John D. Rockefeller himself coined to describe applying the best of science and technology to improve the human condition. Today, under Yee’s guidance, that legacy continues with an added layer of urgency. Whether through scaling renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa or advocating for regenerative farming in the United States, Yee’s work is about ensuring that the advances of the 21st century reach everyone, not just the fortunate few.
As she puts it, “Our focus for the near future is to build a more just, more sustainable future—for all people.”
An interview with Elizabeth Yee, Executive Vice President of The Rockefeller Foundation
Mongabay: Can you share your career journey and how it led you to your current role at The Rockefeller Foundation?
Before moving into the non-profit sector, I spent my entire career in finance, where I developed, structured, and executed billions of dollars of infrastructure, energy, commodities, and derivative transactions. Eventually, I began to see how I could leverage my understanding of investment structures and financial management for social impact.
That realization happened when I was working on a utility-scale solar deal in California. I took it to the rating agencies and said, “Look at this amazing opportunity. Our client is demonstrating strong financials. We’re changing the energy fuel mix to renewables, and we’re providing new jobs and training to people who didn’t have them before. How do these social and environmental benefits factor into the credit analysis?” And the answer was, “It doesn’t.”
That’s when I knew the sector needed to change. Because if we didn’t consider an ecosystem holistically on a planet that needs help, we weren’t going to deliver—for anyone. That experience, as well as a few other factors, helped me decide that it was time to use my skills from finance to help build a better planet.
Mongabay: What are some of the most impactful projects you have worked on at The Rockefeller Foundation?
I was fortunate to see several impactful projects during a trip to Singapore and the Philippines this past April.
My favorite visit was to Maysan Elementary School in Valenzuela City, the Philippines. Maysan Elementary is part of The Rockefeller Foundation and World Food Program’s supported program that guarantees students a nutritious, locally sourced, and sustainably produced meal each day. My visit coincided with Chicken and Cream of Mushroom Soup Day, which was quite a hit with the students (although a few told me they were much more excited for Chicken Adobo Day). It was a pleasure to meet with students and to learn more about the Filipino government’s vision for a universal school feeding system that improves student nutrition and helps local farmers provide diversified foods with more sustainable agricultural techniques.
I also met with several organizations that The Rockefeller Foundation is partnering with on the Coal to Clean Credit Initiative (CCCI), which is developing a new carbon credit methodology to incentivize the transition from coal-fired power plants to renewable energy in underserved economies. One of our major projects under this Initiative aims to avoid up to 19 million tons of CO2 emissions by closing the South Luzon Thermal Energy Corporation coal plant in the Philippines by 2030—ten years ahead of schedule—by replacing it with renewable energy and battery storage, while also supporting the livelihoods of workers affected by the transition. If projects like this one are successful, we will have a new way to mobilize financing for clean energy transitions.
Mongabay: Can you elaborate on some of the key strategic initiatives currently being undertaken by The Rockefeller Foundation?
The Rockefeller Foundation was founded 111 years ago with a clear mission, one that has never changed: to leverage the latest scientific and technological solutions to promote the well-being of humanity. Today, the climate crisis is the single biggest threat to the well-being of people around the world. To meet our mission, we need to find and scale the solutions that can lift up the people most vulnerable to climate change.
That’s why The Rockefeller Foundation is investing $1 billion over the next 5 years to help the world address climate change in a more concerted manner, while also seizing the climate transition’s benefits for the billions of people who have historically been denied them. We are focused on advancing—and ensuring everyone can participate in—the transformations underway in the world’s energy, food, health, and finance systems by:
- accelerating the transition to renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions and empower the nearly 1 billion people who do not have access to the electricity needed to compete in the modern economy
- transforming food systems so they nourish people and planet alike and fuel a more equitable future
- advancing innovations needed in the face of climate change’s many health threats so the most vulnerable can live healthier lives
- helping unlock the trillions in financing needed to address climate change while realizing a more equitable global economic system
Mongabay: How do you envision the future of The Rockefeller Foundation’s program strategy evolving over the next five years?
Over the next 5 years, The Rockefeller Foundation will leverage our $1-billion-dollar commitment to develop and scale solutions that help people living on the frontlines of climate change mitigate and adapt to it. We will do so in the following ways:
- We will work with communities to understand what’s needed, take risks on and invest early in innovative solutions, and lead by example through net zero commitments in our operations and endowment.
- We will bring people together, build alliances, and pool resources for common goals.
- We will elevate worthwhile ideas and inspire key stakeholders to think bigger and act bolder.
- When the conditions are right, we will bet big by marshalling the resources and partners to scale real solutions, support those seeking to make large-scale change, and track progress so everyone can benefit.
Our work in the Asia-Pacific region is essential to this strategy. With 45% of global GDP, 60% of the world’s population, and 53% of global carbon emissions, Asia’s trajectory will define the success of global climate action. Asia has set high climate ambitions to hasten the shift to a low-carbon future: together, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, and Thailand have the potential to reduce the world’s greenhouse gas emissions by 25% with their current commitments.
Fortunately, the region is already leading the way: home to a robust private sector and one of the most highly skilled workforces in the world, countries in the Asia-Pacific are hosting influential global dialogues, making substantial financial commitments, developing innovative solutions like a booming electric vehicle market and comprehensive vector control programs, and leading climate research.
Mongabay: Can you discuss some of the partnerships and collaborations that have been integral to The Rockefeller Foundation’s success?
The Rockefeller Foundation’s work across Asia has long been rooted in collaboration with governments, other philanthropists, and civil society. Our work in the region began with the establishment of Thailand’s first health ministry and the founding of the Peking Union Medical College in 1921. Throughout the 20th century, the Foundation played a critical role in revolutionizing agriculture and advancing medicine by supporting scientists and building networks, which continues to serve the health and well-being of people across the region.
Today, our biggest partnership is the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), which is helping catalyze a just energy transition by mobilizing public and private capital to reach 1 billion people with reliable, abundant, clean power worldwide. This work aims to avert four billion tons of carbon emissions and support more than 150 million sustainable livelihoods.
Mongabay: What are some current trends in philanthropy that you find particularly exciting or concerning?
In the rapidly evolving philanthropic landscape, innovative financial mechanisms such as impact investing and blended finance combine financial returns with social impact, and cross-sector partnerships drive systemic change. Another important trend is the emphasis on building trust within local communities and ensuring that philanthropic interventions are contextually relevant and community driven. The significance of local partnerships and bottom-up approaches is fostering sustainable impact, as seen in our collaboration with energy developers in India—work that, in many ways, led to the founding of GEAPP.
Mongabay: How does The Rockefeller Foundation engage with stakeholders, including grantees, partners, and the communities you serve?
The Rockefeller Foundation adopts a participatory approach by engaging grantees, partners, and communities in decision-making processes. We prioritize continuous feedback through regular consultations with stakeholders to refine and enhance our programs. This approach ensures that our efforts in systemic change, forged through local partnerships and adaptable strategies, deliver equitable, impactful, and scalable solutions that benefit communities affected by the climate crisis.
Mongabay: How is The Rockefeller Foundation incorporating innovation and technology into its program strategies?
John D. Rockefeller rooted this institution in “scientific philanthropy,” which he defined as applying the “frontiers of science, technology, and engineering to improving the state of humanity.” Throughout our history, we have focused on developing and scaling new advances because we believe innovative breakthroughs can help people overcome challenges and realize opportunities — but only if they reach all people.
Today, we are focused on helping to ensure that advanced data science, artificial intelligence, and machine learning tools are deployed in ways that empower underserved communities, bridge knowledge gaps, prevent harm, and increase equity.
Mongabay: Our Founder and CEO recently returned from The Rockefeller Foundation’s Bellagio Center, where they discussed accountability mechanisms for the global biodiversity framework. The Rockefeller Foundation has several facilities like this around the world. How does The Rockefeller Foundation leverage these assets to accelerate progress on critical challenges?
The Rockefeller Foundation regularly convenes influential leaders—and sometimes unlikely partners—to collectively unlock solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
The Bellagio Center, our primary hub for our convenings and residencies, hosts 1,000 people each year, through short convenings of groups and longer residencies for individuals. Such residencies have sponsored more than 4,000 leaders who have produced novel solutions and inspiring works of art. The Global Alliance for Vaccination Initiative (GAVI) and the idea of “impact investing” emerged from the convening dialogues held at the Bellagio Center.
In addition to the Bellagio Center, we host convenings around the world, including at our offices in New York, Washington, DC, Bangkok, and Nairobi.
Mongabay: Are there any new areas or issues that The Rockefeller Foundation plans to focus on in the near future?
Climate change poses a singular threat to humanity, and to The Rockefeller Foundation’s 111-year mission of promoting its well-being throughout the world. To meet our mission today, we must directly confront climate change and take specific actions to transform how humanity farms and eats, powers its communities and homes, prevents and protects against disease, and lives and works. Our focus for the near future is to build a more just, more sustainable future—for all people.
Matthew Boyer conducted the interview. Rhett A. Butler wrote the introduction.