Secretary John Kerry’s message to investors and philanthropists: act now 

When NEXUS Australia convened investors, philanthropists and policymakers in Sydney this month, the presence of former US Secretary of State John Kerry helped bring attention. But the real significance was in the conversation it sparked and the call to action that emerged. 

Secretary Kerry pointed to a clear shift. The energy transition is no longer driven primarily by climate policy. It is being accelerated by structural forces such as rising energy demand, electrification, AI and energy security. Clean energy is increasingly the most competitive option. 

This reframes the opportunity. Climate action is not only an environmental imperative, but an economic one. For Australian investors and philanthropists, it signals that the transition is not a future prospect. It is investable now and at scale. 

The conversation, hosted by NEXUS Australia and global climate investment firm Galvanize, brought together a cross-section of Australia’s capital ecosystem. Family offices, institutional investors, philanthropists, entrepreneurs and Philanthropy Australia Impact members attended, alongside leaders including Malcolm Turnbull, former Prime Minister of Australia; The Hon. Matt Kean, former NSW Treasurer and current Chair of the Climate Change Authority; and senior figures from Minderoo, Boundless Earth, Australian Ethical and the Climate Council. 

Collaboration is key 

A consistent theme was the convergence of impact and returns. Many climate solutions are already commercially viable. The challenge is to accelerate deployment and unlock larger pools of capital. As was said during the discussion, “value and values no longer need to be in tension”.

This shift has important implications for philanthropy. The role of funders is expanding beyond funding early-stage innovation to involve mobilising mainstream capital, helping de-risk opportunities and supporting system-level change. 

A central call to action was the need for deeper collaboration. No single sector can deliver the transition alone. Progress depends on coordinated effort across government, business, philanthropy and civil society. Bringing these perspectives together is no longer a nice to have. It is essential to unlocking progress. 

There was also a strong sense of Australia’s potential. With abundant renewable resources, critical minerals and proximity to Asian markets, Australia has the ingredients to become a renewable energy powerhouse. 

Execution constraints 

The constraint is execution. The question is whether projects can be approved, financed, connected and scaled fast enough. This is where aligned capital has a critical role to play, particularly capital willing to move early and help crowd in further investment. 

The conversation also highlighted a broader contribution philanthropy can make. Supporting trusted information in an era of growing disinformation and strengthening the conditions for collective action are becoming increasingly important roles. 

NEXUS Australia’s convening reflects a wider shift already underway. Australia’s giving and investment communities are becoming more connected, more confident and more willing to engage with complex challenges.

The opportunity is clear. The question now is how quickly we act to realise it. 

Philanthropy Australia is the host organisation of NEXUS Australia, which unites next gen philanthropists, emerging young social entrepreneurs, impact investors and allies to catalyse new leadership and accelerate solutions to the world’s greatest social problems. 

The NEXUS Impact Society is a membership program of next generation and emerging philanthropists, wealth inheritors and impact investors.