Environment

We support researchers to address climate change and methane pollution, funding them to create and implement solutions to drastically reduce methane emissions. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas and over a 20-year period, it is 87 times more potent at warming than carbon dioxide. Reducing methane emissions is the fastest opportunity we have to address climate change now. Our grants support technological innovation related to methane emissions reduction in agriculture, which is the largest contributor to global methane emissions.

Our Environment program also makes grants to tackle plastic pollution. Every year, over 11 million metric tons of plastic waste enters the ocean. We support solutions aimed at reducing production of single-use plastics, rethinking and recycling plastic.  

“Climate change is the defining issue of our time. By supporting researchers working on developing solutions to reduce methane emissions, we can slow down global warming within years and ensure a healthier planet for future generations. ” - ELIZABETH R. GERSTNER

Our Grantees


Major Environment Grants


Grants listed below may be from the Gerstner Family Foundation or another Gerstner family philanthropic vehicle. Amounts may reflect cumulative annual grants or multi-year grants. To see annual amounts, please see listings of grants paid each year.

  • Global Methane Hub

    Washington DC | Visit Website

    To support the Global Methane Hub's agriculture research and development grantmaking

    $1,500,000

  • Plastic Solutions Fund

    New York, NY | Visit Website

    To support the Plastic Solutions Fund grantmaking

    $300,000

  • MIT

    Cambridge, MA | Visit Website

    To support the scaling conversion of low level methane project

    $750,000


    To support the OneSource design competition to enhance plastic recycling

    $300,000

  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

    Falmouth, MA | Visit Website

    To support the sunlight and plastic toxicity research project

    $150,000


    To support the field-based sensing of microplastics in aquatic environments project

    $150,000

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