Since 2007, we have supported Cool Earth in its work to back Indigenous and local communities to protect rainforests and fight the climate crisis. Indigenous people have lived in balance with rainforests for thousands of years and are the real rainforest experts. Despite this, they face extreme injustice whilst living on the front line of the climate crisis. Cool Earth exists to give support directly to rainforest communities and fund projects that create choice, tackle the root causes of deforestation and protect vital carbon sinks.
From the latest satellite technology being used by people to monitor their own forests, to cash directly to households to keeping trees standing, to sustainable cacao farming, all of Cool Earth’s projects back people to keep their rainforest healthy and intact.
Across the three largest tropical rainforest biomes on Earth, in eight countries, Cool Earth has delivered millions of pounds to Indigenous and local communities in 14 global partnerships, where rainforest stores an estimated 177 million tonnes of carbon.
Vivienne’s advocacy work
Ever since a visit to a Cool Earth Asháninka community project by Vivienne and Andreas in Peru in 2013, they have supported Cool Earth. Their visit was covered by The Times and played an important role in raising the profile of Cool Earth.
Vivienne and Andreas have personally donated over £1.5million to Cool Earth's fight against deforestation. Following a week spent living with the Asháninka community in the Peruvian Amazon, Vivienne went on to lobby the Peruvian government on their Forestry Programme. Her career-long commitment to direct action in the face of government indecision sits at the heart of Cool Earth’s people-led approach.
Two Vivienne Westwood fashion shows have been dedicated to Cool Earth, a collaboration with Burberry launched an exclusive fundraising collection, and Vivienne has rallied support from icons in the fashion industry including Moss and Naomi Campbell.
In 2018, the British Fashion Council honoured Vivienne with the Swarovski Award for Positive Change at The Fashion Awards. The award recognises and celebrates individuals who actively seek to address challenges in society using their resources to achieve change and positive impact.
Recent collaborations with Cool Earth include a WePresent fundraising campaign with WeTransfer and the Serpentine gallery, and the green energy Switch campaign with the British Fashion Council.
Cool Earth also features in Vivienne’s Climate Manifesto, as part of her ongoing Climate Revolution campaign.
‘I’VE PUT MY FAITH IN THE FANTASTIC CHARITY ‘COOL EARTH’, WHICH WORKS WITH LOCAL TRIBES TO PROTECT RAINFOREST THAT IS VULNERABLE TO LOGGERS. AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IT WORKS.’
— Vivienne Westwood
