In a shocking revelation, tax filings obtained by Digital have exposed the Climate Emergency Fund (CEF), a California-based organization funded by Hollywood actors and producers, for pouring millions of dollars into disruptive activist protests worldwide. The group, which saw a significant increase in funding last year, sent a staggering $5 million to left-wing protest groups, a 274% year-over-year increase.
CEF’s executive director, Margaret Klein Salamon, expressed pride in supporting “some of the boldest, bravest climate activists in the world who are not just fighting but are winning.” Salamon emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis, stating that catastrophic climate events are accelerating globally.
The tax filings revealed that CEF’s supported activist organizations brought “new life and vigor” to the climate movement. These groups trained over 15,000 people, participated in protests with 47,000 individuals, and received coverage from global media outlets 25,000 times.
The majority of CEF’s grants, approximately $4 million, were allocated overseas, with the largest portion going to Just Stop Oil, a British activist group known for disrupting public places and stopping traffic. Just Stop Oil gained international attention when its members threw tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting “Sunflowers” at London’s National Gallery.
CEF also provided financial support to other global groups, including Dernière Rénovation in France, Save Old Growth in Canada, and Ultima Generazione in Italy. These organizations staged disruptive protests throughout 2022.
In the United States, CEF granted $1 million to domestic groups that employed tactics similar to Just Stop Oil. The National Institute for Peer Support received the largest domestic grant, with $206,000 earmarked for the group Extinction Rebellion. These groups have been calling on President Biden to declare a “climate emergency,” although he has yet to do so.
While CEF’s actions may seem grassroots, some critics argue that the environmental activist movement is not entirely organic. Daniel Turner, founder and executive director of Power The Future, believes their activism is well-thought-out and centrally planned, with hidden financiers orchestrating the movement. He suggests that the authenticity of the movement comes into question when considering the financial backing behind it.
CEF’s tax filing also revealed that the organization received significant anonymous contributions, with more than 50 individual donations worth thousands of dollars each. Several contributions exceeded $100,000, including one surpassing $1.2 million. High-profile Hollywood figures such as Jeremy Strong, Chelsea Handler, Thomas Middleditch, Abigail Disney, and Adam McKay, who serves on CEF’s board, have made contributions. Politicians like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Hillary Clinton’s nonprofit, Onward Together, have also donated.
It is worth noting that CEF’s donors can remain anonymous due to nonprofit reporting regulations. However, the organization lists numerous contributors in its annual report, including those mentioned above.
The revelation of CEF’s significant financial backing and its impact on disruptive protests raises questions about the true nature of the climate activist movement. As the world grapples with the urgent need for climate action, it is crucial to understand the various forces at play and their influence on the movement’s direction.
[Author’s note: The article presents the information objectively, providing factual details about the Climate Emergency Fund’s funding and its support of activist groups. The tone is neutral, adhering to journalistic standards.]
