Per Heggenes on Climate, Risk, and Learning from Failure
In a wide-ranging conversation with Huda Jaffer, Per Heggenes, CEO of the IKEA Foundation, delved into the frustrations of global climate negotiations, the need for radical shifts in philanthropy, and the power of failure as a learning tool. Reflecting on his experience at COP27, Heggenes did not hold back in expressing disappointment at the lack of real progress on fossil fuel reduction, despite the symbolic win of the Loss and Damage Fund. Yet, he emphasized that the most promising drivers of hope lie outside these summits among grassroots actors, young people, and ecosystem builders working collaboratively for climate justice.
Heggenes spoke about IKEA Foundation’s evolution from traditional charity to a strategic funder focused solely on climate action and poverty alleviation. The foundation’s philosophy centers on funding long-term, community-grounded, systems-change initiatives where trust, transparency, and adaptive learning are key. He underscored that philanthropy must not only take risks but also responsibly embrace failure through robust monitoring, evidence generation, and collaborative problem-solving with grantees.
His message was clear: failure is not just permissible – it’s essential.
