Yunus Environment Hub Philanthropy

The Yunus Environment Hub (YEH) is a global social enterprise network dedicated to developing and implementing solutions for the urgent environmental issues of our time. Founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, the YEH builds on over 40 years of experience from the Grameen Creative Lab, which plays a central role in the global social enterprise movement.

The main mission of the YEH is to promote social enterprise solutions that address environmental issues in a financially self-sustaining and socially inclusive manner. The goal is to create a world with "Three Zeros": Zero Poverty, Zero Unemployment, and Zero Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions. The YEH emphasizes the importance of human connections and a shared purpose to bring about systemic change.

• Circular Economy: The YEH supports the transformation from linear to circular economic systems, based on the 7 R's: Rethink, Reduce, Re-use, Repair, Refurbish, Recover, and Recycle.
• Zero Waste: By promoting extended producer responsibility and responsible waste disposal and management practices, the YEH aims for waste reduction and a closed-loop recycling economy.
• Carbon Neutrality: The YEH develops and supports CO2-free business models and compensation mechanisms for unavoidable emissions to contribute to a CO2-neutral economy.
• Biodiversity and Restoration: By supporting local communities and indigenous peoples, the YEH promotes sustainable entrepreneurship, ecotourism, permaculture, sustainable forestry, and reforestation programs.
• Sustainable Agriculture: The YEH empowers small farmers and rural communities through business training, capacity building, digital skills, and market access to promote sustainable practices in remote areas.

The YEH focuses on several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Through accreditation with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as well as observer status at the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions and the UN International Negotiating Committee (INC) for a global plastics treaty, the YEH underscores its commitment to global environmental initiatives.

The YEH is based in Germany and operates in countries such as Kenya, Germany, Vietnam, and Colombia. By supporting social entrepreneurs who develop scalable solutions for climate action, the YEH strengthens their business capacities, promotes circular strategies, and enhances their ecosystems to spread sustainable solutions. The YEH has already implemented solutions in over 40 countries and tirelessly advocates for a positive environmental impact.

The Yunus Environment Hub is a shining example of how social entrepreneurship can bring about systemic change and effectively address the environmental crisis. Through its comprehensive initiatives and deep commitment to sustainability, the YEH significantly contributes to creating a better future.

• 1 - https://catalyst2030.net/organisations/yunus-environment-hub/
• 2 - https://www.fao.org/mountain-partnership/members/members-detail/tr/c/182598/
• 3 - https://yunusenvironmenthub.com
• 4 - https://yunusenvironmenthub.com/about/
• 5 - https://goodjobs.eu/jobs/project-manager-gn-for-circular-value-chains-yunus-environment-hub