Honouring Ted Turner: A Legacy That Helped Shape WCF’s Mission

The passing of Ted Turner marks the loss of one of the defining visionaries in global collaboration and conservation. An entrepreneur and philanthropist, he recognised early that addressing global challenges would require alignment between business, finance, government and society.  

Turner did not only reshape how the world understands global events by founding CNN, the world’s first 24‑hour news network. He also dedicated much of his life and wealth to tackling systemic challenges, from environmental protection and biodiversity to nuclear risk and global development.  

His $1 billion commitment to establish the United Nations Foundation in 1997, was the largest individual philanthropic donation in history. It helped catalyse a new model of global partnership, mobilising institutions, capital and stakeholders around shared goals.  

This belief in collaboration as the engine of progress sits at the heart of World Climate Foundation’s work. 

Early Support That Enabled a Platform

Since World Climate Foundation’s (WCF) founding in 2009, the organisation has focused on building bridges across sectors to enable delivery through collaboration. At a time when such collaboration was far from established, Turner supported WCF CEO, Jens Nielsen’s vision. 

In 2010, alongside COP16 in Cancún, the first World Climate Summit was launched with Turner’s backing and the support of then‑President of Mexico, Felipe Calderón. This was more than an endorsement. It reflected a shared understanding that progress would depend on bringing together actors who had not traditionally worked side by side: 

“Ted Turner understood long before many others that protecting nature and building long‑term economic resilience were deeply connected. A visionary entrepreneur and conservationist, he consistently backed efforts that aligned leadership, capital and long‑term stewardship. His early support for the World Climate Foundation reflected that conviction and helped shape the platform we continue building today. We honour his contribution with deep gratitude and respect.” 

 — Jens Nielsen, CEO and Founder, World Climate Foundation 

That early support helped enable what WCF has since become: a global platform that mobilises capital, aligns sector frontrunners, and drives implementation through cross‑sector collaboration. 

A Broader Legacy of Collaboration

Turner’s wider legacy reinforces this trajectory. Through initiatives such as the Turner Foundation and the United Nations Foundation, he championed conservation, supported sustainable development, and helped protect more than two million acres of land - demonstrating how capital, stewardship and long‑term thinking can work together. 

Across his philanthropy and advocacy, Turner consistently championed international cooperation and the belief that systemic challenges require systemic collaboration. 

From Collaboration to Implementation

Today, that principle sits at the core of our work. 

Through initiatives such as the Investment Mobilisation Collaboration Alliance (IMCA) and WCF's Sector Coalitions, the Foundation continues to connect leaders across finance, industry and government - translating climate ambition into investable opportunities and scalable delivery. 

This reflects a model Turner helped champion: not only raising ambition, but building the mechanisms required to deliver it and bringing together unlikely partners to act collaboratively. 

Carrying Turner's Legacy Forward

Turner repeatedly made the case that progress depends on action. As the gap between commitment and delivery persists, his message is more relevant than ever.  

At WCF we remain committed to strengthening partnerships, accelerating investment, and enabling the collaboration required to deliver real‑world outcomes. 

We leave the final words with him: 

“While the problem can sometimes seem overwhelming, we can turn things around – but we must move beyond climate talk to climate action.” 

 — Ted Turner