The Cut: What Can You Actually Do About Climate Change?

Giving Green's advice was featured in The Cut:

When you need to fly, buying carbon offsets — or paying a company to reduce emissions to compensate for the carbon footprint you personally contribute by driving or flying — is often recommended as a partial solution. However, you should check to make sure your money is actually going toward decreasing emissions, and avoid giving it to a second party, such as an airline, that offers to make the contribution for you. Giving Green, an initiative that seeks to give scientific, transparent recommendations on where to donate to fight the climate crisis, fact-checks all the carbon-offset companies on its site. But keep in mind that carbon offsets are more of a Band-Aid solution. Dan Stein, a co-founder of Giving Green, recommends supporting organizations that seek real, systemic change. “People shouldn’t forget about their carbon footprint, but they should try to make choices that support a low-carbon ecosystem,” he says.

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In addition to ensuring that your money isn’t actively contributing to climate change, you can donate to help fight it. Stein recommends that people use their money to support organizations working toward systemic change, such as the Clean Air Task Force, or donating to the Sunrise Movement Education Fund. Meiman recommends donating to climate-change-based mutual-aid organizations, such as Giniw Collective, which created a bail fund for those protesting Enbridge’s Line 3 pipeline. Donating your time can be valuable too: “Organizations like the Sunrise Movement need people power,” Stein says.

Where can you give to fight climate change today? Learn more about Giving Green's top five nonprofits here.