Instead of dropping cash on Cyber Monday, consider making a donation to a worthy organization instead. While there are no shortage of important causes out there, climate change is one that needs your help more than ever before.
Why? Two words: Myron Ebell. The likely future head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the director of the Center for Energy and Environment, which is a libertarian organization that questions climate change. If Ebell is in fact sworn into the cabinet and is in charge of the EPA, we have to come together as a country to keep this planet from decaying. Plus, there are other ways the environment is likely to suffer in the coming years, too. It will become our personal responsibility as citizens until the government is forced to pay attention.
Non-Monetary Ways to Help
Donating to eco-friendly organizations is one of the biggest ways you can help, but before I get into that, here are some other things you can do that don’t require cash:
- Call your local government and/or senator. They are always willing to hear citizens’ concerns. If the line is busy, leave a message on the answering machine or call back later.
- Get the conversation going among your family and friends, whether you’re sharing on social media or over dinner. Sometimes it may seem like politics has over-saturated everyone’s conversations, but the oceans are not liberal or conservative — they’re just rising and they need your help.
- Speaking of Facebook, share the below organizations’ pages and like all the posts that align with climate change. When you “like” something on Facebook, it will show up in your friends’ feeds. So sometimes you don’t even need to share the post; you can simply like it.
Climate Change Nonprofits That Need Your Help
It may seem like there are many organizations devoted to climate change, but every nonprofit has a small niche in which they can make a huge difference. Here are three of my favorites:
National Resources Defense Council
One of the most talked-about nonprofits is the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which works to safeguard the Earth — its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. They currently have more than 2 million members who fight alongside around 500 scientists, lawyers and policy advocates around the world. Since they are so well known, they are a great option for taking on the fight. Every penny counts, and I know they would appreciate anyone who is willing to stand up for our planet.
Surfrider
My personal favorite is Surfrider. I found them when researching volunteer opportunities and fell in love. Their chapters are primarily focused on coastal states, but that doesn’t make their efforts for naught in the landlocked states. They’re fighting pollution every day, and the best place for that to happen is at the source, so having operations near the ocean just makes sense. One thing I love is their campaign against cigarette litter, which has the best name: “Hold Onto Your Butt.” Cigarette filters are actually made of finely woven plastic fibers and are among the most-littered items in the country. Donate to them today and help them save birds and sea life from all the litter humans discard that ends up in the ocean.
The Solutions Project
Fossil fuels are among the worst inventions we are still using today, and in order to save this planet, we need to be living off a more sustainable option. The Solutions Project educates anyone who will listen about how to turn your house, community or whole city into a 100 percent sustainable community. They have an interactive map of the whole country so you can see how your state would be affected if it went 100 percent sustainable. This type of organization is full of people willing to get down and dirty and fight for our planet at whatever cost. They are working with all levels of government to try and get their plans into action. Without organizations like this, we wouldn’t get very far at all. I’m so thankful they’re around.
The Long Road Ahead
Long term, we need to put more money toward clean energy job training so we aren’t so dependent on these organizations in the first place. We shouldn’t be asking people for money, our government should be protecting us within its own budget. Until that day comes, please consider donating your morning coffee money to one of these amazing nonprofits. Just remember that no matter the size of the organization you decide to support, we are all underdogs until we are 100 percent sustainable. We need to come together and fight for the future generations’ right to a safe and hospitable planet.