[155] Donating money to climate charities – how do we work out which ones to choose? With Olly Tapper at the Global Returns Project

A Sustainable Life with Jen Gale

What's the best climate charity to donate to?
How do I know that my money is actually being used for good stuff and not swallowed up in admin?
What sorts of things might charities be funding when it comes to helping the climate crisis?

When I think about donating to a climate charity, whether that's a personal donation, or if I'm thinking about running some kind of fundraiser, I find it hard to know which charity I should donate to. Organisations like Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, and Friends of the Earth spring to mind, but other than that I'm a bit stumped.

And it seems I'm not the only one. Apparently only 2% of philanthropy is currently going to climate mitigation. And it turns out there are some amazing organisations doing brilliant stuff to help to fight the climate crisis.

In this episode I'm chatting to Olly Tapper, who is the Development Manager at the Global Returns Project - a UK based climate change charity. The Global Returns Project have done all the research and identified what they feel to be six of the most impactful charities and not for profits working on climate solutions, and created a Global Returns Portfolio.
The charities in the portfolio (listed below) might surprise you and it was fascinating to hear about these brilliant projects, that we might not automatically think of as being a really key part in working to solve the climate crisis.

The six charities are:

• Ashden - finds, funds and supports organizations delivering new, affordable and sustainable energy solutions around the world.
• Client Earth - a team of lawyers ensuring existing environmental laws are respected and helping governments develop effective environmental policies.
• Global Canopy - targets the market forces driving the Climate Crisis and the destruction of nature. Its data platforms enable and increase pressure on companies, investors and governments to halt their impacts on tropical forests and other vital ecosystems.
• Rainforest Trust - safeguarding existing rainforests is one of the most effective ways to fight climate change. Every donation will be matched by a generous supporter, doubling the impact.
• Trillion Trees - will ensure one trillion trees have been re-grown, saved from loss, and better protected around the world by 2050.
• Whale and Dolphin Conservation - a global champion for whale and ocean-based solutions to the Climate Crisis. Whales play an important role in maintaining a healthy ocean and planet by accumulating carbon and fertilising carbon-sequestering phytoplankton.

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LISTEN...

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CHECK OUT...

• Global Returns Project
  - Website
  - Donate
  - Twitter
  - Facebook
  - Instagram
• [091] - Make My Pension Matter with Make My Money Matter
• [015] - Money as a force for good with Triodos
• [013] - Be good and do good with your money - with Good With Money
• Project Drawdown
• How much is a whale worth?
  
• The Sustainable(ish) Clubhouse
• Talking Climate - The Sustainable(ish) accredited Carbon Literacy course
• The Sustainable(ish) Facebook group

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