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Environment


WHATEVER YOUR SHADE OF GREEN, there's a charity for you - helping anything from pandas to pollution, ozone to orchids, whales to Wales.

But there is fundamentally little difference between them because they are all affected by the same huge problem: climate change. It's all very well rescuing orang-utangs, but if global warming is burning up their habitat, where will they live?

Helping individual species or local projects undeniably does good. But we'd advise you to consider the impact of climate change campaigns - which help all species and habitats. We'd also point out that charities involved in this more indirect way of helping the environment find it harder to raise cash.

> The environment and international aid
> Green up your lifestyle
> Help a green campaign
> Reusing and recycling
> Carbon offset
> Examples of charities

Environmentalism is underfunded


According to a recent report from the Environmental Funders Network, only a small fraction of the public's charitable donations finds its way to green causes. And of that, even less goes to causes directly fighting climate change. Despite increased awareness from politicians and the public, this doesn't look set to change any time soon.

Part of the reason is that these charities haven't been around for long. No-one was saving orang-utangs in the 40s or worrying about the ozone layer. Poverty, children and health were immediate concerns and the relevant charities were steadily growing in size, influence and goodwill.

UK charity law doesn't help matters. It (currently) prevents campaigning organizations like Greenpeace or Friends of the Earth from registering properly as charities - denying them hefty tax-breaks. Some of their work can be carried out by these organizations' charitable arms - but not all of it.

Some campaigning organizations also choose not to seek funds from particular organisations, so they can stay independent. This means that the more your favourite environmental outfit is involved in lobbying and campaigning, the more likely it is to rely on support from private individuals.  

International aid and the environment


People in poor countries are doubly cursed by climate change: they rely more on the land and climate than the rest of us, and because of where they live they will also be the first to feel the effects of rising world temperatures.

International aid heavyweights have recognized this and are already targetting climate change, largely by campaigning for changes in the law. Big names including Oxfam, Tearfund, Christian Aid, and Action Aid are part of the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition.

Other ways to help the environment


For ways to personally green up your lifestyle look at:
These are bright and interactive and they measure the impact of the environmentally-friendly things you commit to do. 

For ways to make your voice heard on campaigning issues, these sites help you take practical action: To get rid of unwanted items or get hold of someone else’s, take a look at our listings.

 
> Carbon offset: A good idea?
Carbon Offset
Carbon offsetting currently costs about £8/tonne CO2 - meaning that for every tonne of pollution you generate, you should (we're told) give £8 to a carbon-offset company. They'll then take that cash and spend it on projects that promote green behaviour abroad.

But offsetting isn't popular with everyone. Purists say that you should give to green-promotion projects and try to clamp down on your own polluting habits.

Finally, if you think carbon offsetting might make a difference, here are some options :

Examples of Charities


Global Issues Local Concerns

If you want to support wildlife and natural habitats in your local area, the Wildlife Trusts are a good way to go.  They generally run nature reserves and raise awareness on environmental issues.  They cover the whole of the UK and offer a lot of volunteering opportunities.

Other options include:

Single Issues
We've categorised a small sample of single-issue charities below. If you can't find what you're looking for, use our search (top right) or find the relevant animal/place/concern on CAF's search page.