Most Worthy Environmental (Climate Change) Organizations for Giving?

[Tetsuya Hondo]

I would like to make a donation to a worthy environmental organization that is helping to fight climate change. I've got a short list based on a cursory interwebs review, but I don't have a lot of time right now to dig into it. I suspect that some of you have already done some legwork in this area and I'm hoping that you might be willing to share your wisdom here.

My question is: what's the best organization to donate to that will deliver the best ROI regarding climate change?

I am NOT looking for opinions about:

• the validity of climate change;
• whether or not donating to charity is Mustacian; or
• anything else that does not directly answer my question.

Here's who I'm considering:

• Environmental Defense FundMission: The Environmental Defense Fund is perhaps the most wide-ranging organization on this list, working to provide solutions under the broad categories of climate change, oceans, wildlife and habitats, and health. The EDF works with other organizations, businesses, government, and communities to create incentives for positive environmental actions; help companies become better environmental stewards; influence policy; and keep tabs on emerging issues
  Top Programs: Climate and energy, oceans, ecosystems
  Percent of expenses spent on programs: 79.1
  Charity Navigator Score: 94.48
• Natural Resources Defense Council Mission: The Natural Resources Defense Council seeks to protect the basics—air, land, and water—and to defend endangered natural places, with an eye toward how these long-term decisions affect humans.
  Top Programs: Climate, land, wildlife, water, oceans, energy, food, sustainable communities
  Percent of expenses spent on programs: 83.6
  Charity Navigator Score: 96.35
• Union of Concerned Scientists - The Union of Concerned Scientists was founded during the height of the Vietnam war during a teach-in at MIT to protest the US government’s militarization of science. Initially, the group was concerned with nuclear proliferation and energy issues, but over time has shifted its focus to sustainability. Today, the majority of the UCS’s areas of advocacy focus on climate change.
   

[economist]

Hi Tetsuya Hondo,

I would recommend Cool Earth if your goal is to maximize your impact on preventing climate change. They are recommended by the Charity Evaluation Giving What We Can, which did an extensive look at their impact: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/report/cool-earth/

"We estimate that Cool Earth is able to reduce emissions by 1 tonne of CO2-equivalent for every $1.34 donated, for directly protected forest specifically (although this figure may be as low as $0.65). If indirectly shielded forest is also included, this drops to $0.38 per tonne of CO2-equivalent. This is 25 times less expensive than most carbon offset providers, which typically reduce emissions by 1 tonne for roughly every $10 spent.[16][17]"

You could offset your entire annual carbon emissions for under $20 (if I remember correctly, the average US person produces 16-17 tons of CO2)

https://www.coolearth.org/our-impact/

[gaja]

Are you focusing on organizations that work on implementation of climate actions (and increasing implementation rates), or organizations that work on policy change and lobbying policy makers? The first one will probably give you more measurable bang for your bucks, but the last one is necessary if we want to change the large structures.

[Tetsuya Hondo]

Are you focusing on organizations that work on implementation of climate actions (and increasing implementation rates), or organizations that work on policy change and lobbying policy makers? The first one will probably give you more measurable bang for your bucks, but the last one is necessary if we want to change the large structures.

That's a very good question and I don't have an answer. Both?