This Earth Day, commit to donating 2% of your income towards mitigating climate change.

On our current trajectory, we are not on track to limit global climate change to 2 degrees C, much less the 1.5 degree C target, as assessed by the IPCC . We must act urgently to prevent the worst impacts of global climate change, and nature-based climate solutions are among the most cost-effective tools to affect global change.

Large-scale implementation of nature-based carbon sequestration will improve human health, boost the economy, restore ecosystems, and help mitigate the risk of future pandemics. Our best tool to prevent future public health crises is effective climate mitigation. Nature-based climate solutions, such as reforestation, forest conservation, regenerative agriculture or wetlands restoration are cost-effective while providing multiple social, environmental, and economic benefits. Investing in climate mitigation now mitigates the damage of famines, extreme weather, disease.

In addition to progressive climate policy and grid de-carbonization, we believe that increasing individual giving towards nature-based solutions can fill a crucial, immediate need for ecosystem conservation and restoration. There are many, many climate-focused organizations worthy of your donations. We conducted an extensive review of the organizations working to implement on-the-ground climate mitigation projects and compiled a short list of organizations that are implementing these projects with extraordinary cost-effectiveness.

Below is a short-list of reputable, cost-effective organizations that are working to mitigate climate change through nature-based solutions. The three charities below sequester CO2 at an average estimated cost of approximately $0.6 per ton. At this cost, if just 1 in 10 Americans were to donate 2% of post-tax income, we could fund the sequestration of more than 20 billion tonnes of CO2 over the life of these projects — more than half of our annual global emissions. This would be an unprecedented mobilization of capital towards climate solutions, which would have the capacity to fundamentally change our climate trajectory.

About Each Charity

THE COALITION OF RAINFOREST NATIONS

The Coalition of Rainforest Nations is dedicated to promoting environmental and economic sustainability in tropically forested countries in the developing world. The organization has a strong record success, including championing the REDD+ program, which funded has projects that sequester more than 8.6 billion tons of CO2.

The Coalition was named as one of the most effective climate charities by Founder Pledge, largely based on their track record for developing innovative conservation climate finance mechanisms. Founder Pledge estimates that the organization’s work avoids and sequester CO2 at a cost of $0.02 — $0.72 per tonne.

Link to Donate

CfRN’s work aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development goals: 1 — No Poverty, 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth, 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 — Climate Action, 15 — Life on Land, 16 — Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and 17- Partnership for the Goals

EDEN REFORESTATION PROJECTS

Eden Reforestation funds reforestation projects primarily in Africa, South and Central America. The organizations works to employ the local community in reforestation and agroforestry work, allowing for both cost-effective project implementation and local economic benefits. Eden Reforestation has partnered with academic institutions to monitor tree mortality rates after project implementation

Based on established carbon sequestration research, we estimate that Eden’s projects sequester carbon at a cost of $0.1— $0.8 per ton (estimated based on carbon sequestration research for comparable ecosystems and reported stocking rates.

Link to Donate

Eden Reforestation’s work aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development goals: 1 — No Poverty, 3 — Good Health and Well-Being, 8 — Decent Work and Economic Growth, 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 — Climate Action, and 15 — Life on Land

RAINFOREST TRUST

The Rainforest Trust works to preserve existing rainforest land in threatened sites across South America, Central America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. In 2018 they fund conservation of 1.9 million acres of rainforest. Forest conservation is a critical strategy to stabilize the climate and avoid ecological tipping points.

Based on their annual budget and reported avoided CO2 emissions, the Rainforest Trust’s projects sequester an avoid carbon at an approximate cost of $0.3 — $0.9/ metric ton of CO2.

Link to Donate

The Rainforest Trust’s work aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development goals: 6 — Clean Water and Sanitation, 12 — Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 — Climate Action, 14 — Life Below Water, and 15 — Life on Land.