How to make Climate Change Donations Count

"You bring your canvas bags to the grocery store. You walk to work. You’ve cut back on the hamburgers (and the cheese plates, too). But you want to do more to fight climate change. Specifically, you want to do more with your money."

"You could purchase carbon offsets. Or, you could support politicians who believe in climate change. Or, you could just donate to your favorite green nonprofit. But what makes the most sense?"

"Rachel Cleetus, an economist and policy director at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said she would first funnel her money toward politicians — both local and national — who would most likely be proactive when it comes to the climate."  

Purchasing carbon offsets aren’t “changing the system as quickly as we need the system to change.”

I was surprised at the very small $ amounts to purchase carbon offsets for flying, one of the worst things we do to our planet. Since I first learned about the negative aspects of flying, I've bought carbon offsets each time I or my husband flies but the amount seems so puny that I've made an additional donation.

If you want to support non-profit organizations: 

The Founders Pledge recommends the Coalition for Rainforest Nations and the Clean Air Task Force as the most cost-effective non-profit organizations. The report cited the groups’ past successes in fighting global deforestation and supporting clean energy innovation.

Info from The New York Times Climate Forward newsletter