Human impact on the environment has had a devastating effect. Humankind is to blame for global warming, environmental degradation, and even mass extinction. It is believed by experts that species going into distinction is happening at an unnatural rate, up to 1,000 times faster due to populations multiplying and polluting the earth’s atmosphere.
It’s up to everyone, including individuals and businesses, to take responsibility and start giving back in any way we can. If you or your business wants to contribute to saving the planet, here are the charity organisations to consider.
Rainforest Alliance
Deforestation is one of the biggest problems that environmentalists face today. Currently, 30% of the planet is covered by forest. Yet it is estimated that there will be no rainforests left in 100 years if we don’t act now. The Rainforest Alliance urges everyone to support the work they are doing to fight climate change and restore the world’s rainforests. This will help to save millions of species that rely on the forest as their natural habitat and also prevents a decline in air quality.
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is considered to be one of the Seven Natural World Wonders, yet its existence hangs in the balance today. This incredible reef, covering 344,400 km2, is a great benefit to the economy whilst also being an important habitat for thousands of species (including six species of turtles). One of the most recent collaborations has been between the charity, an online fashion retailer called Yoox, and a swimwear brand called We Are Handsome. The campaign raises awareness through a limited edition swimwear range and donates a percentage of each item sold to the foundation.
WWF Giant Panda Conservation
There were just 1,000 pandas left in the world in the 1970s. But today, thanks to the efforts of the WWF, the last recorded number (in 2014) was 1,864. That’s almost doubled since a few decades ago, so panda conservation has been a huge success story for the organisation. Panda numbers are slowly increasing, but that doesn’t mean that they are completely out of the danger zone. The panda is now listed as ‘vulnerable’ and is no longer ‘endangered’ but there is still much work to be done in order to ensure a safe future.
Earthwatch
The Earthwatch Institute is an international environmental charity, as well as a portal that connects eco-conscious people, volunteers, scientists and researchers in one place to promote the importance of sustainability. Earthwatch conducts research in four main areas; Wildlife and Ecosystems, Ocean Health, Climate Change, and Archaeology and Culture. And it also runs a number of volunteer projects around the world, recruiting people of all ages and backgrounds to help with their important research work.
Morgan Franklin is a freelance writer, editor and designer who works across various sectors and largely online. His work covers everything from business and politics to the environment, ethics and entertainment.