Climate Solutions //  ISSUE  # 103  //  HOTHOUSE 2.0
Dear Reader,
Weâre nearly at yearâs end. That means there are still a few days left to make a tax-deductible donation to a climate-solutions organization making a real impact in your communities. For the past few years, weâve partnered with Giving Green, a nonprofit aimed at simplifying your route to donating to nonprofits tackling climate change. Giving Greenâs climate shortlist will help you find charitable contributions that will go the farthest to advance promising climate solutions.
This year, Daniel Stein, the founder and director of Giving Green, will also give you insight into what the climate nonprofit space will look like under President Donald Trump. Trumpâwho famously promised to âDrill, baby, drill!ââhas previously denied the impact of climate change due to human activity. It stands to reason that many people and communities working in this space are alarmed by the election of Donald Trump. But Stein is hopeful that philanthropic donations to climate-change organizations may be boosted during the forthcoming Trump administration.
Happy holidays, dear reader. Take care of yourself and your loved ones. â Tekendra
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Thereâs still time to make a tax-deductible donation to a climate-solutions organization
Giving Green helps donors make a real impact with their giving by sharing research-backed recommendations. Check out their list of organizations to support!
By Angely Mercado
Giving Green is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping donors maximize the impact of their contributions to climate-related initiatives. The organization conducts rigorous research to identify and recommend high-impact climate solutions, such as nonprofits and advocacy groups that are effectively addressing climate change.
âOur approach is that we have a staff of researchers working full time, always trying to figure out what we think the most impactful philanthropic opportunities are, and this is constantly changing based on changes in the market and changes in policy,â Daniel Stein, the founder and director of Giving Green, told Hot House.
The results of the election may also boost some philanthropic support for clean energy organizations. Stein said he has spoken to others in the space about the potential for a âTrump bump.â There have been several shifting definitions for this bump, including one connecting the former presidentâs re-election to the stock market. Back in 2016, this bump was attributed to a spike in the stock market. Additionally, in 2016, progressive nonprofits saw a boost in donations after Trumpâs first election.
âWe have yet to see whether it’s going to be real⌠I do think you have some people feeling frustrated, and they think, âWhat can I do? I can still give to these advocacy groups,ââ Stein explained.
He pointed out that he understands some will worry about potential environmental rollbacks, much like the ones during the first Trump administration, when officials dismantled an alarming number of rules governing clean water, clean air, wildlife, and more.
But there is still so much potential for climate action going forward. Transitioning to cleaner energy is a global effort that the incoming administration is a part of. At the end of the day, if we avoid a doomist mentality and support movements and organizations that are doing the work, weâre doing our part to keep the U.S. in the clean energy transition.
Stein understands that supporting organizationsâeven for causes you believe inâcan feel intimidating, especially when money is involved. He emphasized that the way to create systemic change in 2025 and beyond is to have many people working together.
âWe [Giving Green] really are a conduit for lots of small donors to make a difference,â he said. âWe have a massive range of donationsâfrom millions of dollars to literally 30 cents. We put all that money together, and we try to deploy it in ways that can have a big, transformational impact.â
At a loss for whom to support this year? Stein said donations can also be sent to the Giving Green Fund, which experts use to redirect to organizations that need the money the most.
Ready to support climate and environmental solutions? Giving Green has some 2024 recommendations:
Clean Air Task Force
This international nonprofit was founded in the mid-1990s and focuses on policies and scalable technologies that help lower greenhouse gas emissions and clean up our air (hence the name). Yes, this organization was recommended last year too, but for good reason. CATF has a successful track record of working throughout the U.S. and internationally. For example, the organization played an important role in the Global Methane Pledge, introduced by U.S. President Joe Biden and EU President Ursula von der Leyen in 2021. The pledge, signed by more than 100 countries at COP26 that year, outlined that signers agreed to collectively reduce methane emissions by 2030.
The latest: Going into the new year, CATF will model the full U.S. transportation sector to better analyze the impact of emissions and fossil fuel demand. This will help the organization develop new policies to tackle emissions in this sector. Why does this matter? This sector is a significant source of air pollution throughout the U.S.
Future Cleantech Architects
This Germany-based think tank focuses on decarbonizing sectors that are notoriously hard to transition, including heavy industry (think manufacturing metals for building and construction) and aviation. The organization educates lawmakers on mitigation strategies for these hard-to-transition sectors and helps design decarbonization policies that bring about systemic change.
The latest: Future Cleantech Architects intends to double its size and increase its capacity to support decarbonization policies throughout Europe in the new year. EU countries are aiming to lower their emissions by more than 50% by 2030. Supporting organizations focused on challenging sectors will help ensure these ambitious goals are met.
Good Food Institute
The Good Food Institute uses a variety of tactics, such as policy and corporate engagement, to move the food system away from conventional livestock products toward lower-pollution alternatives. The organization makes connections across the food industry to support smaller alternative protein startups and connects with large agri-food companies to encourage investments in protein products. GFI supports plant-based products and the development of âcultivated meat,â which is sourced in a lab from animal cells rather than slaughtered animals.
The livestock industry, especially beef production, is tied to widespread deforestation of important and fragile ecosystems worldwide. Itâs an especially dire issue in the Amazon rainforest, where millions of acres have been cleared for cattle ranching. And the worldâs taste for livestock products is projected to increase, even though this sector urgently needs to change to lower global emissions. GFI is internationally plugged in, with offices around the globe, including in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Need more convincing? This organization was recommended as a top one to donate to by Giving Green in both 2022 and 2023.
The latest: Alternatives to traditional meat productsâespecially cultivated meatâare still being tested and developed. To expand on this research and help companies shift to greener practices, GFI is working to reach its three-year fundraising goal of $125 million. This fund will allow the organization to launch more offices.
Industrious Labs
Industrious Labs focuses on heavy industry, including the production of building materials like cement and steel. The organization works to increase media literacy about these industries and partners with communities. It also offers open-source data and industry analysis to help the public better understand the environmental impacts of industrial manufacturing.
Giving Greenâs assessment highlights that, although heavy industry accounts for approximately one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, it is often overlooked by government policy and philanthropic organizations.
The latest: Industrious Labs is a relatively new organization that is still expanding. Donations will help it continue making connections to decrease the environmental impact of industrial manufacturing. The organization also has goals to eventually work on campaigns for decarbonization in adjacent industries.
Opportunity Green
Opportunity Green is a United Kingdom-based organization that aims to help cut emissions in the maritime shipping and aviation industries. If youâre asking yourself, âWhat is maritime shipping?â know that most products purchased online from abroad are shipped into the U.S. via vessels (aka boats).
Aviation and shipping are hard to decarbonize, so Opportunity Green works on strategies like building relationships in the private sector to promote alternative fuels that create lower emissions than fossil fuels.
The latest: The organization is expanding its strategies for the new year, including pushing private-sector companies to use greener fleets that require less fuel and can run on alternative fuels. Opportunity Green also wants to support policies that would reduce the demand for frequent air travel.
Project InnerSpace
Project InnerSpace is a nonprofit working to meet future energy demands by tapping into geothermal energy. It focuses on mapping ideal locations for drawing from this energy source and creating funding efforts to attract investors and decrease geothermal project costs.
What exactly is geothermal energy? It is energy produced from underground heat, which can be used for generating electricity and warming homes. This heat comes from underground water and steam that can power turbines.
The latest: Developing geothermal energy is highly dependent on location, so having an organization that can map potential areas for development is crucial for expanding this energy source. Donating to Project InnerSpace will support the organization in working with stakeholders to build demand for geothermal energy projects. The organization has launched offices worldwide and plans to open more, including in Brazil in 2025.
This edition of Hothouse is edited by Tekendra Parmar and published by Cadence Bambenek. We rely on readers to support us, and everything we publish is free to read. Follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
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