The Guardian and Observer charity appeal which was established to tackle the impact of the climate crisis as well as extreme weather has so far raised more than £760,000 with just a week to go.
According to reports, more than 7,000 people have so far donated to the appeal which is expected to be shared between four charities including Practical Action, Global Green grants Fund UK, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, and Environmental Justice Foundation.
The theme this year– climate justice– was inspired by stories of people and communities that have been uprooted by climate volatility, whether flooding, wildfire, melting ice or drought.
The appeal which closes at midnight on Sunday 16 January is raising money for charities working with those most affected by the environmental loss.
This is even as many readers say they believe tackling the climate emergency is one of the most urgent – if not the most urgent – issues facing the planet. Many said social justice must be at the heart of measures to address global heating – with the world’s wealthiest countries (also the biggest polluters) having a moral responsibility to pay for measures to protect the environment in the world’s poorest areas, which are worst-hit by climate-induced extreme weather.
One of the donors identified as Rebecca McCutcheon said: “Supporting vulnerable people to adapt and protect themselves from the devastating changes happening now is a positive act in the face of shameful inaction on the parts of businesses and governments. In truth, it is not a charitable donation but an attempt to invest in our global, shared future.”
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The chief executive of the Environmental Justice Foundation, Steve Trent was quoted as saying that he would like to “express our heartfelt thanks to the Guardian and Observer readers, their generous donations will enable us to continue our work using high-level advocacy, field investigations and powerful films to drive forward climate justice.”
He added: “Climate action has never been more crucial, and time is running out. Yet we do not need to lose hope: we have the solutions and the wherewithal to implement them. If our governments act now, with greater urgency and ambition, we can achieve a true transformation to an equitable, fairer, sustainable world.”
The Guardian’s editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, while Introducing the appeal in December, said that the stark truth is that the world’s developing countries have seen most of the death and destruction caused by climate-induced disasters, and yet they are responsible for a tiny fraction of global emissions.
