Giving Compass' Take:

• Businesses, young activists, and individuals around the world are calling for governments and global leaders to declare a climate emergency and band together to address climate change. 

• How can donors help spread awareness about the severity of climate change issues?

• Here is a new climate emergency fund to support disruption. 

July 2019 was Earth’s hottest month on record. Five of the hottest years ever recorded occurred between 2014 and 2018, and the world has already warmed about 1 degree Celsius since the Industrial Revolution. Our best estimates suggest we must avoid 1.5 degrees of warming in order to avoid widespread damage and suffering.

We know what’s happening, and we know how we got here. As #ExxonKnew as early as 1970: The burning of fossil fuels is over-heating the world’s oceans and the atmosphere. We understand the problem. So why aren’t we doing more about it?

That’s what today’s young people want to know. They understand we need climate action now. The climate strikers of last week — people like Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, American Isra Hirsi, South African Qiniso Ngcobo; and all their classmates and friends — these young people are already treating the climate crisis like the emergency it is.

Declaring a climate emergency is a necessary first step. It will make clear we are not talking about an abstract future threat, but a crisis that’s already here. And it will make clear that the status quo is too dangerous. Climate models and action plans are always compared to the “business-as-usual” approach. But we can’t afford business as usual any longer.

For businesses, that means changing the rules of engagement. As Patagonia CEO Rose Marcario wrote in a recent op-ed, “The plain truth is that capitalism needs to evolve if humanity is going to survive.” Patagonia’s stores were closed on September 20 in a demonstration of solidarity with youth climate activists.

The big changes needed will still need strong government support, which is why there is no room left in government for climate deniers — or delayers.

Read the full article about declaring a climate emergency at Grist.