Donations to the Guardian and Observer charity appeal, aimed at planting trees and protecting forests and woodlands to slow the damage of the climate emergency, have passed the £500,000 milestone just halfway through the campaign.
The appeal is supporting four charities that promote environmental and social justice through natural climate solutions, ranging from safeguarding the Amazon rainforest to rewilding parts of the Scottish Highlands, to planting trees in Britain’s towns, cities and countryside.
The charities are: Woodland Trust, Trees for Life, Trees for Cities and Global Greengrants Fund UK.
Responding to the milestone, Darren Moorcroft, the chief executive of Woodland Trust, said: “On behalf of the trust, trees and woods, we’d like to thank everyone for their generous donations. The money raised will help us to create a better environment, help to fight back against climate change, create new habitats to tackle nature decline, to combat air pollution in our towns and cities, and simply to make a greener, healthier world to live in.
“These generous donations will also help children learn about the vital role trees play in keeping us and the planet healthy. Trees and woods can enrich peoples’ lives and it is so important to give people the opportunity to experience, planting and enjoying them first hand.”
Messages of support left by online donors showed many felt compelled to give because elected politicians were failing to take seriously what they considered to be the most important issue affecting the planet. As one put it: “I often feel powerless in the fight against climate change. This is an opportunity to do something and make a difference.”
The appeal received a boost last weekend when the annual Guardian and Observer charity telethon raised more than £42,000. A team of journalists and editors, including George Monbiot, Owen Jones, Gary Younge, Marina Hyde, John Crace, Jonathan Freedland and Sali Hughes, were on hand to take phone pledges from readers.
Introducing the appeal earlier this month, the Guardian editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, said although the onus was on governments and corporations to take major steps to avoid global climate catastrophe, this year’s charity appeal “highlights ways we as citizens can support practical, natural solutions to climate change”.
• The appeal continues until midnight on Sunday 5 January. Readers can donate online here or send a cheque (payable to the Guardian and Observer charity appeal 2019) to: The Guardian and Observer charity appeal 2019, Charities Trust, Suite 20-22, Century Building, Tower Street, Liverpool, L3 4BJ.
