Cause Areas > Protecting the Future > Climate
Why might climate change be an important focus area?
Climate change is already having a significant negative impact. Its effects on the world’s poorest people and our planet’s biodiversity are cause for particular concern.
Beyond the suffering and injustice it’s already causing, climate change is also one of the few issues that has obvious potential to affect the world over many future generations. In addition to its direct impact on the future, climactic changes could be an important factor that increases existential threats from other sources, like nuclear war or pandemics .
While less neglected than other global problems, many in the effective altruism community see combatting climate change as a top priority. It also has the potential to be highly cost effective way of doing good, given its scale and tractability:
Scale
Āwhata
Climate change is already having a global impact, and if action is not taken, the effects will only worsen. Long-term changes to the climate will also affect the future for generations to come.¹
Solvability
Whakaotitanga
Climate change seems more tractable than many other global catastrophic risks, as there is a clear measure of success (how much greenhouse gas we are emitting), and clear evidence on how to move ahead.³
Neglectedness
Mahuetanga
Climate change is far less neglected than you might think— current spending is over $640 billion per year.² However, this funding could be spent more effectively, and some areas don’t get as much attention as they should.
For full references and further information, see 80,000 Hours’ report on climate change
Which actions help the climate the most?
The research team at Founders Pledge have produced an in-depth report on the impact of personal lifestyle decisions on the climate.
Interested in a career combatting climate change?
Request a free one-on-one call with our team. We can help you formulate a plan, find resources appropriate to your career stage and level of expertise, and put you in touch with mentors.
Donate to effective climate action
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A managed philanthropic fund that makes grants to projects safeguarding the longterm future, including those addressing climate change.
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Develops decarbonised energy solutions for difficult sectors
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Promotes technical and policy change for the climate.
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Advocates for direct carbon removal.