Let’s do everything in our power to support communities on the front line of the climate emergency!

By Erin Segilia Chase, Executive Director Fundraising, Partnerships and Communication for CARE UK

“It’s vital we do everything in our power to support the communities living on the frontline of the climate emergency. We know they are the ones bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change, even though the poorest half of humanity - around 3.1 billion people - are responsible for just 7% of global emissions. Many people in the global south have lost incomes due to droughts, floods and other extreme weather and, as a result, are suffering from food insecurity and instability.

It’s the women and girls in these communities that are being hit the hardest, as they are highly dependent on local natural resources and are vulnerable to climate impacts. CARE is dedicated to empowering women and girls and helping them lift their entire communities out of poverty. 

Reducing emissions in half by 2030 is the best chance we have of keeping temperature rise limited to 1.5 degrees. And as individuals, there’s a great deal we can all do to reduce avoidable emissions - drive less, switch to renewable energy, eat less meat, reuse and recycle - but not everything is within our control.

CARE has created GenZero to make it easier for everyone to play their part in going carbon neutral and reducing their impact on the planet. It’s an innovative new carbon offsetting service dedicated to supporting the communities on the frontline of the climate emergency.

Unlike some other products, carbon offsets through GenZero are generated by programmes that deliver ethical, meaningful and sustainable development benefits for the people most impacted by climate change. It offers a range of packages to help supporters first reduce their carbon footprint, and then offset any unavoidable emissions  with Gold Standard Carbon Credits – some of the most ethical and sustainable credits available.

The projects that generate GenZero credits not only have a net-positive impact on the environment, they must also have an additional positive social impact, such as improving health or creating jobs. For example, fuel efficient cookstoves prevent wood from being burned and carbon being released, but also stop trees being cut down for fuel and significantly reduce the amount of time women have to spend gathering it,  while improving the health of the family by preventing exposure to smoke. 

We’re all GenZero - the last generation that has the power to save the planet. So let’s do everything within our power to reduce our carbon footprint and in a way that maximizes impact for the planet and some of its most vulnerable inhabitants.”

Find out more about GenZero