Climate change: tools charities use for activism

CHECK OUT THE ’CLIMATE ACTION’ HUB!

 

Environmental charities are excelling in using a raft of digital tools to improve their active campaigning to ensure climate change is being recognised and tackled.

 

This ranges from using engaging social media posts and charity blogs to harnessing the power of data in mapping technology. Virtual and augmented reality is also helping to support climate activists to make their campaigns highly visual.

 

Here we look at digital tools available and already being harnessed by climate activists.

 

 

Using data effectively on social media

 

There is a range of data around the impact of governments and industry on climate change and also on the power of effective campaigning and solutions to improve the planet.

 

The key for climate activists is to present this data in an engaging way, particularly on social media with interesting graphics. Among those looking to do this is World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour campaign. This uses time imagery to show how precious each hour of the Earth’s lifespan is and how much can be achieved to help tackle climate change.

 

This campaign was relaunched in 2023 and includes using an “Hour Bank” on its campaigning to give a live count of all the hours campaigning has given back to the planet. According to the charity, “this doubles up as both an evaluation and engagement mechanism for the campaign”.

 

At the time of writing in April 2023, 414,360 people in 187 countries have been involved in the campaign, spending 327,871 learning about the planet and 13,249 hours inspiring others to take care of the planet.

 

“We know there’s a huge reach potential in what we call the ‘inactive middle’ when it comes to mobilising the public around Earth Hour,” said Yves Calmette, Senior Director of Brand and Communications at WWF International and Global Director for Earth Hour.

 

 

Digital mapping

 

Another useful range of tools for green charities are digital maps that can show how climate change is impacting the planet and also gauge how effective local areas are in putting in place environmental models. This can create engaging and highly visual maps that people can interact with.

 

Among examples of its use is by the charity Carbon Copy Network which has mapped local authority areas to take action in declaring a climate emergency and targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. This has been created by the charity along with mySociety and Climate Emergency UK.

 

Users can hover over the online map they have created and click each area for more information. These are colour coded for when the local council aims to become net-zero. This is vital for people to lobby their local policy makers to do more to tackle climate change.

 

Digital mapping tools available include Tableu, Mapline, and Ordnance Survey also offers digital mapping services.

 

Another is Mapeo, which is a set of tools for collecting and mapping information, created by non-profit Digital Democracy.

 

 

Virtual and augmented reality

 

Environmental charities are also increasingly using virtual and augmented reality to make their campaigning even more engaging and highly visual.

 

Earthwatch Europe is among charities doing this through a virtual built-up urban area, where users can interact with areas in a city and add in environmentally friendly initiatives including roof top green spaces and trees.

 

This is based on research by the charity in 17 cities across nine countries and is aimed at educating planners, councils, architects, builders and politicians of green improvements to urban areas.

 

“Our cities are under tremendous pressure from rapid urbanisation and the effects of the climate crisis,” says the charity’s Senior Research Lead Victor Beumer.

 

“We must harness every tool possible to explain the issues and find innovative and collaborative solutions to those problems.  Augmented reality is an exciting technology and is a fun and memorable way to bring alive the science of nature-based solutions, and the benefits they can bring to cities.”

 

Research has shown that using virtual reality as a tool for green fundraising “increases empathy and can influence people toward pro-environmental behaviour”. Researchers also found that charities increased donations when using VR technology in their campaigning.

 

They conclude: “Overall, we can infer from these studies that virtual reality is an effective way to raise awareness of environmental threats and encourage behavioural action, especially when tailored to target groups.

 

“New technology, such as the VR head-mounted display, is highly effective at attracting interest which is an important point to encourage organizations to invest in new technologies.”