How Environmental Organizations Work

If you want to teach others about environmental issues, your first stop is the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), a network of organizations throughout the U.S. and Canada that raise awareness about environmental issues.

Since 1971, NAAEE has provided training for people interested in developing programs to educate the public about the environment in non-formal settings, K-12 classrooms, universities, government agencies and corporations [source: NAAEE].

Like traditional environmental organizations, groups focused on environmental education cover topics like air quality and climate change, endangered species, energy, transportation, forestry, marine life, water quality, solid waste and sustainable development [source: EELink].

The Canary Project, for example, is an organization dedicated to photographing landscapes around the world to show the effects of global warming [source: The Canary Project]. The Green Ribbon Pledge teaches Americans how to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, encouraging them to use public transportation, take shorter showers, let dishes and laundry air dry and weather strip doors and windows [source: The Green Ribbon Pledge].

Other education-related environmental organizations include Negative Population Group (NPG), which publishes newsletters, forum papers and population fact sheets to educate the public and politicians on the affect of overpopulation on the environment [source: NPG]. Another is The Center for Ecoliteracy, which teaches grammar and high schools students about sustainable living by tending school gardens and designing neighborhood recycling programs [source: The Center for Ecoliteracy].

When it comes to the environment, there are many lessons to learn -- and teach. Read on for information on global warming organizations.

Al Gore may have lost the presidency, but his work on global warming won him an Academy Award for "An Inconvenient Truth" in 2006 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007. As consolation prizes go, these aren't too shabby.

He also founded the Alliance for Climate Protection, which advocates for laws to reduce CO2 emissions, works to persuade everyone from individuals to corporations to become "carbon neutral," and generates American support for international treaties to reduce greenhouse gases worldwide [source: Alliance for Climate Protection].

Many other organizations are dedicated to reducing greenhouse gases, which scientists say are the reason Earth's temperature has increased 1 degree in the past 100 years. It may not sound like much, but scientists say even a few degrees can cause droughts and flooding as well as damage plants, wildlife and the ecosystems we all depend on [source: Network for Good].

The Union of Concerned Scientists is an alliance of students and faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the general public that gives regular briefings, analysis and recommendations for ways for the government, corporations and consumers can reduce global warming [source: Union of Concerned Scientists]. And the Global Roundtable on Climate Change (GROCC), holds meetings that bring together top executives from global corporations -- including the world's top banks, energy companies and automotive manufacturers -- to discuss technology and policy options for reducing climate change [source: GROCC].

A simple online search will give you a long list of similar climate change organizations you can join. Read on to find out how to support environmental organizations.

Got a pen? Supporting an environmental cause is as easy as writing a check. Most environmental organizations are non-profits that depend on donations to survive so they are more than happy to take your money.

Before donating to a particular organization, it may be helpful to research it on GuideStar, a free database that gathers information on non-profits, including annual reports, programs, leaders, goals, accomplishments and needs [source: GuideStar].

Your contributions to environmental non-profits are tax deductible, but only if you itemize your income tax deductions. Most non-profits are registered as a 501(c)(3), which automatically makes them eligible for deduction, but be sure to check with the organization to make sure it has this designation. Also, be sure to get a receipt from the charity for your contribution [source: H&R Block].

You can deduct cash donations of up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. If you donate property, such as a car, boat or supplies, you can deduct the fair market value of that item up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income [source: H&R Block].

You cannot take a tax deduction for your time or services spent on charitable work, such as using your graphic design skills to create fliers or a newsletter. But you can deduct out-of-pocket expenses like your gas mileage [source: H&R Block].

Then again, considering you're volunteering for an environmental organization, you may want to take the bus or ride your bike.

For more information on environmental organizations, visit the links on the following page.