This is nowhere near a complete list. There are a vast number of useful websites and groups.

Groups can be a valuable part of your life. They offer community and structured action. You can learn, network and do good. But sometimes your email inbox becomes clogged with missives from groups: requests for (more) money and all sorts of actions and Zoom presentations that you don’t have time for.

On the other hand, some emails offer information and activities that you might be interested in, even if you aren’t active in the group.

Websites can be fun and educational, and entail only as much time commitment as you want!

Remember, these are tools for your use, to learn, to be effective, and for inspiration.

Start small, then go as deep as you want.

Climate change websites and groups

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is one of the most quoted and reliable sources of information on climate change.

The most recent IPCC report is the 2021-2022 Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). This has been a huge undertaking. There are three working groups (WG): WGI, The Physical Science Basis, had 234 experts from 64 countries and received and responded to 78,000 comments; WGII, Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, had the input of 270 experts from 67 countries, and was based on more than 34,000 publications; and WGIII, Mitigation of Climate Change, had 278 experts from 65 countries. The experts who worked on the report donated their time and expertise.

The reports are nonpartisan and so were approved by 195 governments after exhaustive review.

There is a correspondingly large wealth of material on the IPCC website. It can be overwhelming.

One suggestion to start: watch the videos for each of the three working group sections. The videos are 9-14 minutes long and are very useful summaries, one for each of the three working groups: The Physical Science Basis , Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability and Mitigation of Climate Change. These links are to the videos on YouTube. You can also access them under reports (under the “explore” button) on the website.

For written IPCC reports summaries you can download look at the “summary for policymakers” for each of the three working groups. These summaries are terse and dense, but are 30-50 pages each and are full of interesting information.

The IPCC AR6 headlines: Climate change is worsening as fast or faster than predicted. We are on track to reach the 1.5 degree C increased temperature threshold, one we hoped to totally avoid, within 20 years. The effects of climate change are here, and getting worse. We do, however, have tools for mitigation, adaptation and climate justice if we chose to use them. We can make it a healthier world and limit climate change at the same time.

The World Health Organization wrote a brief summary of the latest IPCC findings regarding health and climate change.

350.org They describe themselves as “an international movement of ordinary people working to end the age of fossil fuels and build a world of community-led renewable energy for all.” It was founded by environmentalist and author Bill McKibben. 350 represents the safe level of CO2 in ppm (parts per million).

350.org offers trainings and digital resources. Their “having climate change conversations,” part of their “skill-up” training is useful.  It was short, with good advice and succinct information. But like a lot of groups, they suggest you end a talk with the usual ask: join our movement. That is fine if they inspire you and you have the time and energy, and you are part of their movement. They have updates and news, a wealth of expertise and information.

Third Act is a relatively new organization aimed at the over 60 crowd (“experienced Americans”). People with time and resources who often have a history of engagement in their youth and want to be actively involved. Bill McKibben (of 350.org) is the founder and is on their advisory board.

The World Meteorological Association website has an excellent section on climate.

The State of the Planet from the Columbia Climate School, “climate, earth and society.”

Citizen’s Climate Lobby See below under political webistes. Included here as well because there is a large body of information on their website and they are an established and trusted group.

World Weather Attribution reports on attribution of the contribution of climate change on extreme weather events. From their website: “Extreme Event Attribution … was assessed to yield reliable estimates of changing risks of extreme weather by the US National Academy of Sciences…The World Weather Attribution (WWA) initiative, a collaboration between climate scientists at Imperial College London in the UK, KNMI in the Netherlands, IPSL/LSCE in France, Princeton University and NCAR in the US, ETH Zurich in Switzerland, IIT Delhi in India and climate impact specialists at the Red Cross / Red Crescent Climate Centre (RCCC) around the world.”

A collection of primers concerning a broad range of climate change topics. “Climate science, risk & solutions, climate knowledge for everyone.” Dr. Kerry Samuel, Professor of Atmospheric Science MIT.

The En-ROADS climate simulator was developed at MIT. It is set up to test the effects of different strategies to combat climate change. The primary outcome is decreasing the temperature rise by the end of the century. There are graphs and explanations that reveal much about how solutions work and work together (or don’t!).  

Their process and assumptions are transparent (there is a 400 page free text on the nuts and bolts of how it was put together), they validate their simulator against other models, and it is updated monthly. The simulator is meant to be used in presentations, often to engage small groups. You can play with it.  They have a free 10 hour or so online training.  A bit much, but is very interesting and educational.

Evergreen Action is focused on climate change. It was founded by staffers who worked for Governor Inslee when he was running for the Democratic party’s nomination for president, and used his climate plan as a basis for their group. They have news stories, blogs and suggested actions. From their mission: “We’re building the ambitious, actionable policy roadmap for an all-out mobilization to defeat climate change—and to create millions of jobs in a thriving, just, and inclusive clean energy future.”

Food and Water Watch is a non-profit group that educates, researches, is involved with legal actions and citizen involvement with issues of food and water, obviously, but also related environmental concerns, particularly climate change. They have excellent background and news articles on their website and ways to get involved locally.

Climate Reanalyzer from the Climate Change Institute at the University of Maine is a website that has weather and climate data wonderfully displayed.

Climate Central is a website strong on stories, journalism/communication, visuals, and climate science, including attribution science (how likely any given weather is due to climate change). From their website:

“Our mission Climate Central communicates climate change science, effects, and solutions to the public and decision-makers…

“Climate Central is an independent group of scientists and communicators who research and report the facts about our changing climate and how it affects people’s lives. We are a policy-neutral 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Climate Central uses science, big data, and technology to generate thousands of local storylines and compelling visuals that make climate change personal and show what can be done about it. We address climate science, sea level rise, extreme weather, energy, and related topics. We collaborate widely with TV meteorologists, journalists, and other respected voices to reach audiences across diverse geographies and beliefs.”

Legal approaches

Lawsuits are a powerful tool for fighting environmental degradation by holding those who are profiting from destroying the livable earth responsible and getting them to stop. Much of what we know about who is responsible is due to their efforts. These groups are up against powerful and well-funded adversaries and are dependent on donations,

ClientEarth ClientEarth is an international organization that takes a legal approach “holding corporations accountable for a livable planet.” (the link is to the United States page but you can access other regions and languages other than English).

From their United States webpage: “We will never solve the global crises of climate change and nature loss without changing the destructive behavior of the biggest US companies and banks…

“Our mission is urgent: ensure that every company becomes a good environmental citizen.”

The NRDC also takes a legal approach to dealing with environmental problems.

From their webpage: “NRDC (the Natural Resources Defense Council) combines the power of more than 3 million members and online activists with the expertise of some 700 scientists, lawyers, and other environmental specialists to confront the climate crisis, protect the planet's wildlife and wild places, and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities.”

News resources

There are many sources for news about the environment besides the websites of environmental groups (including many on this page). Some are behind paywalls: the New York Times and the Washington Post, for example, have pertinent sections. They grant access to some free articles each month, and Scientific American is a good resource.

Of course, there are many environmentalists you can follow on instagram and other social media platforms.

There are excellent news sources that are not behind paywalls (they appreciate donations, of course):

Environmental Health News is a wonderful resource (I particularly like their EHN:Good News) that will send stories to your email, or you can go to their website.

Grist also has a wealth of news about the environment and you can sign up for emails.

Inside Climate News is a “Pulitzer prize-winning …non-partisan” site. Like Envioronmental Health News They cover a range of environmental issues and they will send emails to you if you wish.

The Guardian has an excellent section on “the Climate Crisis.”

BBC often has environmental stories; you have to register for full access, but at no charge.

Health-oriented climate websites

UCLA Center for Healthy Climate Solutions (C-Solutions) The UCLA Center for Healthy Climate Solutions. Part of the Fielding School of Public Health. “At C-Solutions we work alongside communities to turn public health research into actionable policies and practices. Our faculty are experts in climate change and the health implications of climate-induced crises including air pollution, wildfires, extreme heat, drought, and disasters. We focus on identifying public health co-benefits and building resilience through research, education, and collaboration with our community partners.” Regarding their ongoing projects: https://healthyclimatesolutions.org/projects/

The Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education, housed at the Columbia University Mellman School of Public Health. “Pioneering climate and health education for health professionals.” A treasure trove of useful information and presentations.

The Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education also supports an ongoing series of podcasts: Climate Clinic

The Global Consortium on Climate Health Education also has a 3 day virtual Climate Change and Health Bootcamp, next in June, 2023.

Climate Resources for Health Education (CRHE) is part of the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education along with other institutions. It has a slew of educational materials for healthcare professionals, including slide decks for presentations.

The Lancet Countdown puts out a yearly report in the fall on health and climate change. The 2022 report came out October 26 2022. It has about 300 contributors, is truly global and comprehensive. There are online key findings and visual summary sections.

The Medical Society Consortium on Climate Change and Health is comprised of many medical specialty societies. From their website: “The mission of the Consortium is to mobilize and amplify the voices of U.S. doctors, in partnership with public health experts and fellow health professionals, to successfully advocate for equitable climate solutions that protect and promote the health of all people.”

They have a wonderful 30 page text, “The Health Promise of Climate Solutions” that you can download. At the end of it they say: “The Consortium’s efforts to organize the medical and health community to influence critical policies at every level (county, city, state, regional and national) are ramping up. We now have the tools in place to help health professionals — individually and collectively — advocate with the public and policymakers for policies aligned with these promises to stabilize the climate and improve health equity.”

The Planetary Health Alliance is a “consortium of over 300 universities, non-governmental institutions,  research institutes, and government entities from over 60 countries… addressing the impacts of global environmental change on human health and well-being.” It is “supported by a Secretariate based at the Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health…” They have a wealth of educational materials and resources. For example, there is a section on how to build a course with examples of syllabi from two courses, planetary health case studies, and an extensive research bibliography. They also have introductory videos of varying length. A part of their group is is Clinicians for Planetary Health (C4PH) which is oriented towards clinicians of all stripes.

The New England Journal of Medicine has an online section on climate change, pollution and health.

Medicine for a Changing Planet is a website supported by the Stanford Center for Innovation in Global Health and the University of Washington that centers on climate relevant clinical case studies. They do a very complete presentation about topics directly to climate change, such as the effects of extreme heat and changes in zoonoses, but also related topics such as pollution, refugee health and ecoanxiety. They also have a great list of additional resources.

Health Care Without Harm is about “the global movement for environmentally responsible health care.” Something healthcare professionals could have a voice in.

Physicians for Social Responsibility started over 40 years ago as anti-nuke activists. They still lean toward progressive and activist, but have broadened their mandate. Their health ambassador program “welcomes doctors, nurses, public health workers, residents, retirees, students and other allied health care professionals.”

My Green Doctor was founded by Todd Slack, MD, a Florida gastroenterologist who was interviewed on the 11/29/22 podcast Climate Clinic, Be the Change, episode 4. My Green Doctor is designed to help medical office teams, including both clinicians and non-clinician personnel, to get involved in a self-guided program of making the practice green.  This may not be as viable in large practices where there is more of a top-down decision-making process, as in a university or hospital-associated clinic or other large health care system. There are free medical education credits, informational workbooks with links, and brochures for patients. There is a Spanish language version of the website.

The World Health Organization has material on climate change and health.

The Alliance of Nurses for a Healthy Environment addresses many relevant issues of health and the environment.

Climate Action Nurses is a group out of Australia. They have a quarterly online quarterly zine and a website. Very informative.

Government agency websites

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Look particularly under “tools and resources.”

National Aeronautic Space Administration (NASA) has data displays, summaries and articles (featuring NASA of course). Amazing graphics.

The US Department of Energy, particularly their energy saver section has a lot of useful suggestions.

The Environmental Protection Agency has a lot of good information, including ways to help.

The Department of Homeland Security section Ready.gov has material about dealing with extreme weather events due to climate change.

Political/social/cultural websites

Citizen’s Climate Lobby is a nonpartisan group particularly interested in carbon pricing, but that is not their sole focus. They are sophisticated and have a lot of training materials online. While contacting elected representatives and lobbying It’s in the name!) is a primary action they take, they encourage other ways to get involved. They hope people will become active members and take action with them, but even if you don’t, you can learn a lot on their site. They have writing campaigns on their website for upcoming national legislation.

Grantham Research Institute. “The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment was established by the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2008 to create a world-leading multidisciplinary centre for policy-relevant research and training on climate change and the environment, bringing together international expertise from across LSE and beyond, including on economics, finance, geography, the environment, science, law, international relations, development and political science.” A lot of great information.

Hivos people unlimited has an indigenous peoples’ perspective.

Extinction Rebellion is probably the largest and most well-known and effective activist group. Not everyone agrees with some of their tactics. Is it worthwhile to obstruct traffic? Does it depend on context? More to the point: is it effective? There is evidence that in context such efforts can be two steps forward for one step back.

The Democratic Party put out a report highlighting their efforts.

RepublicEn is a conservative group based in the Energy and Enterprise Initiative at George Mason University. They call themselves “Energy optimists. Climate realists.” They are a self-described part of the “EcoRight” and a “balance to the Environmental Left.” Even if you are not conservative and don’t particularly think the environmental left needs balancing (perhaps especially if you are not right leaning), you might find yourself a bit more hopeful and learn something spending some time with them.

The conservative congressional viewpoint. This is not a broad Republican consensus.

If you are conservative politically, this list of conservative climate groups is from the book Knowledge to Power by John Perona, page 119: Climate Leadership Council, RepublicEn, Niskanen Center, American Conservation Coalition, ConservAmerica, and Clear Path.

This is a bipartisan Senate group. It includes Chris Coons of the Conservative Caucus above, as well as other Republicans, for example, Mitt Romney, Lindsey Graham and Lisa Murkowski. Maybe there is a glimmer of hope.

The Climate Advocacy Lab’s goal is to provide “insights, skills and connections to build durable power and win equitable solutions.” They are “evidence based” and have, for example, some interesting polls.

ecoAmerica has a list of faith-based organizations if that interests you. They say: “ecoAmerica reaches millions of Americans from all walks of life through a rapidly growing network of 200+ mainstream institutions and leaders from outside the traditional environmental movement.” Not everyone is attracted to the “traditional environmental movement” for various reasons (often cultural or political) and we need all hands on deck.

Climate communication

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication is clearly about communicating climate change, but also so much more. It is research driven and tracks public opinion. They will send announcements of their latest research by email and it is always interesting. The website has wonderful maps and information sheets and a wealth of background information you will see referred to in books and other sources, and this website. Worth time perusing if you choose to get deeply involved, or like cool maps.

The Laboratory for Environmental Narrative Strategies. Communications from sustainability at UCLA. An excellent site worth visiting.

The Frameworks Institute is out of the United Kingdom, great articles about issues of framing climate change. They are aimed at sharing “evidence-based techniques that help researchers, advocates, and practitioners explain more effectively.” A progressive, social justice slant. Again, useful if you decide to engage others.  They are used by the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History.

On a different note, consider subscribing (it’s free) to Reasons to Be Cheerful. It was started by David Byrne the musician. You can sign up for emails. It is full of positive stories, often about climate and the environment. These stories are great for framing and for hope.

The National Park Service has a framing “toolkit” other material about climate change. There are PDFs you can download

EcoAmerica (mentioned above) has a PDF of their material on climate change communication.

Climate Changemakers is a group that encourages people to get involved with climate action. Signing up is free. They suggest weekly climate actions that focus on civic engagement that take about 15 to 60 minutes. They have a section on advocacy fundamentals and “action playbooks” that provide background information on policy issues and walk you through suggested actions. They also offer co-working zoom events called “hours of action.”

Biodiversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity is part of the “United Nations environment programme.” This website has a lot of interesting material right on the homepage, and the topics section is a rich source of information about biodiversity and related subjects. Very much in line with a planetary health viewpoint.

A beautiful website about life in soil is Chaos of Delight.

Plastic

Plastic Soup is out of the Netherlands and is particularly interested in plastic and health.

California groups and websites

Climate Resolve is out of Los Angeles and is invovled with resiliency and equity. From their website: “Climate Resolve builds collaborations to champion equitable climate solutions. We connect communities, organizations and policymakers to address a global problem with local action. We inclusively develop practical initiatives that reduce climate pollution and prepare for climate impacts.”

Clean Break is associated with the Angeles chapter (Los Angeles and Orange Counties) of the Sierra Club. They are concerned with the effects of oil drilling on the environment and the health and well-being of communities in the Los Angeles area (though of course these issues are widespread, in California and throughout the nation) and they have several ongoing campaigns that can serve as a model for other communities as well.

In Los Angeles there is also the Neighborhood Council Sustainability Alliance for local grassroots concerns and actions.

Green Change is group based in the San Francisco Bay area. Keep following links that interest you to very practical lifestyle information. They also have political suggestions and a large list of partner groups.

PSR-LA The Los Angeles chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility

PSR-SFB The San Francisco Bay area chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility

See also UCLA activities on this website.

Linkedin/Katherine Hayhoe

If you are on Linkedin, consider following climate scientists and groups.

Katherine Hayhoe, a climate scientist and activist and author of the book Saving Us, noted on our bibliography page. in a post on August 8, 2023 she shared this list; many of the organizations are mentioned above:

“So this week, look for an organization that aligns with your values on climate action. Start by following them on social media or subscribing to their updates and sharing what you learn with people you know. Look into how you can contribute to their work. By teaming up, you can amplify your impact and make a real difference.

For example, are you a …

Parent? Check out Science Moms, Mothers Out Front, Moms Clean Air Force, Australian Parents for Climate Action, and Our Kids Climate

Older Adult? See Third Act (that’s Bill’s organization!) and Elder’s Climate Action

Christian? There’s A Rocha, the Evangelical Environmental Network, Catholic Climate Covenant, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action and more

Other faiths? Start with Interfaith Power and Light or Green Muslims

Nature-Lover? How about The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, or WWF

And if you’re a citizen in nearly any country who just wants to tell politicians what they should be doing better? Citizen’s Climate Lobby is all about that!

There are climate action groups for young people and schools, healthcare professionals and athletes. For more ideas, see this handy quiz I helped create with Science Moms. “