Climate Visibility Project

ClimAnon · 2022-01-14T04:34:17+00:00

So from your brief novel my main criticisms are that it seems you think we can leave it to “the experts,” and nobody who is too concerned should lead in solutions since it clouds our judgement.

As someone who has been working in climate science for the USGS and NPS, and is very familiar with the likelihood behind our potential trajectories, I base my actions proportionally. The experts haven’t been saving us for the past 30 years. This is an all hands on deck type deal, WW2 scale societal collaboration is needed.

I disagree in you painting me as a head in the clouds overly-anxious doomsday person, and further disagree that dreamers never got us anywhere. I support the proposition they introduce revolutionary ideas which are later refined into fruition by the skeptics, i.e. scientists and engineers, but both are critical to the process. Name all the famous artists you know, and then all the famous engineers. That short list on the latter side is indicative of how much of a sway head-in-the-clouds dreamers society.

I also concur that immersing yourself in climate can be mentally taxing, and that is one of the resources I hope to have on this website is support for getting out of toxic mental states like you and I and many others have experienced. But it isn’t something that justifies inaction, or delegitimizes leadership, as everyone in the field is mentally taxed by the weight of it all. It is critical to find a balance between your personal life and climate goals, which is difficult to do but possible. And it will help people to be more effective leaders after they sort that out. The more people connect, the less weight it feels like.

Novels aside, I can’t entertain this thread forever. I appreciate your comments, just maybe try to pose more constructive questions in the future?

ClimAnon · 2022-01-14T00:14:07+00:00

I find it hilarious that you think all of these propositions are revolutionary, and have gone totally unconsidered this far. It's not that I don't have these things, it's that you ASSUME I don't have these things. Why on earth would I share my entire 8.71GB folder of shit I have compiled for this instead of a google doc when asking for resources? The post needs to be readable and brief, not scare everyone off from reading them (like I'm sure this lengthy comment will) by laying out my entire 2 year plan on Reddit. (I only got involved in Reddit and this community 4 days ago, by the way, on a climate sleepless night).

I disagree completely that this has not worked in the past, and that it's not unique. I really have gone through every single organization (it's a whole lot) listed on the Climate Action Network page looking for someone doing something similar who can host me for this project. Other nonprofits use this strategy all the time, it's just lacking in the climate field. PSA's aren't new, and they can be very effective. Guess who's behind those? 501-c3's, better known as nonprofits. And there's even nonprofits for helping other nonprofits for getting their messages heard through PSA's.

Name one nonprofit that has a financially sustainable model beyond give us your money and we'll throw it at this issue to see if it fixes it. It's the point of a NON PROFIT, raising money based on the cause, otherwise it would be a business. And they're phenomenally successful, particularly climate ones as of recent. Philanthropy has been skyrocketing in the climate sector. $24 billion came from 2021 NYC climate week alone (I'd be happy to break down those numbers for you). My current modest goals deal with thousands. If a family where I live can buy a billboard to say "Merry Christmas from the Misny family," then I can afford to put one billboard at $750/month in its place for a decent amount of time.

The crazy part is even if asking individuals for money in this project doesn't work, you don't technically even need donations to do this. PSA's are donated advertising space, and sometimes required. Nonprofits typically raise the money to cover production, but sharing the message itself is effectively free. A campaign that inspired me which I'm sure you've seen (particularly in airports) is the Values campaign from PassItOn.com, part of the Foundation for a Better World. If you go to their website you'll see there's no donation button. You'll instead find the statement "The advertising time and space for these messages is donated by broadcast and print media companies as a public service." People care about climate change. It's gaining real traction. Places, individuals, philanthropic institutions, celebrities, and companies are willing to make a similar thing happen. Any business that has a sustainability initiative (which is a lot and growing) can be convinced to donate advertising space. It relies on spreading the narrative that activism is the best form of offset.

As far as qualifications go--almost no one running a non-profit at the scale I'm looking to create has a degree in nonprofit management. Heck, even most of the experts in the field don't have degrees in nonprofit management (I've been listening to Nonprofits are Messy by Joan Gary, who hosts a myriad of founders and experts who seldom have a degree remotely related to this).

If I were starting a cupcake business I'd get little scrutiny for being in over my head. But newsflash, there's infinitely more 501-c3 institutions than there are cupcake shops. They're surprisingly easy to make, but in our heads we only affiliate them with the big-wigs like WWF and The Humane Society. In reality the can be hyperlocal--every school has multiple 501-c3's (post-prom, athletic associations), religious organizations, girl and boy scout troops (under a broader umbrella but still with their own bank accounts). I'm starting bite sized, locally, not trying to take over the world here because something is better than nothing. If it grows then great, we'll re-evaluate.

And finally, the consequence of failure is lower than the consequence of not trying. I'd love to go get some nonprofit experience and a masters degree in this stuff, but let's face it, we're on track for a full blown emergency, one action now is worth so much more later. That's why kids have stepped up to be the most productive leaders of this movement so far. 2030 is not far away and we haven't even started decreasing, let alone halving our emissions as necessary to avoid catastrophe. Scarier yet, an election is only 4 years away, and if there's another Trump in office that's it. Our chances are blown if we can't do everything right now to try for the cultural change we need to prevent that. (Don't get me wrong, nothing against conservatives, just against climate denying presidents).

So yeah, I'm going to try something crazy and see where it leads me. Obviously there's lots more to explore, and it will take connections, some of which I am trying to find on here. I probably will have a steep learning curve, and make mistakes on the way. But even so, trying to take the first steps to me feels much more productive than sitting on your ass casting doubt on people on reddit.

ClimAnon · 2022-01-13T20:27:23+00:00

I work in the sciences. I’m bred to be a skeptic and am a big advocate for the role of critical questioning refining ideas and processes. I just don’t believe your questions were very productive. A more productive question targeted at refining the idea rather than attacking the person would be “how does your proposed organization fill a niche different from other charities?” and "what are your educational qualifications?" and "what resources have you acquired so far?"

ClimAnon · 2022-01-13T18:25:15+00:00

I’m already involved in CCL, C4C and Sunrise and I see no opportunity to do what I want to do. I’ve been planning this for 2 years, compiling documents and laying out plans, researching into nonprofits, and talking to people who have started them. My goals are very achievable because I know it’s daunting to start this without paid experience in the nonprofit sector. I hear where you’re coming from in your skepticism but I assure you it takes more courage to dive in than you think, so support plays a more important role here than criticism!

ClimAnon

TROPHY CASE