Organizations & Influencers

By: Alex Mielcarz Feature Editor

As we embrace Earth Month here at the Encounter, we thought it would be important to highlight some of the organizations and influencers that are doing their part to help our planet.

Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is a 20-yearold Swedish climate activist. She catapulted into the spotlight after a 2019 speech in front of the United Nations, where she famously exclaimed “How dare you?” and ridiculed the body for its lack of action regarding climate change. Thunberg has been very open about her struggles with OCD, Aspergers syndrome and selective mutism. Her force is still especially felt on social media. She can be followed @ GretaThunberg on Twitter.

Action for the Climate Emergency (ACE)

ACE has one simple goal: educating America’s high school students on the climate crisis. According to the organization, they have educated over 25 million high schoolers and have over 800 thousand youth advocates associated with the organization across all 50 states. ACE prides themselves on their ability to “give young people the tools, training and resources they need to take action.” For more information, visit www. acespace.org.

Water Research Foundation (WRF)

The WRF, according to the EPA, “is a leader in water research and dedicated to advancing the science of water by sponsoring cutting-edge research and promoting collaboration.” Not only do they provide data and research on water protection, the WRF also provides “practical solutions to complex challenges” regarding the world’s water crisis. For more information, visit www.waterrf.org

Georgetown Climate Center

The Georgetown Climate Center looks for more political solutions to the climate crisis. The organization “works with government officials, academics, and an array of stakeholders to strengthen state and federal climate partnerships,” according to the EPA. The Georgetown Climate Center’s mission, according to their website, is “to advance ambitious and equitable government responses to the climate crisis in the U.S. at the national, state, and local levels.” They work with federal, state, and local officials to implement “practical, real world policymaking.” For more information, visit www.georgetownclimate.org.

As we go barreling toward climate doomsday, there are plenty of organizations and personalities out there looking to make a difference and save our planet. It’s nice to know that we all aren’t *totally* doomed.