1% for the Planet

lanet CHANGE TOGETHER I t’s no secret that over the past century climate change has accelerated at unpreceded rates. All around the world temperatures are rising, ice areas are shrinking, and intense storms are raging. Experts agree human activities are to blame for these alarming and dangerous changes. What may come as a surprise, however, is that only three percent of all philanthropic giving goes specifically towards environmental causes. When Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, the outdoor clothing company, and Craig Mathews, founder of Blue Ribbon Flies, an equipment and education company for anglers, both discovered this, they decided to act. The two friends originally bonded over their mutual love for the outdoors, before inspiring others to protect the planet. In 2002, 1% for the Planet, officially launched when both Chouinard and Mathews, gave one percent of their yearly sales towards supporting the environment. In his memoir, Let My People Go Surfing, Chouinard states that his intent for the global movement will always be, “…to help fund these diverse environmental organizations so that collectively they can be a more powerful source in solving the world’s problems.” This goal is achieved through a simple, effective, and accessible model. Businesses or individuals are paired with high-impact environmental non- profit partners. These non-profits are categorized AT A GLANCE 1% FOR THE PLANET WHAT: Global movement where members contribute one percent of annual revenue to environmental causes WHERE: Based in Burlington, Vermont, USA WEBSITE: www.onepercentfortheplanet.org