NGOs & climate change campaigns : understanding variations in motivations and activities of environmental and development organizations

Abstract

The unequal distribution of climate change impacts exploits the existing vulnerabilities of developing nations. This inequity, coupled with an inadequate, climate mitigation-focused response, has prompted a growing movement of global civil society actors demanding climate justice. In particular, transnational, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have now developed climate change campaigns that focus on both climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, little study has been conducted about the nature of these campaigns. For example, what drives these organizations to work on climate change; how these campaigns are tailored to the needs of vulnerable populations, and how organizational structure affects campaigns and problem identification, are questions that have not been addressed. In order to gain a better understanding of these climate campaigns, I conducted a survey of the climate activities of two transnational NGOs: Friends of the Earth International and Oxfam-Great Britain. In particular, I looked at why these NGOs have engaged in climate change activities in the countries where they are working and why they have oriented their campaigns in the way that they have. The findings suggest that NGO climate change campaigns in industrialized countries focus on mitigation, while the focus in developing countries is on adaptation.