Over the last few months, we’ve done a complete overhaul of our digital footprint. New website, new donation partners, new work…everything. And it feels so good to finally be able to share it with you. So, look around!

Our donation portfolio is full of mangroves, seagrass, peat and other cool 💩

This quarter, we gave to 4 amazing climate projects that we know do very impactful work:

Pachama’s protection of Central Kalimantan Peatlands in Indonesia We’re helping protect 47,237 hectares of natural carbon sinks from being turned into palm oil estates.

SeaGrass Grow by the Ocean Foundation in Puerto Rico As part of the “blue carbon” ecosystem, seagrasses are highly effective at sequestering and storing CO2, reducing erosion, and supporting biodiversity.

Cool Effect’s distribution of biodigesters in India This project captures methane to provide households with sustainable renewable energy and clean organic fertilizer while reducing deforestation and creating new jobs.

Mangrove restoration in Kenya We love mangroves. They’re carbon sinks, natural barriers, diverse habitats, and just true natural wonders. That’s why we’re helping SeaTrees bring them back.

This quarter, we supported these projects to reduce 224,000 lbs of CO2 from the atmosphere at $13.56 per ton of CO2. That reduction is equivalent to the electricity use of 241 homes in one month.

‍

‍

We’re taking a leap into 2024 with a more holistic approach to donations.

Every quarter, our research committee meets to figure out how to reduce the most amount of CO2 per dollar donated. In the past, we chose to focus on just one project per quarter.

‍

But, we’ve been at this a while now and have identified a handful of impactful projects and trusted organizations. (Read about our donation approach here.) So, as of this quarter, we are excited to announce that when you give to Oco Crew, you will be giving to a portfolio of climate projects that includes:

1. Pachama’s protection of Central Kalimantan Peatlands in Indonesia
   For peat’s sake (and the planet’s!), we’re helping protect 47,237 hectares of natural carbon sinks from being turned into palm oil estates.
2. SeaGrass Grow by the Ocean Foundation in Puerto Rico
   As it turns out, the grass really is greener on the other side…of the shoreline. As part of the “blue carbon” ecosystem, seagrasses are highly effective at sequestering and storing CO2. Seagrass meadows also reduce erosion and act as a natural barrier against storm surges while supporting biodiversity and the local economy.
3. Cool Effect’s distribution of biodigesters in India
   As detailed in our Q3 Recap, this project captures methane to sustainably provide households with renewable energy and clean organic fertilizer while reducing deforestation and creating new jobs. It’s hot sh*t.    

This portfolio will evolve as we continue identifying the most promising projects and new ways to optimize your donations. If you have ideas for our research committee or want to get involved, please reach out! You’re also invited to learn all about our donation approach.

‍

Every quarter, our research committee discusses strategies and solutions for reducing atmospheric CO2. The projects we support must follow certain criteria to ensure we are making the greatest impact. (Read about our donation approach here.) Committee members come from academic research, nonprofit climate work, ESG consulting, tech, and philanthropy.

This quarter, we selected a project that transitions families in rural areas of India from wood-burning stoves to biodigesters.  A biodigester is a standalone system that harnesses anaerobic digestion — a natural process in which microorganisms break down organic waste, such as food scraps or cow dung, in the absence of oxygen — and turn it into biogas, which is cleaner, more efficient, and more sustainable than burning wood. Learn more here. Now allow us to break down more of the benefits of this project…

Methane capture (let’s talk sh*t for a minute)  

India is home to the largest population of cattle in the world, with over 300 million cows. Those cows produce a lot of manure. As that manure decomposes, it releases a lot of methane. This greenhouse gas has more than 80x the warming power of CO2 in its first 20 years in the atmosphere. Biodigesters help capture methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

Reduced deforestation: In Maharashtra, where we’re funding this project, nearly 70% of rural households currently rely on firewood for cooking. The local community meets this demand by cutting local forests. This takes away trees that help manage CO2 in our atmosphere, reduces wildlife habitats, and exacerbates the existing problem of desertification. Converting these households to biodigesters has the potential to reduce firewood demand and usage by up to 95%.

More sustainable agriculture: In addition to biogas, biodigesters also provide a clean, organic fertilizer, richer in ammonia than manufactured fertilizers, that improve soil and crop yields.

Cleaner air and water: Farmers often burn agricultural and organic waste in open fields, releasing CO2 and other pollutants in the atmosphere. Biodigesters prevent this by providing a more beneficial way to manage waste. By containing waste, these systems also keep it from contaminating local water sources. The biogas produced also reduces toxic smoke in homes from other fossil fuels.  

Renewable energy: Though primarily used for cooking, the biogas produced by biodigesters can also be used for other energy purposes, which reduces reliance on traditional fossil fuels like coal, wood, and kerosene – the consumption of which would emit more CO2.

Energizing the local economy: Biodigesters bring new jobs to communities so they can manage the technology and transfer the biogas produced. Families also save income that would have previously gone toward purchasing firewood, and people spend less time walking long distances to collect firewood.

‍

Mangroves efficiently store large amounts of carbon in their above-ground biomass and soil, reducing the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. They store carbon in their roots and sediment for long periods, making them effective carbon sinks in both the long and short term.
‍
Mangroves act as natural barriers, dissipating wave energy and protecting coastlines from storms, hurricanes, and erosion. They support diverse plant and animal species, preserving biodiversity and the ecological services they provide. Mangroves filter sediments, pollutants, and excess nutrients from runoff, improving water quality and benefiting adjacent marine ecosystems.

This quarter, we have donated to SeaTrees to support mangrove restoration and conservation projects in Baja, Mexico; West Papua, Indonesia, and Mida Creek, Kenya. Here’s why we love mangroves:

1. Mangroves store carbon in their roots and sediment for long periods, making them effective carbon sinks in both the long and short term.
2. Mangroves act as natural barriers, dissipating wave energy and protecting coastlines from storms, hurricanes, and erosion.
   They support diverse plant and animal species, preserving biodiversity and the ecological services they provide.
3. They support diverse plant and animal species, preserving biodiversity and the ecological services they provide.
4. Mangroves filter sediments, pollutants, and excess nutrients from runoff, improving water quality and benefiting adjacent marine ecosystems.

These projects also offer important social benefits to local communities through job creation, sustainable livelihoods, and enhanced resilience to climate-related events. Local communities and partners help manage these projects, which involve planting new trees and implementing measures to protect existing forests from deforestation and degradation

In Q1, we supported the restoration and preservation of mangroves in Baja, Indonesia and Kenya.

Today, we could not be more excited to introduce you to a brand new climate nonprofit, Oco Crew. Our mission as a nonprofit is to make it easier for people to learn about and support real impactful climate projects. We are community-driven and would love you to join. For our first climate donation, we are supporting the restoration and preservation of mangroves in Myanmar, Indonesia and Kenya.

Restoring mangroves is an impactful way of coastal wetland. Project Drawdown estimates we can reduce 0.76 to 1 gigaton of CO2 from that atmosphere by restoring coastal wetlands:

‍"Unlike most terrestrial ecosystems, coastal wetlands—salt marshes, mangroves, and seagrasses—can continue sequestering carbon for centuries without becoming saturated. In fact, coastal wetlands can store five times as much carbon as tropical forests over the long term, mostly in deep wetland soils. As a result, they have accumulated vast stores of carbon, making their greenhouse gas mitigation potential high despite their small area. Coastal wetlands also provide important ecosystem services."