Majority of Americans Prefer Green Gifts This Holiday Season – “Season’s Greenings”
Conservation International's Holiday Giving Program helps meet demand.
Washington, D.C. (Vocus/PRWEB ) November 19, 2007 -- A survey conducted by Conservation International (CI), an international nonprofit environmental organization, found that a majority (53%) of Americans would prefer to receive green gifts this holiday season compared to a traditional gift of equal value. Two in five (43%) Americans also said that they plan on giving green gifts during the holidays.
In addition, the survey noted a disconnect between U.S. consumer perception and the science about the major causes of climate change. When asked what is a greater contributor to world-wide climate change between loss of forests, emissions from cars and trucks, or emissions from airplanes, only one-third (30%) of Americans correctly choose loss of forests. Clearing of forests accounts for as much as 25 percent of the total carbon emissions – twice as much as all of the world’s cars and trucks.
"Awareness about environmental issues is at an all time high, but people don't always know what they can do to create the most meaningful benefits for the planet," said Roderic Mast, vice president of Conservation International. "Deforestation is a perfect example. We need to be doing more to preserve our forests if we want to seriously address climate change."
CI's Season's Greening campaign - conservation.org/holidaygift – will help meet the demand for meaningful opportunities to protect the planet during the holiday season. Gift-givers can give an online gift through Season's Greenings in honor of the recipient to help maintain and enhance the health and diversity of the planet.
Recipients receive a beautiful personalized e-card on the specific date the donor selects. Each e-card includes vibrant imagery and a description of the unique environmental treasure that the gift will help protect. Gift-givers may also select to print out a gift card to supplement the e-card or to present in lieu of an online notification, such as a stocking stuffer.
The gifts are available in a variety of monetary increments, ranging from $20 to $100,000 and help solve the some of most pressing environmental issues on the planet. Gift-givers may select from 14 different online gift options, including:
- Gifts to save endangered species such as the Tiger starting at $20.
- A gift of only $50 to curb climate change by preserving forests in Madagascar.
- A $500 donation to safeguard the endangered Mountain Gorilla, which faced a major setback this summer when six adults were slaughtered in the Congo, leaving two orphan babies.
- A gift for those who have everything. A high-end gift from $10,000 to $100,000 to send a team of CI scientists to assess and help save the most biologically rich areas of the Earth.
Americans Ready to Give and Get Green
- One-third (33%) of Americans would rather spend money on a holiday gift that is environmentally friendly, compared to a traditional gift like a camera (33%) or watch (22%).
- Clothing made from organic cotton, a donation in their name to protect an endangered species or forest, and organic personal care products were among the most popular green gifts.
- Almost half (49%) of Americans say they do not agree that they are aware of green gifts options they could give this year.
- Women are more interested in receiving green gifts than men (62% vs. 53%).
Survey Methodology
The survey was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation via telephone. One thousand American adults 18 years or older were surveyed from September 28-October 1, 2007. The margin of error is +/-3%. The full survey results are available upon request.
Recognition as Responsible Charity
More than 85 percent of CI's expenses go directly to conservation programs and only 4 percent to fundraising, earning CI an "A" efficiency rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy for 10 years running. CI has also received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent evaluator of charities.
*Photos to Accompany Story Can Be Found Here:
http://images.conservation.org/admin/packaging/viewtransmit_ext.aspx?messageId=101988&userName=mmaher&session=3f394265c351fe8ed7d891820783c10a
About Conservation International
Conservation International (CI) applies innovations in science, economics, policy and community participation to protect the Earth's richest regions of plant and animal diversity in the biodiversity hotspots, high-biodiversity wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems. With headquarters in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, CI works in more than 40 countries on four continents. For more information about CI, visit www.conservation.org.
Media Contacts:
Marshall Maher, Conservation International
703-341-2623
m.maher(at)conservation.org
Jessica Mendelowitz, Ketchum
646-935-4173
jessica.mendelowitz(at)ketchum.com
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See the original story at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/11/prweb570775.htm
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