How to Help Protect Polar Bears

Giving to Conservation Efforts

Donate to a polar bear conservation organization. One of the easiest and fastest ways to start helping polar bears is to donate a monetary gift to organizations like WWF and Polar Bears International. These organizations take donations directly through their websites, so you can easily give as little or as much as you like. You can make a one-time donation using the “Donate” button, or you can set up automatically-recurring monthly donations. Visit WWF at https://www.worldwildlife.org/. Visit Polar Bears International at https://polarbearsinternational.org/.

Sponsor or “adopt” a polar bear. There are multiple organizations that offer symbolic adoption programs, but Polar Bears International is a great place to start. You can choose from several types of adoption “programs” offered at a variety of different price points. You can even adopt a mom and her cubs or twin polar bears! Just click the “Adoption” button on PBI’s website to check out the different programs. Depending on what program you choose, you’ll be sent a personalized adoption certificate and special merchandise like stuffed polar bears and stickers.

Buy polar bear-related merchandise from conservation organizations. WWF and Polar Bears International sell polar bear merchandise like stickers, mugs, stuffed toys, and other branded items. All of the proceeds go toward their conservation efforts. You can buy the merchandise for yourself, and the items also make great gifts for wildlife enthusiasts!

Encouraging Others to Protect Polar Bears

Spread the word about protecting polar bears. Telling others about polar bears and how they’re endangered may encourage them to donate, buy merchandise, or join a conservation team themselves in an effort to protect them. Try to raise awareness about polar bears whenever you get an opportunity. For example, you can say, “Did you know that polar bears could become largely extinct in their natural habitats by mid-century?” You might tell someone, “I know a trustworthy organization you can donate to if you’re interested in protecting polar bears. You can even symbolically adopt one!”

Post news about conservation efforts on social media platforms. Whenever you come across informative news pieces about polar bears or climate change, share them with your friends and followers on social media to raise awareness. You never know who you might inspire to join the cause! You can also promote organizations like Polar Bears International by sharing links to their website and donation pages.

Share WWF’s interactive app with friends and family to raise awareness. The app is free to download and focuses on polar bears and 11 other endangered wildlife species. The app offers a variety of interactive features, high definition images, and cool facts, along with information about getting involved directly in conservation efforts and links to helpful organizations. You can learn more about downloading the app by visiting https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/the-world-s-most-amazing-animals-are-now-on-your-iphone.

Protecting the Environment

Vote for politicians who value sustainability. Voting for representatives who will fight to protect polar bears and environmental causes is very important. Look for political candidates who agree that global warming is a real threat and who support sustainability efforts. If you’re not sure where a candidate stands on these issues, write him or her a letter or email asking them to outline their views.

Sign PBI’s petition to support carbon tax initiatives. You can easily sign Polar Bears International's petition through their website. Doing so automatically sends a letter to the President of the United States about setting a fair price on carbon. Since the United States is one of the world’s biggest polluters and because their policies carry so much weight globally, petitioning the U.S. president is helpful no matter where you live.

Adjust your thermostat to reduce carbon emissions. Interior heating and cooling systems are one of the biggest producers of greenhouse gas emissions. Turning down your thermostat in the winter and up in the summer will help to improve energy efficiency and allow you to reduce your carbon footprint. This also applies to air conditioning in the summer. Try using a fan or going for a swim instead of opting for air conditioning.

Conserve water. Excessive water use is a big threat to our environment and the environment polar bears inhabit. Take shorter showers, only run full loads of laundry, and turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth to conserve water. Try to buy water-saving appliances like low-flush toilets, too.

Walk and bike more to reduce carbon emissions. Cars and trucks produce a huge amount of greenhouse gas emissions. The more you can walk, bike, carpool, or take public transportation, the better. Fewer cars on the road means cleaner air and fewer greenhouse gases.