Although New York’s popular characterization as a “concrete jungle” may not immediately lead you to think of its “climate action” pedigree, New York City is firmly at the center of the climate conversation.  

So it is worth noting that this week is Climate Week New York City, a celebration of climate progress and innovation that extends far beyond the scope of the city’s own famous five boroughs. With world leaders in attendance, such as Kenyan president, H.E. Dr. William Ruto, and deputy first director of Deutsche Bundesbank, Sabine Mauderer, some of the world’s biggest leaders are tackling some of the planet’s biggest climate challenges in the city that never sleeps.

But here at EARTHDAY.ORG, we have always been about grassroots activism, so this NYC Climate Week, let’s shed some light on the localized environmental work that is making NYC greener.

Reimagining Brooklyn’s Skyline – Brooklyn

Historically, Brooklyn’s Sunset Park, on the western waterfront with views of New York Harbor, was the industrial heart of the city, and a critical center of shipping and manufacturing during the Second World War and postwar period. In recent decades, however, the neglected waterfront has fallen into disrepair. 

As industrial and manufacturing jobs dissipated in the area, three ‘natural’ gas plants moved in, and the majority-Latino residents of Sunset Park were left to live in the pollution these plants belched out. Operated mainly during periods of high electricity demand, they burn fossil fuels, primarily gas, and in the process release harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) into the air. These pollutants contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and worsen air quality. Besides emitting these primary pollutants, the power plants  contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone and fine particulate matter, which are linked to serious health problems. The neighborhood stands as a quintessential example of how environmental injustice happens.

Elizabeth Yeampirre, a civil rights lawyer and director of UPROSE, one of New York’s most prominent environmental justice organizations, has fought long and hard against the disenfranchisement of local people.

Over the course of 30 years, UPROSE has successfully doubled Sunset Park’s green space, and recently, launched a community solar initiative. Admirably persistent, UPROSE continues to better the lives of Sunset Park community members, and the arrival of a new, major green infrastructure project to the neighborhood is projected to rapidly accelerate the organization’s vision of a green, just future. 

In 2017, Norwegian energy company Equinor proposed a large-scale offshore wind farm centered around Sunset Park. The project, aptly named Empire Wind, is set to not only help diversify and clean up New York City’s energy mix, but it has already begun providing jobs for thousands. 

To construct the farm itself, Equinor has already employed over 1,500 people, with thousands more jobs created in association with the project’s supply chain and equipment production. 

Although stalled by a stop-work order issued by the Department of the Interior, the now-resumed Empire Wind venture shows the positive future of green energy projects, even in the most unconventional of locations. 

Not only will the wind farm work to reverse years of fossil fuel-induced community harm, but it is also working to actively integrate the Sunset Park community into the green economy. Often posed as mere means of cleaner energy generation, renewables are far more than that, intersecting with social and economic issues as well.

Cloudbursts in Queens – Queens

Cloudbursts are characterized by a sudden, high density of rainfall in a short period of time. As climate change produces more extreme weather patterns, these downpours pose a real problem for cities such as New York, which often lack the infrastructure to effectively handle so much rainfall in such a short timeframe, causing flood-related disruptions and damage.

In response to this problem, New York City has integrated cloudburst hubs into its infrastructural development plan. Two of these hubs are planned to be built in Queens. They will utilize so-called gray infrastructure, like sewer systems and porous concrete, as well as green infrastructure, like rain gardens, to redirect rainwater off the streets and toward an underground storage tank. 

Though not yet implemented, these systems project to make New York City as a whole more climate resilient, providing its residents with a more livable future.

The Bronx is Breathing 

An initiative called The Bronx is Breathing is seeking to provide community members with a healthier future to counteract the emissions levels centralized around Hunts Point.

Hunts Point is “the number one diesel truck destination in New York State,” largely due to the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, one of the largest in the country, which generates about 15,000 truck trips daily. This heavy truck traffic contributes significantly to air pollution, especially particulate matter (PM2.5) and diesel exhaust.

Hospitalization rates for asthma amongst children are 2.5 times higher in Hunts Point than the New York City average. Although freight vehicle emissions are not the sole cause of this exceptionally high asthma rate, they are a major contributor to the issue.

To combat it, The Bronx is Breathing is working with the Greater Hunts Point Economic Development Corporation, in partnership with Volvo and Mack Trucks, to transition the local fleet of freight trucks to EVs. The initiative seeks to build EV charging infrastructure in Hunts Point and start an initiative that supports drivers in attaining collective ownership of the new vehicles, working around both logistical and financial barriers to the plan.

Bringing Back the Oyster – Staten Island

The waters surrounding New York City were once densely populated by oysters, but with the industrialization of the area, the oyster population has been devastated. New York Harbor was once the greatest oyster habitat on the planet, with vast oyster reefs that supported both the local ecosystem and human populations for centuries. But by the early 1900s, decades of overharvesting combined with mounting pollution from sewage and industrial waste led to the collapse of oyster beds. 

In 1927, officials declared the harbor oysters unsafe to eat, and since then, oyster populations have been functionally extinct in New York waters.

When oysters thrive, they form oyster reefs, forming a natural coastal defense, which is a critically important component of the marine ecosystem and essential to dampening storm surges.  As the oyster population has decreased in the area, the toll of major storms has significantly increased. Superstorm Sandy, hitting New York in the fall of 2012, created a storm surge 14 feet tall, which claimed 44 lives along with thousands of homes and businesses. 

To bring the oysters back and prevent another similar occurrence, the Billion Oyster Project is constructing “living breakwaters,” artificial structures that serve to break incoming storm surges. Constructed off the shore of Staten Island, these structures protect on-shore human interests, shielding the coastline from the worst of storms. 

But these structures bolster local biodiversity too, over and above just oysters because they mimic the complexity of natural oyster reefs, projecting to provide habitats for a variety of oysters, shellfish, and fish. These reefs will also attract large species like rays, sharks, bald eagles, and seals, drawn to the flourishing biodiversity breathed into the artificial habitats. As a result of this ecological revitalization, the breakwaters may also develop into fishable locations for locals. 

The Greenway is the Right Way – Manhattan

As part of the broader Manhattan Waterfront Greenway initiative, a project that seeks to establish a 32.5-mile green ring around the island, Harlem is receiving major funding to revitalize the neighborhood’s public spaces and connect community members to the waterfront. 

The initiative goes beyond mere aesthetics, providing residents with practical infrastructure upgrades. Funding for the Greenway is being used to reconstruct seawalls, build new pedestrian and bike pathways, and construct a new waterfront park. 

At its core, the initiative ties together human and environmental well-being, simultaneously making public spaces more pleasant while updating its infrastructure to be more climate resilient. 

Climate Action is a Local Matter

If anything, New York’s commitment to these green initiatives demonstrates that tangible impact can be made at the local level. While your municipality may not have the same resources as New York City, your voice can make a difference, especially when you organize with other like-minded individuals.

Join our network of volunteers, and get involved in your own community today!

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Roots of Resistance

Today is Jamaican Independence Day, so we would like to take some time to explore and appreciate the past, present, and future of a nation situated on the frontlines of climate change. As the inhabitants of a small island nation, the people of Jamaica are amongst those most impacted by changing environmental factors; however, just as Jamaicans fiercely resisted colonial rule, they are now confronting climate change with energy. Join us in examining the storied history of this nation and what it can teach us about our current campaign for the environment. 

Although a relatively young country, only gaining its independence on August 6, 1962, Jamaica’s history extends back to far earlier times. 

The Taíno people, indigenous to the coast of South America, first inhabited the landmass that now makes up Jamaica in about 600 AD. Through the next millennium, the Taíno people fostered a unique fusion of South American and Caribbean culture, known as Arawak-Taíno culture. 

Christopher Columbus’ arrival in present-day Jamaica in 1494 marked the beginning of the end for the longstanding Arawak-Taíno culture, however. Over the course of the coming decades, Spanish-led efforts of colonization and genocide nearly wiped out Arawak-Taíno culture as a whole, ushering in a new era of Jamaican history.

With Spanish rule came the trans-Atlantic slave trade and the plantation system that it propped up, drastically changing the demography and ecology of the island. This shift was maintained by the British Empire as it took control of the former Spanish colony following the Anglo-Spanish War. 

From 1655 to 1808, when Britain banned the trans-Atlantic slave trade, about 927,000 enslaved Africans were brought to Jamaica. These enslaved people became the crucial labor force behind the island’s expanding plantations and fueled the growth and maintenance of the sugarcane production on the island, making the industry the most profitable form of agricultural production across all of the Americas and Europe. 

European rule over Jamaica was brutal and characterized by the prioritization of profit above the welfare of the island’s people and the land itself. This systematic instrumentalization of life, which saw enslaved people’s lives reduced to mere tools for the economic, political, and social objectives of the British colonial system, is perhaps encapsulated by the events of April 7th, 1760, known as Tacky’s Revolt. This revolt by enslaved Africans, some of whom were militarily trained, tried to overturn a system that didn’t see them as people.

Though Tacky’s Revolt did not directly lead to freedom for its participants, it set a lasting principle of resistance and resilience. After nearly three centuries of colonial rule, multiple attempts at revolution, and the failed creation of a pan-Caribbean federation, Jamaica finally gained its independence in 1962. 

Freedom Deferred: The Weight of Economic Dependence 

Jamaican independence was hard fought over the course of generations. However, it didn’t necessarily mean complete sovereignty from the political actors that once directly ruled the island. To this day, Jamaica still stands subject to the economic powers of the Global North, directly and indirectly. 

Here’s how – of a population of nearly 2.8 million, 175,000 Jamaicans are directly employed by the tourism industry; an industry that indirectly supports the livelihoods of 354,000. The importance of this industry, which is reliant upon an influx of foreign visitors and capital, can be seen through Jamaica’s economic downturn during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In response to travel restrictions, Jamaica’s tourism industry was projected to “haemorrhage by approximately $76.0 billion” in 2020, a significant blow to an economy with an estimated value of $19.423 billion in 2023. In fact, the downturn of this industry contributed to a nearly 10% decrease in the nation’s real GDP the same year. 

A Warming World’s Disproportionate Toll

The sudden decline of Jamaica’s tourism industry following COVID-19 is just one clear example of the Global North’s continued projection of power on the island. Worryingly, this condition of economic dependence could be made more severe by climate change. Although only responsible for 0.02% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally, Jamaica stands to lose more than the biggest emitters as Caribbean weather patterns become more unpredictable and sea levels rise. 

Hurricane Beryl alone caused an economic loss of $6.5 billion in 2024, affecting 45,000 farmers and damaging 8,700 homes in the process. As storms like Beryl become more frequent, the damage to both life and property in Jamaica will continue and almost certainly accelerate. Additionally, rising sea levels threaten to consume the nation’s coastlines, where 82% of residents live and much of the country’s critical tourism infrastructure lies. Kingston, the capital city, is a case in point, with projections indicating that sea levels could rise there by as much as 34 cm by 2050 and 1.1 meters by 2100.

Without decisive action, climate change will jeopardize the livelihoods, homes, and lifestyles of countless Jamaicans. 

Energy Independence is Political Independence

Jamaica’s current status is not cause for despair, however. In fact, the Jamaican spirit of independence and resilience is bleeding into the nation’s approach to energy production. 

In 2022, 100% of Jamaica’s domestic energy production came from renewable sources like biofuels, wind, and solar. Though these sources only accounted for 7% of their total energy usage, investment in these energy sources is proving to produce an excellent return. The growth of clean, domestic energy has helped bring down fossil fuel imports by 17% over the course of the last two decades, paving the way towards a greener and more broadly independent future.

Although the rate of new renewable energy projects has thus far lagged behind national targets, such as Jamaica’s pledge to achieve a 50% renewable energy mix by 2050, a strong sentiment toward the implementation of renewable energy remains. Projections predict that 23.5% of the island’s power will come from renewables by 2030 and 37% by 2050, an impressive leap from the 7% renewable consumption rate that Jamaica stands at currently.

And these projections are more than mere virtue signaling. The Jamaican Stock Exchange has developed “Green Bonds,” government-issued bonds used to fund social and climate-centric projects, putting money where their mouth is. As projected by the United Nations Development Programme, this sort of investment could yield approximately 7,500 new jobs for the small island nation in addition to the environmental benefits it will produce. 

Teaching the Next Generation That Climate Change is Real

What is more, Jamaica’s green journey is being taken directly into schools, too.

Climate education is incorporated directly into Jamaica’s school curriculum, beginning as early as grade three. More focused instruction starts by grade six, covering the causes, consequences, and impacts of climate change through discussions, field trips, and the use of technology. 

With teachers receiving specialized training on how to educate their students on climate change and environmental stewardship, the Jamaica Environment Trust’s Schools’ Environment Programme engages thousands of students with hands-on environmental activities. 

At large, climate literacy and sustainable development are key priorities in Jamaica’s education policies, with ongoing efforts to strengthen their integration throughout various subjects and grade levels.

Defying Odds, Defining the Future

Jamaica’s history has been one of exceptional hardship and persistence, and its campaign against climate change is no exception. However, through its green energy efforts, the nation is resisting the narrative of the state’s postcolonial dependence on the Global North. Though Jamaica is certainly still subject to the economic pressures of global powers, it is independently defining its national future, presenting itself as a beacon of hope in the face of a climate crisis that impacts us all. 

Although facing a uniquely challenging set of climate challenges due to its size and geopolitical positioning, the nation’s resilience amidst these circumstances also provides a blueprint to the rest of the world. 

Jamaica is a small island nation seeking to achieve developed nation status, yet it is making a concerted effort to invest in a long-term green future. It is disproving the pervasive myth that clean energy is too expensive to ever be practical, especially in the Developing World. In fact, Jamaica’s leadership is showing the contrary: that renewable energy paves the path toward greater energy independence and efficiency, all while reducing emissions. 

Stand Up for a Cleaner Future

If you’re inspired by Jamaica’s environmental direction, consider joining our ongoing campaign to protect the United States’ Environmental Protection Agency. In the face of ongoing deregulation, voices like yours make a difference! Write to Congress, Administrator Zeldin, and President Trump to protect the regulatory legislation that keeps America clean.

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Music is one of life’s great joys. In few other art forms or popular culture can you find so much artful meaning, reminding us of why our planet is beautiful and unique. 

So let’s celebrate some of the music that explores the wonder of the world around us. From the mellow tunes of Marvin Gaye to the sheer exuberance of Lil Dicky’s Hollywood-packed Earth Day anthem, environmental musicality exists all around us. 

1) Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) – Marvin Gaye

Music: David Van DePitte

Lyrics: Marvin Gaye

In this ode to the environment, Gaye laments how human activity has deteriorated the world around us. Gaye’s refrain, “Whoa, mercy mercy me / Things ain’t what they used to be,” expresses a sadness for human-caused pollution as he points to, “Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas,” and asks, “How much more abuse can she [Mother Earth] stand?” 

And Gaye is right to raise this question. Although the frequency and scale of oil spills have drastically decreased since the 1970s, when he released this climate anthem, they continue to damage ecosystems to their core. 

When oil is released into marine ecosystems, organisms at all levels are affected. Marine mammals and birds rely on their layer of fur and feathers to insulate themselves from the cold ocean water. With oil added to the equation, these insulating abilities are compromised as their coats and plumage become matted down. 

Dolphins, whales, and fish also find themselves at risk as oil can impair the function of the respiratory, immune, and reproductive systems, and above all else, lead to poisoning. 

If anything, Gaye’s musical illustration of the climate crisis points to the necessity of cleaner energy generation. In moving away from fossil fuels, we no longer rely on logistical chains that are inevitably susceptible to major disaster.

2) Big Yellow Taxi – Counting Crows (Featuring Vanessa Carlton)

Music: Joni Mitchell

Lyrics: Steve Lilywhite

In their 2002 release, Counting Crows offers a similar critique of humanity’s impact on the natural world. The band’s vocalist, Adam Duritz, sings, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot / With a pink hotel, a boutique, and a swinging hot pot.”

Human cohabitation with nature is great, but what Big Yellow Taxi highlights is how humanity is developing the earth in excessive and unsustainable ways. In America, urban sprawl – the spread of so-called ‘development’ into undeveloped, green land – has become a serious issue. 

Between 2000 and 2020, urban land – where systematic human development, such as street grids and commercial centers, exists – increased by 14% in the United States. While this trend of development has been accompanied by a significant demographic shift towards cities, urban expansion needs to be sustainable. If not done conscientiously, new urban projects can quickly descend into expanses of suburban homes, strip malls, and megastores. This sort of dotted growth often necessitates single-family home and car ownership, foisting both financial and environmental costs on local communities. 

3) Somewhere Over the Rainbow – Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Music: Harold Arlen

Lyrics: Yip Harburg

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole takes on a different approach to musical environmentalism through his classic, Somewhere Over the Rainbow. He shows that appreciation for nature doesn’t have to come exclusively from a place of fear for its destruction. 

He proclaims, “Well I see trees of green and / Red roses too / I’ll watch them bloom / For me and you / And I think to myself / What a wonderful world.” In Kamakawiwo’ole’s view, nature is worthy of appreciation in itself, not for any sense of utility that it provides. 

He continues, “The colors of the rainbow, / So pretty in the sky / Are also on the faces / Of people passing by.” As Kamakawiwo’ole demonstrates, it only takes careful attention to see how interconnected we are to life all around us, and consequently, to understand what a blessing that is.

This messaging has perhaps never been more important than it is now, as national parks – sanctuaries for the public and wildlife alike –  come under threat as their funding is slashed.

4) Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

Music: Milt Okun and Susan Ruskin

Lyrics: Bill Danoff, Taffy Nivert, and John Denver

Similarly, John Denver explores how nature provides us humans with an irreplaceable sense of belonging through his American folk classic, Take Me Home, Country Roads. As he describes his drive back home through West Virginia’s Appalachian peaks, Denver plays on the specific relief of a homecoming. Anthropomorphized in the song as “West Virginia, mountain momma,” the state’s landscape guides us home through its welcoming scenery, which Denver describes as “Almost Heaven.”

Unfortunately, Denver’s heaven has been slowly chipped away over the course of decades. Mountaintop-removal mining, a process in which coal mines remove large volumes of surface material to reach coal lying underneath, causes major disruptions in the Appalachian landscape and ecology. Satellite imagery shows the spread of these sorts of mines, procedurally thinning out the very forests that John Denver once sang about. 

The damage goes beyond the loss of tree coverage, however. Although mine operators are legally obligated to return the landscape to its approximate shape prior to mining, this task is often impossible as the mined earth cannot hold the same form that it once did in its solid, intact state. This means that leftover rubble is often dumped into valleys and streams, polluting ecosystems and causing health complications, such as cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, pulmonary disease, and birth defects, in local communities.

The good news is that mountaintop removal and coal mining in general are becoming far less popular in the United States. While these mines have done irreparable damage, and some continue to operate, the closure of many coal mines shows that the undeniable economic and political pull of renewable energy is prevailing.

In 2024, West Virginia’s electricity mix remains dominated by coal, generating approximately 84.7 % of the state’s power. Meanwhile, low-carbon sources – wind, hydro, and solar – make up only about 7.3 % of total generation, admittedly well below the U.S. average of around 43 %. However, clean energy employment in the state is on the rise; in 2022, the sector employed 17,959 people, about 1.4 % of the workforce, a 6 % increase from the previous year. 

Plus, solar capacity is growing rapidly across the country, jumping nearly sevenfold in just a couple of years. Wind energy is also expanding steadily, doubling generation over the past decade, supported by the bountiful wind resources blowing through Denver’s country roads!

5) Earth – Lil Dicky

Music: Benny Blanco, Cashmere Cat

Lyrics: David Burd, Benjamin Levin, Magnus August Høiberg, Joshua Coleman, Jamil Chammas

Released in conjunction with the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, just before Earth Day 2019, Lil Dicky’s Earth brings together some of Hollywood’s most famous artists and actors. A comedic call to action, Earth features Justin Bieber as a baboon, Snoop Dawg as a marijuana plant, and Katy Perry as a stub-legged pony. 

Highlighting the interconnectedness of all living beings and the impact of human actions on the planet, the song emphasizes the urgency of addressing climate change and encourages collective responsibility.

Although a far cry from more traditional forms of environmental advocacy, the project highlights how environmentalism has truly entered the mainstream. With celebrities getting involved, you can see the effects of grassroots activism, with Hollywood feeling the need to respond to the public’s opinion. 

And these efforts were not without effect. The song successfully raised over $600K for six charities at the same time. Full disclosure we were not one of them, but we liked the sentiment of the song!

EARTHDAY.ORG is now without its own famous fans – check out the Ringo Starr collaboration in our store, Antonique Smith’s ambassador page, or the one and only William Shatner supporting our Wikie and Keijo orca appeal.  

Let The Music Move You – To Act

Environmental action doesn’t have to be limited to Hollywood; in fact, it shouldn’t be. While all the songs listed here are achievements in their own right, the world they are acknowledging with can only be preserved with real-world action. 
Luckily, we have established a network of local environmentalists here at EARTHDAY.ORG. Why not ease your way into the movement and sign up to join a web of like-minded volunteers?

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What can local communities do when environmental regulation falls short at the national level? A whole lot, it turns out. Picking up the government’s slack may seem like a lofty task, but many cities across the world are already proving that it’s possible. These success stories show how effective  local advocacy can be, but also how it improves daily life. 

Green Democracy

There is possibly no better example of how environmental policy improves human life than Barcelona, Spain. In 2017, the city began drafting its 2018-2030 Climate Action Plan, a policy roadmap set on transforming Barcelona into a carbon-neutral city by 2050. The plan’s scope expands beyond merely meeting Paris Agreement targets, however. 

Barcelona’s plan was produced as a direct collaboration between its government and its citizens, built to serve all of its population, as climate change continues to impact lifestyles and livelihoods.  Their plan was influenced by the findings of the 2016 Barcelona Health Survey, which found that more than 1 in 10 citizens were living in energy poverty, putting vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly at risk in the face of rising temperatures. At the heart of the city’s Climate Action Plan is environmental justice. 

While Barcelona is slashing its greenhouse gas emissions, it is investing in upgrading its water and energy utilities. This effort starts in the homes of ordinary Barcelonans, which are being renovated at large-scale to add solar production, rainwater retention systems, and vegetation. By 2030, the city hopes to achieve zero energy poverty with 94,000 completed renovations. 

In addition to home renovations, Barcelona is adding shade and cooling systems to public spaces such as parks, malls, and civic centers to transform them into climate shelters. As outlined by their Climate Action Plan, all Barcelonans will live within a ten-minute walk from the nearest climate shelter by 2030. 

The Spanish city is not only doing its part to prevent the most severe outcomes of climate change, but it is also adapting by preparing its population to handle inevitable increases in temperature and unpredictable weather. 

A City for the Future

Tokyo, Japan, is similarly striving to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change; however, its action plan looks different, fitting the needs of Japan’s localized climate. 

In response to the persistent threat of typhoons in the region, the nation is preparing for a future characterized by severe weather type events. Across Tokyo, sewage systems and river management infrastructure are being revamped in order to handle higher flood levels and increased rainfall. Simpler measures are also being implemented, with floodgates being installed at metro stations and utility poles, at risk of collapse during storms, being removed. 

These disaster mitigation efforts extend to heat waves too. Japan is fundamentally transforming its infrastructure to accommodate rising temperatures: reconstructing roads with heat-blocking pavements, renovating homes’ heat insulation, promoting urban greenery, and installing water misters in public areas.  

The city’s adaptive measures are backed by robust policy set to manage and limit its emissions through future decades. Tokyo’s Zero Emission Strategy sets the city to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2025. Planners of the strategy project that this emission reduction will be achieved through a variety of efforts, including investment in renewable and hydrogen-based technologies, expansion of zero-emission buildings, a transition to zero emission vehicles, and an increase in recycling rates.  

Bringing New Life to Waste

Curitiba, nestled southwest of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, is taking on an innovative approach to its campaign against climate change. 

A forerunner of public transit, Curitiba developed the world’s first-ever bus rapid transit system in 1974. Today, 80% of the city’s travellers use the bus system, reducing fuel demand by 35% and consequently reducing net emissions.

Curitiba’s bus rapid transit system also helps prop up other environmental programs, such as the Green Exchange. This initiative allows Curitibanos to collect trash in exchange for bus tokens or food, clearing streets of waste, reducing sanitation costs, and promoting interaction between citizens and government. 

The cumulative outcome of these programs is a recycling rate of 70%, one of the highest in the world!

Acting Local: Why Should I?

Your local advocacy may not include rewriting building code or inventing a new form of public transit, and that’s ok. These three cities may all have big budgets and a wealth of political power, but at their core, their policy is driven by a belief that environmental policy and human well-being are deeply intertwined. 

The stark reality of climate change is that it is changing all of our lives, regardless of where we live. When rising temperatures and changing weather patterns begin threatening the health of your neighbors, care for your community and environment become inseparable. 

No matter what it looks like, true environmental advocacy produces a better world for us all. Jumping into local environmental action can be a daunting prospect, but it doesn’t have to be. Join our network of volunteers, and get connected to those working towards a common goal around you. 

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

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As heat waves hit the animal kingdom, nature is rewriting its playbook. Across ecosystems, animals are finding ways to survive, even in the face of an increasingly hostile climate. 

While in an ideal world, these adaptations would never be needed, but their ability to adapt shows us how robust and naturally regenerative species on our planet can be. If anything, the adaptation of life around us is a reminder that our campaign for the environment is worthwhile. Nature is pulling its weight; the question is – will we?

A Wardrobe for Warmer Weather

The European tawny owl is changing as a species – literally. As winters grow milder and snow becomes increasingly scarce, these birds are ‘swapping’ their gray plumage for a warmer brown. This isn’t a matter of following the latest fowl fashion trend – this is evolution in action. 

Traditionally, tawny owls range from pale gray to dark brown, with gray morphs (i.e. owls with predominantly gray feathers) thriving in snowy, cold environments and brown morphs more common in warmer, humid regions. 

However, as climate change leads to less snow, brown owls are surviving and reproducing at higher rates in areas that were once dominated by gray morphs. This shift is not just a matter of individual owls changing color, but rather a change in the genetic makeup of the population over generations. Researchers have tied this shift in color pigmentation to genes responsible for other survival traits designed to help them thrive in extreme environments, such as those related to maintaining energy homeostasis, fat deposition, and control over starvation responses. 

In essence, the genes that make an owl gray also give it biological tools to cope with extreme cold and lack of food. As our winters become milder, these survival traits—and the gray color associated with them—become less necessary, so brown-colored owls (who lack these cold-adapted genes) are becoming more common.

Shrinking to Survive

Clownfish are adapting too, but in a very different way: they’re just shrinking! According to a recent study, clownfish are decreasing in size by an estimated 1-2% during marine heatwaves. Although this may seem alarming, in reality, it’s a clever method of adaptation. 

Reducing their size helps clownfish match their energy needs to the environment around them.  Smaller bodies require less energy and oxygen, which is especially important when warmer water holds less oxygen and food becomes scarce. In fact, shrinking just once has been shown to improve their survival probability by a staggering 78% in the face of heat waves.

Going Deeper 

In the rocky slopes of the Western United States, the American pika – a small, rabbit-like species – is adapting in essential ways. Making use of crevices to stay cool, American pikas have always spent a whole lot of time underground. But researchers have found that these little lagomorphs are now working on a new schedule, only peeking out of their burrows during dawn, dusk, or night, when temperatures are moderate.  

In addition to their new timetables, pikas are also adopting new homes, nestling down deeper than ever before, where subsurface temperatures can be nearly 10 degrees Celsius cooler during the hottest times of the day. 

Doing all they can to avoid the heat, pikas are also changing their diets. Pikas used to spend hours foraging for grasses, sedges, herbaceous flowering plants, thistles, fireweed, and other wildflowers. Now they are relying much more on eating moss that is easily accessible all year-round, and limits the hours they need to spend foraging for their former favorites, which means less time on the surface. 

Reptiles Rewriting the Rules

Reptiles around the world are adapting too, this time in how they nurture their offspring. Researchers have discovered that the eastern three-lined skink, for example, has begun nesting four weeks earlier, over the short course of a decade. 

Higher temperatures accelerate the development of reptile embryos, often resulting in offspring that are smaller and less developed at hatching.

Other reptiles, including the Chinese alligator and American crocodile, have made similar nesting changes to avoid the stresses of high nesting temperatures. 

Reptiles are also choosing cooler locations for their nesting sites. Kemp’s ridley sea turtle has done just this, moving farther north to find nesting sites. Other reptiles, like American crocodiles in Florida, have begun to diversify their nest types to mitigate the risk of an entire litter failing to hatch, laying some eggs in coastal sand mounds and some in hole nests or creek banks. 

When Poop Becomes a Solution

Animals are changing more than just their own behavior; they’re reforming ecosystems too. 

In the Andes, the vicuña – a relative of the llama – is unknowingly bringing ecosystems back to life. 

As glaciers continue to melt, they leave behind land that is nutrient-deprived. A recent study shows that vicuña poop (yes, poop) plays a pivotal role in promoting plant growth in these barren landscapes. When vicuñas leave behind a meal already enjoyed, they transport nutrients from established ecosystems to the newly exposed soil, accelerating the process of plant growth by over 100 years.

Timing the Ticking Clock

African wild dogs are adjusting the timing of one of the most critical parts of their life cycle – birth. Over the past thirty years, these dogs have shifted their average birthing date back by three weeks to avoid rearing their pups during the hot season when survival is less likely. This shift comes as cool seasons are becoming shorter and shorter over time, and the temperature indicators signaling ideal birthing conditions are occurring later in the year. 

This change initially seems successfully adaptive. However, as cool seasons grow shorter and fall later in the year, the climate cues that wild dogs have always relied on are now failing them. Pups are still ending up being born in the dangerous heat because the parents can no longer predict when to rear them, a blunt reminder of adaptation’s limitations.

The Edge of Adaptation

Across continents, kingdoms, and species, animals are finding ways to survive in a changing world. But as these examples have shown, adaptation alone cannot solve the issues presented by climate change; the task of survival cannot become the sole responsibility of the animal kingdom. 

The real question of adaptation lies with us humans: can we make the changes to support life around us?

If you would like to learn more about EARTHDAY.ORG’s mission, check out our climate action articles. Or if you’re in the mood for something a bit more lighthearted, find out what endangered species you’re most similar to here!

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post Adapt or Die: 6 Weird Ways Animals are Adapting to Climate Change appeared first on Earth Day.

Today is National Gummy Worm Day. Who knew? Though a tasty treat in their own right, gummy worms take inspiration from a real-life organism that is serially underappreciated. Bees are great and deserve our love and appreciation, but earthworms really should steal the spotlight when it comes to keystone species. On this National Gummy Worm Day, we at EARTHDAY.ORG want to give some other key pollinators, predators, and producers the praise that they deserve for keeping our ecosystems afloat (yes, earthworms included). 

The Humble Earthworm Makes Life On Earth Possible

Despite their humble reputation, earthworms are quite the superstars when it comes to supporting the ecosystems they inhabit and playing a critically important role in all of our lives, even if we don’t realize it! Put simply, humans and most other terrestrial ecosystems would struggle to survive without earthworms.

As decomposers, earthworms play an essential role in keeping soil rich with nutrients. Commenting on this role, ecologist Dr Ailidh Barnes stated, “Earthworms are vital at looking after the soil, which is the basis of all life and what grows our food.” 

Burrowing through the ground, the humble earthworm aerates our topsoil as it tunnels around, which improves oxygen flow and is vital for maintaining soil health, fertility, water infiltration, and supporting positive microbial activity. Considering that 95% of all plant growth takes place in topsoil, it’s pretty clear that earthworms rock. 

Earthworm numbers are in decline. Globally, the average decline is estimated to be less than 5%, but in some countries, they have seen losses of more than 50% of their earthworm populations. One of their big killers is pesticide exposure, so opt for organic or regeneratively farmed fruit and vegetables where you can. 

Otters: Nature’s Caretakers of Kelp Forests

Turning to a completely different environment, we have the sea otter. Sea otters may seem in no way similar to earthworms, but their ecological role is just as crucial. These furry critters keep kelp forests going strong simply by stuffing themselves. 

Here’s how: otters maintain balance in the ocean’s kelp forests by preying on sea urchins, preventing these spiny grazers from overrunning kelp forests. Without otters, urchin populations explode and can strip entire reefs bare, turning vibrant kelp forests into “urchin barrens” where little else survives. 

By keeping urchin numbers in check, otters allow kelp forests to thrive, which is good as these marine forests provide food, shelter, and nursery grounds for countless other marine species, supporting fisheries, and even helping fight climate change by absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. In this way, every urchin an otter eats helps keep the ocean healthy for us all.

In regions such as the coast of Oregon, otters are sorely missed as it has resulted in an explosion in the urchin populations, threatening zooplankton and gray whale populations in the area. 

Hummingbirds are Pollinators Too

Everybody knows how important bees are at this point. They don’t just buzz around for fun—they’re the VIPs of pollination, responsible for one in every three bites of food you eat. Without them, your salad, smoothie, and even your morning coffee would be seriously underwhelming if not non-existent. But what about other pollinators? 

Hummingbirds, although you may not hear about them as frequently, perform a very similar role to honey bees. In certain ecosystems, such as the woody grassland of Patagonia, in South America, many plants can only be pollinated by these feathery go-getters. 

In fact, the green-backed firecrown, a species of hummingbird, is responsible for 20% of all plant pollination in these ecosystems.

We Love Sharks

Sharks are much more than movies like Jaws or The Meg will have you believe. Despite their intimidating reputation, sharks are responsible for the upkeep of many marine ecosystems. In many cases, it is actually this fear-striking quality that allows them to support their watery homes. 

Larger species, such as tiger or great white sharks, maintain seagrass populations by preying on or simply scaring away anything that would threaten to overgraze these underwater meadows. The migratory nature of these sharks also means that they feed offshore and transport nutrients back into reef ecosystems, helping them flourish. 

These predatory habits also keep fish populations healthy by removing the sick and weak, which helps prevent disease and keeps food webs in balance. Without sharks, entire ocean ecosystems would become unbalanced, putting many other species at risk. So, be pro-shark! Avoid shark fin soup and any shark skin products.

Coral & Carbon Connection

Speaking of ocean health, corals serve as the backbone of our warm ocean ecosystems, with their structure providing protection to the vast diversity of fish and organisms that live among them. 

Coral reefs are often referred to as the “rainforest of the sea” due to their high rates of biodiversity. Reefs may only cover less than 1% of the ocean, but they host nearly 25% of all ocean species. 

In addition to the home that they offer to so many different kinds of ocean life, coral reefs contribute to carbon absorption. While reefs themselves are not net absorbers of CO2, their place in broader marine ecosystems, supporting carbon-sequestering seagrass meadows and mangroves, makes them essential components in creating and sustaining natural carbon sinks. 

Fabulous Food from the Fig Tree

Fruiting year-round, fig trees provide a stable and abundant supply of food to the organisms around them when little else is available. Just this one tree sustains many species, including bats, rodents, lizards, monkeys, birds, tortoises, and even fish.

The popularity of figs in the animal kingdom is truly unrivaled, with 1,274 bird and mammal species consuming figs, making it the most relied upon fruit globally. Due to this reliance on the fig and the plant’s ability to fit into a diverse array of ecosystems, biologists such as Rhett Harrison have argued that fig trees are some of the most essential components of rainforest ecosystems. 

A Celebration of All Animals – Gummy Too

So as you celebrate National Gummy Worm Day (or maybe not – but trust me, it is a real holiday), take some time to appreciate the real ecological heroes that inspire your snacks, after all, we wouldn’t be here without them. From the soil-turning earthworms under your feet to fearsome great whites patrolling our oceans, these overlooked organisms are working day and night to keep this world turning as we know it. 

If you feel inclined to give back to the animal kingdom, consider joining our campaign to relocate Wikie and Keijo, a pair of captive orcas held in deteriorating conditions of confinement in the South of France.

However, if something a bit more lighthearted is what you’re looking for, check out our animal quizzes and discover your true spirit animal.

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post Beyond the Bees: 6 Keystone Species That Deserve the Spotlight appeared first on Earth Day.

In Antibes, a city in the South of France, a pair of orcas helplessly circle their abandoned, algae infested enclosure. The two Orcas, Wikie and Keijo, are stuck in political limbo as officials debate their relocation site. Time is running low, however. If French officials cannot quickly agree upon a suitable new home for the pair, the orcas will likely face health complications or death, as did their relatives, Moana and Inouk, and eventually, euthanization in the deteriorating conditions of their enclosure. 

From the French government’s lack of urgent action, one truth becomes clear: our environmental crisis is not just political — it’s philosophical. What if saving the planet begins with rethinking our place within it?

Deep ecology offers a framework to reevaluate our relationship with the natural world. A term coined by Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, deep ecology calls us to question traditional ways of perceiving humanity’s place in the natural world, and perhaps, instructs us how to save Wikie and Keijo. 

Into the Wild Mindset

In contrast to traditional views of humanity’s relation to nature, which emphasize human difference and distance from everything non-human, Naess’ philosophy resituates us alongside these organisms as co-inhabitants of the world around us. 

What does this mean?

Deep ecology is a philosophy that claims all living things—whether it’s a person, an ant, a tree, or a whale—have value just because they exist, not just because they’re useful to humans. 

Supporters of this philosophy believe that respecting the lives of animals, plants, and other non-human beings doesn’t mean we value humans any less. In other words, caring about nature and other living things doesn’t take away from the importance of human life; we can honor and protect all life together.

This viewpoint of life’s intrinsic value comes from the deep ecologist’s understanding of life as interconnected. From an ecological perspective, each organism is reliant upon an intricate web of others, with each individual serving a specific and essential function for the broader ecosystem. Taking a step back, we can see clearly that humans stand as no exception to this rule. From the timber that frames our house to the produce that we eat, non-human life props up human existence every minute of the day, acting as figurative pillars. Yet, through our unsustainable and one-sided use of these resources, we are steadily weakening the very foundations that support us.

Deep ecology highlights this mutual reliance between humans and the non-human world, promoting a view of nature that includes and values both.

Deep Ecology Before it Had a Name

Although a term coined in the twentieth century, deep ecology has been practiced in principle for thousands of years. Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), which is based on a deep understanding of local environments, is a great example of deep ecology in action. Across cultures, TEK has provided strong, sustainable ways to manage natural resources—approaches that are grounded in a holistic and intimate understanding of how ecosystems work and how they can be renewed.

Recent calls to return to Indigenous stewardship practices in California are just one example of traditional ecological knowledge gaining broader recognition in public policy. For instance, there is growing support for the use of controlled burns—a practice long used by Indigenous peoples—to manage forests more effectively. These discussions highlight a growing awareness that mainstream conservation methods are not the only, or necessarily the best, solutions for environmental management.

As the human toll of climate change grows, with the recent LA fires alone destroying an estimated $30 billion of residential real estate, the ties between human futures and the environment become impossible to ignore. Without philosophically reuniting human and non-human fates, these harms to both human society and the natural world will continue.

A Not so Distant Shift

Applying deep ecology isn’t just about bringing Indigenous practices into mainstream environmental efforts—it’s already shaping the way we care for our surroundings. Urban forestry is a great example of deep ecology at work in our daily lives.

For instance, a 2018 study found that re-greening vacant lots in Philadelphia’s low-income neighborhoods led to a 68% reduction in feelings of depression among residents living below the poverty line. Planting trees in urban areas brings many additional  benefits, such as improved stormwater management, cooler air temperatures, higher student achievement, and better public health.

Simply put, people thrive when nature thrives. By welcoming nature back into our cities, we create opportunities for mutual flourishing—allowing human communities to grow stronger alongside the trees they nurture.

Legit or Eco-Nonsense?

Critics of this philosophy attack it for its spiritualistic approach to what is largely a scientific discussion. But what these critics overlook is the power of marrying compassion with fact. 

At the foundation  of any ecological view lies an understanding of the interconnection between all living things, and our mutual interdependence is what Naess is pointing to. He does not ask us to abandon science by adopting his view but instead to follow the science to its natural conclusion, a conclusion that demands acknowledgment and respect for our non-human partners.

From Feeling to Knowing: Acting on Our Bond with Nature

In a sense, the “deepness” of deep ecology comes from its place within us all. The core idea of the philosophy is likely something that you are intuitively quite familiar with. Whether you’re a mountaineer climbing the world’s tallest peaks or simply someone who enjoys a nice stroll listening to birdsong, you probably feel grounded by nature, finding your place and peace within it. 

Deep ecology simply asks us to distill, internalize, and act upon this feeling. 

By learning to consciously acknowledge, know, and understand life around us, we become more effective proponents of environmental action. Once we begin appreciating non-human life as invaluable components of our own, robust advocacy for it flows naturally.

What You Can Do

You can begin this sort of advocacy right now. Write a letter to President Macron demanding the urgent relocation of Wikie and Keijo. At EARTHDAY.ORG, we don’t just preach environmentalism, but we offer a platform for those looking to become more involved with localized initiatives. Sign up as a volunteer and be connected to our network of activists.

Or if this article has inspired you to reconnect with your wild side, practice some self-discovery and find out what tree you are here!

This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at davies@earthday.org or fielder@earthday.org. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.

The post How Deep Ecology Can Change the Way We See the Earth appeared first on Earth Day.