6 simple but effective things you can do for the planet this Earth Day
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets to demand action to protect the environment for the first time.
Some protested. Others built bike paths or planted trees. Many now look back on that day — the very first Earth Day — as a pivotal moment for the modern environmental movement.
Fifty-five years later, with the Clean Air Act and other crucial regulations under attack, it's again urgent to coordinate a movement to protect the planet.
Here are six things you can do to make a difference this Earth Day, according to the experts at Environmental Defense Fund.
Contact your member of Congress
Don’t let the onslaught of bad environmental news coming out of the Trump administration wear you down.
Your elected leaders need to hear from you. Call them in D.C. — the Capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121 — and tell them it’s critical they do everything possible to protect environmental regulations.
“The Trump administration’s unlawful power grab will take away protections for our drinking water and clean air,” says Joanna Slaney, a legislative and policy expert who leads federal advocacy work for EDF. “The American people did not ask for these health protections to be taken away.” You can also sign a petition or demand action via email.
Speak up
Concerned about your health as polluters get a free pass? Speak up.
That could mean attending a demonstration, visiting your Congressperson’s local office, or writing a letter to the editor of your newspaper. If you use social media, re-share accurate environmental news and information from reliable sources — ideally connecting it to how it will impact your own community.
Be aware that clean energy is often the target of sophisticated disinformation campaigns. You can confirm accuracy with organizations like Snopes, PolitiFact and FactCheck.org, which track and debunk misinformation shared on social media.
Get involved locally
If you’re ready to go a step further — join an advocacy group.
When a fracking operation was proposed less than a half mile from her home, Laurie Anderson, a mother of five, decided to fight back. Then she then took her activism to a new level by joining Moms Clean Air Force, a group of 1.5 million parents united against air pollution. “What started as outrage over what they were doing to my community became a commitment to climate action on the state and national levels,” she says.
“It’s critical to find local allies who can help you take action,” says Slaney.
EDF also has a political advocacy partner organization called EDF Action that builds momentum for climate and clean energy legislation, mobilizes grassroots advocates and supports pro-environment candidates.
Donate
Donating to organizations that share your values is always a powerful way to take a stand.
If you’re passionate about solving the climate crisis, you can learn more about the many ways to support Environmental Defense Fund at donate.edf.org.
Celebrate progress
To persevere through the setbacks, it’s important to celebrate the progress that’s still happening.
Did you know the U.S. power grid added 50 gigawatts of solar energy in 2024? That's more energy added in a single year from any source in more than two decades. And just last month, world leaders came together at a U.N. conference in Rome and agreed to commit $200 billion to save Earth’s biodiversity by 2030. You can read more good climate news here.
Don’t give up
“We’re going to fight for a better future with everything we’ve got,” says EDF’s Executive Director Amanda Leland. “People want less pollution, good jobs and healthy kids, no matter who is in office.”
Hope for a warming planet
Get the latest Vital Signs stories delivered to your inbox
