Earth Month takes place in April every year. This annual awareness month is an opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for change around the issues most impacting our planet!
Throughout Earth Month, environmental leaders and activists all around the world present plans, strategies, and solutions for mitigating and preventing further damage to the planet and its resources.
Earth Month, which surrounds the all-important Earth Day on April 22, feels (and arguably is) especially important this year, as our window to make the urgent changes we need to address the climate crisis — from adapting to the damage we can no longer avoid, to preventing the worst-of-the-worst from happening.
And while the urgency surrounding climate action should inspire us all into action during Earth Month and beyond — so should the incredible progress we’re already making and will continue to make.
There are so many inspiring helpers making a real, meaningful difference for our planet, and by extension all the life it sustains, including humanity. We’ll go into the opportunities each of us has to join them in taking action to protect the planet this Earth Month and all year long.
But first, some facts about Earth Month!
5 Facts About Earth Month
- Earth Month was started by a group of activists after they witnessed a massive, destructive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California in 1969.
- Wisconsin senator Gaylor Nelson wanted to harness the energy of the anti-war movement for environmental activism, which inspired a group of activists to start a proactive environmental initiative, which they called Earth Day.
- Earth Month became a month-long extension of Earth Day, both of which have been celebrated and recognized in the U.S. since 1970.
- By 1990, Earth Month reached a global scale when 200 million people from 141 countries joined in participating in the month-long event.
- The theme of this year’s Earth Day and Earth Month is “Invest in Our Planet” — creating a “partnership for the planet” that accounts for all people, and holds businesses and governments accountable.
While it’s important to learn more about and advocate for the health of the planet (and the people on it!) every single day, it’s helpful to have somewhere to start. We’ve created a guide on how to celebrate Earth Month this year.
By the way, some of the links in this article (like books!) are affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Activities and Ideas: How To Celebrate Earth Month
Learn
Watch documentaries about the Earth.
Documentaries are a powerful tool for bringing important environmental issues to the forefront of our minds — especially when they’re narrated by legends like David Attenborough or even former President Barack Obama.
There is no shortage of Earth-related documentaries — and we’ve curated a whole list of climate change documentaries you can add to your watchlist for Earth Month.
Listen to podcasts about the environment.
We know the vibe: Every time you head out of the house, it’s you and your headphones against the world. But what if you and your headphones teamed up with the world? Add these environment-saving pods to your queue for Earth Month!
- How to Save a Planet
- Outrage & Optimism
- Sustainababble
- The Joy Report
- Temperature Check
- TILClimate
- TED Climate
Read books about protecting the planet.
Saving the world sure would be a lot easier if we all had a guidebook. The good news is that so many environmental experts have lended their brilliance to books you can buy or check out from your local library — so you can start learning even more about this beautiful planet we call home.
- “Healing Grounds: Climate, Justice, and the Deep Roots of Regenerative Farming” by Liz Carlisle (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “Saving Us: A Climate Scientists’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World” by Katharine Hayhoe (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet” by Leah Thomas (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “A Bigger Picture: My Fight to Bring a New African Voice to the Climate Crisis” by Vanessa Nakate (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants” by Robin Wall Kimmerer (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions” by Greta Thunberg (Bookshop) (Amazon)
- “How to Save Our Planet: The Facts” by Mark Maslin (Bookshop) (Amazon)
Read good news about the environment.
Earth Month is not only about learning more and doing our part to take care of the planet, but also celebrating the progress we’ve made.
Ditch the climate doom and join us in celebrating good news! We’re all about good news at Good Good Good — and we create an Environment Edition of our Goodnewspaper every year.
Plus, we have a whole library of good climate news stories to inspire you, too.
- ‘Youth Councils’ Are Playing A Big Role In Saving Cities From Climate Change
- Fighting Climate Doom With Garbage Queen, Alaina Wood
- Scientists Invented Sustainable Glitter Made From Fruit
- A Building Material That Consumes CO2 Has Finally Come To The U.S.
- Conservation Efforts Are Saving Humpback Whales
- Researchers Are Creating Road Salts That Aren’t Terrible For The Planet
Volunteer
Tend to your local community garden.
Even if you’re more of a farmer’s market stand shopper or mindful grocery store visitor than a community garden user, you can still be involved in providing fresh produce to your community!
Connect with people in your local gardens, food distribution, or urban landscaping communities and see where you can volunteer. Can you tend to the garden once a week? Can you distribute seasonal fruits and veggies to neighbors? Maybe you can even make social media graphics to spread the word. No matter your skills, building local, regenerative agriculture systems takes all of us.
Clean up litter in your community.
Whether you rally a clean team, or you just bring a bucket along on your next dog walk to pick up trash, cleaning up litter in your community is a small but mighty way to volunteer in service of the planet.
Register for a cleanup kit from Keep America Beautiful and track your cleanup progress with the Clean Planet Project app for the ultimate litter elimination experience yet.
Restore nature in your area.
Want to get your hands dirty? There are plenty of opportunities! Use Earth Month as a launchpad to get involved in nature conservation. Plant trees and native plants, help restore wildlife habitats, and more.
You can visit The Nature Conservancy to find various volunteer opportunities near you.
Take Action
Donate to environmental justice organizations in your community.
We know that Indigenous and Black communities have been at the forefront of the environmental justice movement long before trendy “eco-friendly” ideas entered the scene. Still, these communities remain marginalized and lack access to funds and resources to do the important work of protecting our planet.
When donating to environmental organizations, keep in mind intersectionality, and redistribute wealth to grassroots organizations that count on your support. Here are a few to keep in mind:
- Intersectional Environmentalist
- Black Farmer Fund
- Climate Justice Alliance
- Sunrise Movement
- Indigenous Environmental Network
- Honor The Earth
- Living Lands & Waters
Urge your elected officials to enact meaningful climate legislation.
Every day is a good day to call your elected officials and urge them to take action against climate change. Not sure where to start? #Call4Climate and the Citizens Climate Lobby are great resources to turn to.
Work with political groups to champion environmental justice.
Let’s face it: Fighting climate change requires us to work with politicians and corporations who maybe don’t have the best interests of our planet in mind. But our collective power can make a difference.
Check out the Citizens Climate Lobby and the Sierra Club to learn more about getting involved with political groups to champion environmental justice.
Whether you can canvas, write postcards, testify to your local elected officials, or even just register people to vote, this work truly matters.
Host a clothing swap in your community.
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world. In fact, according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth of clothing is burned or buried in a landfill. Yeah, that’s not great.
Aside from shopping secondhand, you can also coordinate a clothing swap with your friends and fellow tree-huggers. Share your most beloved pieces, try new styles for free, and help the planet all at the same time!
Make small lifestyle changes that benefit the planet.
Sometimes a “zero waste” lifestyle or sustainability journey can seem really out of reach, but the truth is that making sustainability swaps doesn’t have to be difficult or costly! Even a few small changes can make a big difference. Here are a few you can consider this Earth Month:
- Consider making energy efficient home swaps.
- Choose seasonal produce next time you get groceries.
- Set up a carpool — or choose any other car-free mode of transportation.
- Try to buy — and waste — less. And if you do need something, consider investing in mindful eco-friendly (or pre-loved!) products.
- Compost your food scraps.
Spend time in nature.
Last but not least, spend time in the great outdoors as you celebrate this big, blue beauty we call Mother Earth. This is a great way to mitigate some climate anxiety, renew your sense of wonder and hope for the world, and honor the planet in all its glory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we celebrate Earth Month?
Millions of people around the world celebrate and recognize Earth Month as a means to both advocate for and protect the planet and its resources. Earth Month puts a collective global focus on celebrating and preserving the earth’s beauty for decades and centuries to come.
What is the theme for Earth Month 2024?
The theme for both Earth Day and Earth Month 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics.” This year’s theme focuses on widespread awareness on the health risk of plastics, with the goal of pushing for a UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution and an end to fast fashion.
When is Earth Month 2024?
Earth Month is celebrated annually in April — the same month as Earth Day and Earth Week.
When is Earth Day?
Earth Day is held every year on the same day, April 22. This year, Earth Day is on Monday, April 22, 2024.
What are some good quotes for Earth Month?
We’ve curated several collections of quotes worth reading and sharing during Earth Month. Check out these articles:
- Best Earth Day Quotes
- Best National Parks Quotes
- Best Quotes About Trees
- Best Quotes From Jane Goodall
- Best Yvon Chouinard Quotes
What are some other environmental holidays?
Honoring and celebrating the earth goes beyond the month of April. We’ve curated a list of all environmental and sustainability holidays, weeks, and months to celebrate — all year long.
