As we recognize Earth Month in April and look forward to Earth Day on April 22, now is a great time to start planning how you might want to invest in our planet and celebrate sustainability. 

This year’s Earth Day theme is Invest in our Planet, highlighting the importance of dedicating our time, resources, and energy to solving climate change and other environmental issues by calling on both businesses and individuals to contribute to a more prosperous and equitable future through collective action for change.

First held in 1970, Earth Day now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.org, involving over a billion people from more than 193 countries – making it the largest civic observance in the world.

In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, whose mission is to to protect human health and the environment – today and every day.

Soon after, several important pieces of environmental legislation were passed, among them the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act. Prior to these legislative acts, there were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment. 

At a rally or a cleanup, with your vote or with your wallet, be heard however you are able this Earth Day

Earth Month Events

Check out the UW Sustainability Events Calendar!

Earth Day Cleanup: Mountain Loop Highway
Saturday, April 22, 11:00 a.m.
Show Mother Nature a little love this Earth Day! Join us for a Roadside Clean Up on the Mountain Loop Highway at 278th Dr. NE and Green Mountain Road. We’ll gather for a morning of environmental stewardship as we work together to clean up litter along this scenic stretch of road.

Oxbow Farm and Conservation Center Open House
Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Meet with our Conservation, Agriculture, Education & Native Plant Nursery experts. We’ll be offering a delicious lunch created especially for you by Chef Seth Fernald, featuring Oxbow-grown produce and other locally sourced ingredients. Plus, live music from local bands.

Magnuson Series Earth Day Half Marathon, 15K, 10K & 5K
Saturday, April 22, 2023, 10 a.m.
Embrace your inner tree-hugger and come down to Magnuson Park for Seattle’s greenest event! Each finisher will have a tree planted in their name plus the option to take a native tree home if you like.

Earth Day volunteer work party at New Start Community Garden
Saturday, April 22, 2023, 12 – 4 p.m.
Join us for a volunteer work party to celebrate Earth Day 2023! We’ll be doing some garden projects to get ready for our Spring Open House & Plant Sale on April 29th. We’ll provide the tools and you can come in your warm clothes and sturdy shoes.

Black Earth Day
Saturday, April 22, 2023, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Join the Black Farmer’s Collective and Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle for second annual celebration of Black Earth Day at YES Farm. There will be free gardening giveaways, including plant starts, farming and environmental justice workshops and demonstrations, a mini-resource fair, free meals and beverages, art activities, and more.

Saltwater State Park Earth Day Celebration
April 23, 2023, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Friends of Saltwater State Park are hosting activities all day long on April 23, beginning with a morning scuba dive! There will also be forest hikes, beach walks with a naturalist, displays on marine life and native plants, and other fun activities

Learn more and take action

• 51 Ways to Restore Our Earth: For us, every day is Earth Day. If you feel the same, here are 51 actions and tips to make a difference, every day of the year.
• Greener Living: EPA has tools to help you learn and understand the issues and help you reduce your environmental footprint.
• Reduce, reduce and recycle properly: Check out UW Facilities disposal guide.
• Bring Nature Into Your Mindfulness Practice with Forest Bathing: Consider taking your mindfulness practice outside and incorporating ‘Forest Bathing’ into your routine.
• How to reduce your carbon footprint (New York Times)
• UW Sustainability Action Plan: Read through what UW is doing to be more sustainable.
• Earth Day Quizzes: How much do you know about our planet? (Earthday.org)
• Dig into Earth Month: Urban Gardening (UW Combined Fund Drive)

Support

Consider making a one-time contribution or setting up payroll deduction to a UW Combined Fund Drive member organizations working on environmental conservation and sustainability education:

Zero Waste Washington (charity code 0315047) drives policy change for a healthy and waste-free world. We envision a just, equitable, and sustainable future where we all produce, consume, and reuse responsibly.

Join Conservation Northwest in connecting habitat, protecting wildlands, and restoring wildlife (charity code 0320835).

Outdoors For All (charity code 0320849) enriches the lives of individuals with disabilities and families and helps them to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. 

Carbon Washington Foundation (charity code 1482524): Focused on accelerating the transition to a vibrant clean-energy economy. Advocates for carbon reduction policies.  

Carbonfund.org Foundation (charity code 1481702): Prioritizes climate change education, carbon offsets and reductions, and public outreach. 

Friends of the Earth (charity code 0314972): Promotes clean and sustainable energy, clean transportation, climate justice for poor and vulnerable populations, responsible use of technology and protection of the earth.  

EarthShare Washington (charity code 0316709): EarthShare brings together individuals, workplaces, and communities to protect our planet’s health. We are a network of local and national nonprofits working to improve and preserve the environment here at home and around the world.

Greenpeace (charity code 0314978): Greenpeace’s mission is to expose global environmental problems, and promote solutions for future generations.

Tilth Alliance (charity code 0335424): Tilth Alliance works in community with Washington farmers, gardeners and eaters to build a sustainable, healthy and equitable food future.