How People Are Fighting For Our Planet: Earth Day 2025

After the first Earth Day in 1970, Earth Day has become a time to organize and protest for our planet. Growing from 20 million people in the United States to over a billion people worldwide, Earth Day has become a much bigger holiday. Although it is celebrated worldwide, with the new government policies that impact environmental research and protection, protests sparked across the United States. From San Francisco to New York, crowds of people have come together to fight for our planet. 

The six types of renewable energy. Via Renewables4U

Since 2000, every Earth Day has had a designated theme. The Earth Day theme this year is “Our Power, Our Planet.” The theme this year is a call to action for more renewable energy around the world. Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural sources that are replenished at faster rates than we can use them. There are six main types of renewable energy: solar, wind, geothermal, hydropower, tidal energy, and bioenergy. Solar uses energy from the sun's rays, wind harnesses energy in moving air, geothermal utilizes the heat from the Earth’s core, hydropower uses energy from water moving from higher to lower elevation, tidal energy uses the movement of the tides and waves to generate energy, and bioenergy uses biomass (wood, charcoal, and manure) to generate energy.

Fossil fuels contribute to 80% of world energy production, and 99% of people breath air that is unhealthy, due to these fossil fuels. In 2018, pollution from unhealthy power sources cost 2.9 trillion dollars in health and economic costs, so switching to renewable energy will save money and create about 14 million jobs.

Already, countries around the world have switched to various forms of renewable energy. Uruguay currently has 98% of its energy coming from renewable sources, Denmark has over 50% of its energy coming from wind turbines, Kenya has almost 50% of its energy coming from geothermal sources, the United States is the world leader in geothermal energy, and China is the world leader in solar and wind power. 

Protesters outside the Philadelphia City Hall. Via PBS

Earth Day also inspires protests, some of these relating to the year’s theme. In Philadelphia, around 50 protesters gathered outside Philadelphia City Hall. They are protesting the Philadelphia Gas Works’ (PGW) financial support of the American Public Gas Association, which benefits from fossil fuels. The PGW gives taxpayer money to the American Public Gas Association, which, in addition to benefiting from fossil fuels, has advised the Trump Administration to consider cutting funding for clean energy projects.

Some protests are less about clean energy, and more about spreading awareness. In New York City, a woman interrupted the opening night of the New York City Ballet company spring season by announcing “We’re in a climate emergency.” She, along with other

Protesters outside the David H. Koch theater. Via Yahoo

protesters, was later removed from the theater. The theater is named after David H. Koch, who campaigned to counter the science of climate change. This protest follows a pattern that has been going on for three years; last year at a Broadway show, and at the Metropolitan Opera in 2023. 

The Extinction Rebellion group spray painted the Charging Bull statue on Wall Street and the Tesla showroom. The bull was spray painted with the words “Greed = Death” and the Tesla showroom was painted with several anti-DOGE messages. Although the paint was  non-permanent and non-destructive, and the protesters cleaned it up when the police arrived, a few people were arrested. 

Anti-DOGE messages were painted on the windows of a Tesla showroom in New York City

Many protests are a result of the Trump Administration’s new policies, and his outspoken views on climate justice. Trump has made several decisions aimed in the other direction from climate justice. Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Paris Agreement, a pact made by several countries to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, something the United States has been a part of since 2016.

Chris Wright, Department of Energy Administrator

 He also appointed many dubious people to government positions. To lead the Department of Energy (DOE), Trump chose Chris Wright, CEO of fracking company Liberty Energy. The DOE is in charge of all forms of energy, including both renewable sources and oil. Having an oil leader in charge of the DOE causes many ethical dilemmas. How can someone who will benefit from the use of oil be a proponent for renewable energy? To lead the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Trump appointed  Lee Zeldin,

Lee Zeldin, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

a climate change denier. The EPA manages regulations, policies, and grants associated with environmental and human health. In order to fix what is wrong with our planet, we need leaders who accept that there is a problem. 

Protesters against Trump's new polices gathered around Bryant Park. Via Truthout

In the days leading up to Earth Day, multiple protests were held in New York City against Trump’s policies. New protest slogans include #TakeTeslaDown and All Out on Earth Day. As Aru Shiney-Ajay, executive director of the youth-led Sunrise Movement, said, “Our generation will not sit back while Trump and fossil fuel billionaires destroy our home. We will not cooperate with the destruction of our world.” 

At the University of Illinois, scientists involved in climate or environmental research held The March for Science Rally. The main focus of the protest was the federal budget cuts for scientific research, and how this impacts our ability to gain an understanding of the environment. 

EPA workers protesting new organization polices. Via PBS

In San Francisco, over 100 protesters gathered to speak out against budget cuts to environmental protection agencies. Many of the protesters work for the EPA, and many of them received messages about “reorganization.” Recent changes include the termination of $20 million worth of grants meant to help fund clean energy, with $260 million meant to help California. 

Despite changes to the government approach to environmental research and protection, people around the United States remain committed to protecting the planet and making it a better place to live. Even without attending protests, you can still help protect the planet. Simple ways you can cut down on your greenhouse gas emissions include biking, taking public transportation, or turning off electronics when you aren't using them. If we all make conscious efforts to be better for the environment, the planet will thank us for it.