Earth Day is recognized annually on April 22. The University of Washington has participated in Earth Day celebrations since the very first observance in 1970. This year there are events, volunteer opportunities and other ways to recognize Earth Day happening on all three UW campuses, organized by many different groups and units across our university. See the full Earth Month calendar here.
Earth Week
UW Sustainability worked with a student committee to identify event themes and highlight events for Earth Week, April 21-25.
Monday, April 21 Climate action
Dave & Decarb
4 - 5 p.m., HUB 214Join UW's Executive Director of Campus Energy, Utilities, and Operations Dave Woodson for a discussion about the current status of the our decarbonization efforts.
Sustainability walking tour
1:30 p.m., meet outside HUB at Husky statueJoin UW Sustainability for an hour-long walking tour highlighting just a few reasons that UW’s campus is a leader in sustainability.
Native seed shaker workshop
2 - 5 p.m., Gould 100
The Society for Ecological Restoration student group will talk about the importance of native plants, then create "seed shakers" for a campus restoration site.
Tuesday, April 22 Earth Day: Our power, our planet
Climate Policy Forum
5 - 6:30 p.m., Alder Auditorium
This panel discussion features climate policy professionals and will focus on policy at the local, state and national levels. Presented by the ASUW Office of Government Relations & SEED.
Wednesday, April 23
Sustainability at a global scale
Green jobs panel
5:30 - 7 p.m., Odegaard 220Huskies for Equitable Sustainability (HuES) will host an interactive Green Jobs Panel for students to learn about career pathways in sustainability and connect with professionals in the field. Includes an engaging career workshop covering internships, resumes, and networking followed by a panel discussion with professionals from the public and private sectors.
Climate Justice and Forced Migration
12 - 1:30 p.m., Cunningham Hall1:30 - 5:30 p.m., Alder 107
The UW Women's Center and Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) are hosting this afternoon of learning, community-building, and healing focused on the intersections between climate justice, health, and forced migration. Speakers and discussion will happen throughout, and attendees are welcome to drop in as they are able.
Thursday, April 24 Demonstrating sustainability
Power Plant tour
10 a.m. - 12 p.m., UW Power PlantJoin this tour of the UW Power Plant and learn about the campus energy system and decarbonization efforts. This tour has limited availability. RSVP here.
Sustainable cooking demo
5 - 7 p.m., Local Point Chef's TableStudent groups ASUW Food Co-op, Anime Nation club, and Campus Sustainability Fund (CSF) will showcase how to cook delicious, environmentally-friendly meals.
RSVP here.
Friday, April 25 Consumerism
Mini repair & mending fair
11 a.m. - 2 p.m., The MILLJoin this Mini Repair and Mending Fair in the MILL to speak with a mender from Seattle REconomy. They'll work to mend or fix your item, while providing information on the resources available to students through the UW maker spaces.
Thrift + Swap with Green Greeks
12 - 3 p.m., Denny Field
UW Green Greeks is hosting this clothing swap/thrift event. You'll also be able to customize your finds or any shirt with linoleum block printing and natural dyes.
Message to the future
The Message to the Future project invites students, staff and faculty across the tri-campus to share their visions for a sustainable and equitable future through creative expression. These may include written pieces, visual art, audio and video content. Submissions will inform the new Sustainability Action Plan and be featured on our website, as well as a physical showcase.
We invite you to contribute your vision for the future through various media forms, including:
- Written expressions (essays, poems, letters)
- Visual art (paintings, photographs, digital designs)
- Audio recordings (spoken word, music, soundscapes)
- Video content (short films, animations, vlogs)
Husky Sustainability Awards
The Husky Sustainability Awards recognize individuals or teams at the University of Washington who have made a positive impact on sustainability at the UW. Students, faculty, staff and groups from any UW campus are eligible for the award, and any member of the UW community can submit a nomination.
The 2025 nomination deadline is Friday, April 26.
