Since its inception on April 22, 1970, Earth Day has evolved into a worldwide annual celebration. The 2026 theme, Our Power, Our Planet reflects a fundamental truth that environmental stewardship “…is sustained by the daily decisions of communities, educators, workers, innovators, and families who understand that protecting the places they live and work is both a responsibility and a long-term investment.”
Despite major corporations and governments bearing primary responsibility for emissions worldwide, the theme seeks to empower individuals and communities to persist in the environmental progress for which we have fought hard.
In the McGill Libraries, we are committed to ongoing action toward environmental and social sustainability. Many of our branches and units have been working towards Sustainable Workplace Certification and as of fall 2025 every McGill Library unit is now recognized as a certified Sustainable Workplace.
Take action to protect the planet by attending Earth Day events across Canada or by mobilizing in your community. Start small by signing petitions, scale up to neighborhood clean-ups, or make a bigger impact by working with organizations such as Climate Action Network, The Canadian Coalition for Environmental & Climate Justice, or Indigenous Climate Action to drive policy change. There are loads of great ideas for big or small actions at the David Suzuki Foundation.
As part of the McGill research community, we each bring valuable skills to the table. Why not use those skills to support grassroots climate justice movements by volunteering your time with Research for the Front Lines, or help build a people-centered scientific practice by becoming a member of Science for the People’s local chapter?
Finally, explore this curated collection of climate justice books. If you are on campus, why not come by and check out the physical display in the Schulich Library, located at the end of the hall on the main floor. From understanding eco-anxiety to discovering climate-resilient agricultural practices, from exposing greenwashing to amplifying environmental activism in the global majority, these books offer compelling opportunities to learn and make a difference. Grab a book and share what you learn with people in your life!