April 22 is Earth Day, the culmination of a week of opportunities for community members at the George Washington University to celebrate our shared planet and contribute to local ecological health. Fight invasive weeds with local organizations, learn the mechanics of change at green storytelling powerhouse Planet Forward, celebrate at the Office of Sustainability’s Eco-Bash this Thursday and much more. Read on for a to-do list inside and outside GW.
April 20 at 4 p.m. Eco-Bash
University Yard
H St. NW between 20th and 21st streets NW
The Office of Sustainability and a diverse group of on- and off-campus partners host this zero-waste party celebrating healthy, sustainable lifestyles, circular repair and reuse and community-led efforts to engage the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Scale the climbing wall, taste fresh local produce, upcycle old outfits and more.
Coming up:
April 19 at 6 p.m. Book Talk: Raw Deal
School of Media and Public Affairs, Room 429
805 21st St., NW
Registration requested
SMPA alumna Chloe Sorvino, B.A. ’15, leads coverage of food and agriculture at Forbes magazine. She’ll discuss her first book, “Raw Deal: Hidden Corruption, Corporate Greed and the Fight for the Future of Meat,” a “shocking and unputdownable” exposé of the United States meat industry, the devastating failures of the country’s food system and the growing disappointment of alternative meat producers claiming to revolutionize the future of food.
April 20 and 21 Planet Forward Summit 2023
Jack Morton Auditorium
805 21st St., NW
Registration requested
How can we craft compelling narratives and empower all voices from diverse communities in our urgent search for climate change solutions? The 2023 Planet Forward Summit will bring together students, advocates, innovators, scientists and storytellers from communities around the world, including a National Geographic storyteller, an environmental filmmaker, a climate communication innovator and many more. These compelling stories that inform, inspire and mobilize will show how stories lead to action—and how any one of us can be a powerful storyteller.
April 20 at 7:30 p.m. World Premiere Screening: “How to Unscrew a Planet”
Jack Morton Auditorium
805 21st St., NW
CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent Bill Weir circles the globe meeting with innovative players in the trillion-dollar race to remove carbon from the sea and sky in this hourlong episode of CNN’s new Sunday primetime series “The Whole Story with Anderson Cooper.” From Iceland’s belching geysers to kelp-covered fishing boats in Maine, Weir analyzes groundbreaking carbon removal techniques that mimic nature itself, including spraying the ocean with artificial whale feces made of volcanic ash, the creation of synthetic clouds made of seawater mist, carbon-absorbing seaweed buoys that sink to the bottom of the ocean and more.
April 22 at 8:30 a.m. GW SUPSO Presents Earth Day Hayes Park Cleanup
1516 N Lincoln St., Arlington, Va.
GW’s Sustainable Urban Planning Program Student Organization (SUPSO) is a coalition of students who envision future urban landscapes that are socially equitable, economically resilient and environmentally just. Join them for this Virginia cleanup.
April 22 at 9 a.m. Honeysuckle Removal on the Mount Vernon Trail
Columbia Island Marina
George Washington Memorial Pkwy., Arlington, Va.
Honeysuckle’s trademark scent may be a blessing to the human nose but a curse to the local biome: It attracts pollinators, spreads quickly and chokes off native plants. Haul away some invaders (a rare opportunity for great-smelling manual labor) with Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail.
April 22 at 10 a.m. Oasis Restoration at Trail 9
Broad Branch Rd. and Beach Dr. NW
Registration required
Honeysuckle isn’t the only invasive plant posing a major threat to fragile forests—and stopping their spread helps the native understory thrive. Lace up your work boots and save some local greenery at this community cleanup, a collaboration between the Rock Creek Conservancy and the National Park Service.
April 22 at 10 a.m. Honor Earth: A Celebration of Earth Day
Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum
1901 Fort Pl. SE
Registration requested
Join the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum for this daylong educational celebration where visitors can get the basics on micro-gardening, learn about local flora and win seed giveaways, discuss the future of Black and brown farmers and more.
April 22 and 23 at 10 a.m. Living Earth Festival: Native Nations Confronting Climate Change
National Museum of the American Indian
Fourth St. and Independence Ave. SW
From water scarcity to floods and erosion, Native nations are often on the front lines of addressing climate change. This weekend of conversations, presentations and artist demonstrations explores how Indigenous communities are stepping forward with proactive plans to protect their lands, resources and ways of life.
April 22 at noon Earth Day DC Rally and March
Freedom Plaza
1301 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Join the fight for an equitable, sustainable future in this march to the White House, followed by an organizational fair.
April 22 at noon Extreme Cleanup: Litter Removal at Arkansas Triangle
Arkansas Ave. and Piney Branch Pkwy., NW
Registration required
The Rock Creek Conservancy organizes year-round volunteer opportunities all around D.C.’s beloved parklands, including this Earth Day cleanup near Petworth.
April 22 and 23 at 3 p.m. Earth Day Concerts at the National Gallery of Art
6th St. and Constitution Ave. NW
Registration requested
Two free concerts—“Because the Oceans” and “A Forest Unfolding”—incorporate music, prose and poetry with motifs from the natural world, including whalesong.