UAlbany Celebrates Earth Day With Cleanups, Lectures, Discussions

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 18, 2023) — Earth Day has been celebrated every year on April 22 since 1970. What began as a call to action in response to environmental tragedies such as massive ocean oil spills and toxic dumps led to the formation of the federal Environment Protection Agency and new laws and regulations regarding ground, air and water pollution. Earth Day continues today as an ongoing push for environmental justice, education about pollution and climate, and hands-on cleanups — all designed to focus on protecting our Earth.

This week there are lots ways you can participate in Earth Day, from joining a neighborhood cleanup to joining a conversation with author and environmental activist Bill McKibben. Here are a handful of local events.

Today

Let’s Talk Climate: Finding Ways to Build Hope and Action for a Resilient Future, 7 p.m. in ETEC room 149A/151A. Hear how youth across the state are working to advance climate change education and action in this Pre-Falconer Lecture Series Event. Learn about the role community partnerships and cultural institutions can play in supporting young people and engaging the public.

Conversation and Q&A with author Bill Mckibben, 7:30 p.m., Campus Center Auditorium, sponsored by the NYS Writers Institute. McKibben is the author of numerous bestselling books on the environment, including The End of Nature (1989), regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change. He is the founder of 350.org, an international movement to fight climate change by ending reliance on fossil fuels. McKibben’s latest book is The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon: A Graying American Looks Back at His Suburban Boyhood and Wonders What the Hell Happened (2022).

Thursday, April 20

Earth Day Tabling, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Go Table in the Campus Center. Stop by and record why sustainability matters to you on a butterfly pledge.

Friday, April 21

2023 President’s Forum on Health Disparities: Community Engagement in the Achievement of Health Equity, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Virtual Event. Eliseo J. Pérez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, will be the keynote speaker. For more information, and to register, visit: https://www.albany.edu/healthdisparitiesforum

Earth is for Everyone: Earth Day Rally, 2-5 p.m. at the Small Fountain at the Campus Center entrance. Listen to student concerns about the Earth and ways to address them, sponsored by Democracy Matters.

Poverty, Power, and Prehistory in Mesoamerica: Insights from the Basin of Mexico, 4:30 p.m., Fine Arts 126. The Institute of MesoAmerican Studies presents guest lecturer John Millhauser from North Carolina State University, discussing how population growth and expanding settlements under the Mexica created environmental conditions that disadvantaged particular populations. 

Campus Cleanup. Part of UAlbany’s Big Event. Meet at 5 p.m. in front of the PE building to join UAlbany Students for Sustainability and Albany Running Exchange for a campus clean up. Materials will be provided. Sign up in advance.

Saturday, April 22

South End Earth Day Cleanup. Part of UAlbany’s Big Event. Meet at 9 a.m. at 153 Grand St. to help clean up in the South End of Albany and prepare garden beds. Sign up in advance.

Sunday, April 23

Pine Hills Cleanup. Part of UAlbany’s Big Event. Meet at 11:30 a.m. at Ridgefield Park, 316 Partridge St., Albany. Sign up in advance.

Monday, April 24

Campus Cleanup, sponsored by the Student Association. Meet at 5 p.m. at Collins Circle. Sign up in advance.