Earth Day on the National Mall

Earth Day came a few days early in Washington DC, as tens of thousands of people rallied on Saturday, lifting their voices to combat the realities of climate change. On a beautiful afternoon, the nation’s capitol celebrated its 45th Earth Day, with world leaders, government officials, activists and celebrities acknowledging the impacts we are having on the planet.

One of the most striking moments for me was meeting a hero of the movement, Denis Hayes. Mr. Hayes was the coordinator of the first Earth Day in 1970, and has been involved in each once since. I joined Mr. Hayes on stage, along with several other national non-profits, to represent Defenders of Wildlife’s commitment to combat the effects of climate change on our nation’s wildlife and wild places.

Climate change occurs as increased amounts of gases in the atmosphere allow the sun’s light to reach the Earth, but trap its heat radiating back from the surface. Already, climate change is causing plenty of problems for people. Extreme weather events like heat waves, storms and droughts are on the rise, causing billions of dollars’ worth of damage each year. But just as worrisome are the impacts to wildlife and the habitats on which they depend.

Climate change is a massive problem that needs to be tackled on multiple fronts. Defenders is working to ensure the best science is being used to understand the full impacts of climate change on wildlife and ecosystems. We are a leader in the conservation community when it comes to advocating for laws, policies and funding to help combat the threat. And we’re also devising strategies and guidelines to help wildlife and natural resource managers prepare for the impacts of climate change.

It was encouraging to see so many people come together to talk about solutions. From NASA’s use of satellites to better understand the changing Earth, to new hydrogen car technologies, to the simple changes we can make in our lives, adults and kids alike were learning and committing to a better future.

To learn about the ways that changes in our climate are affecting wildlife in different regions today, and what we can expect to see in the future, visit our website >  

Jim Stofan is the Chief Operating Officer of Defenders of Wildlife