As we celebrate Earth Day this year, amidst much turmoil and uncertainty, there is one word that that I want you to hold on to – hope. Yes, you heard me right. HOPE!
Every year on Earth Day, we are presented with the litany of challenges facing the planet – from climate change and warming temperatures, to rising sea levels and shrinking forests. Let that sink in for a moment. We “celebrate” Earth Day by sharing stories of loss and catastrophe.
Don’t get me wrong – we absolutely need to build awareness about what is happening to the planet, but the barrage of horror stories, amidst a world of growing horror, can feel overwhelming. The stories are hard enough to process as an adult but imagine being eight years old and hearing story after story about the coral reefs dying, or Sumatran orangutans losing their homes, or perhaps more locally for some, stories of extreme droughts, fires and storms.
For a child, that’s not just scary, it’s overwhelming. And frankly, it can feel that way as an adult too.
But here’s the thing – doom and gloom doesn’t inspire action. HOPE does.
Jane Goodall has said that hope is what enables us to keep going in the face of adversity. Hope is not passive. Hope is active. Hope is a verb.
As a children’s author and educator, I’ve spent years exploring how stories can plant seeds — not just of knowledge, but of curiosity, courage, and care. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: when it comes to the environment, kids don’t need to be scared into action. They need to be inspired. They need to feel HOPE.
With this focus on hope driving much of my current research and storytelling, I’ve chosen to celebrate this Earth Day by emphasizing hope – and I encourage you to, as well. For me, hope comes from stories of action and engagement, as well as from stories of out of the box thinking and innovation. Hope also comes from books – reading stories that both raise awareness of the issues and offer opportunities and ideas for dialogue, engagement and action.
My challenge to you this Earth Day is to find and share stories of HOPE. And to use these stories to inspire your own actions and commitments.
Photo Credit: Rochelle Strauss, 2022
Here are just a few stories to get you started on your path of hope.
- Community Action and Engagement: Keep Collingwood Clean is a powerhouse group of volunteers in Collingwood, Canada who have turned trash into a passion project. Whether they’re picking up litter from streets, trails, or the shoreline, they’re doing far more than just tidying up. Their hard work is keeping garbage out of sewers and protecting Collingwood’s harbour. They even tackle the tiny stuff—like cigarette butts, which are made of plastic. Thanks to their efforts, local businesses have installed cigarette collection cans to help keep the butts off the street. And the collected butts? They are sent to TerraCycle, where the tobacco and ash are composted, and the plastic is recycled into raw materials. Cleaner streets, cleaner water, and a whole lot of community spirit!
- Using Science to Combat Microplastics: Back in 2019, Irish teen Fionn Ferreira made a big splash at the Google Science Fair with an idea for removing microplastic from water. In his experiment, Fionn combined microplastics with ferrofluid (a magnetic liquid) and discovered that he could use magnets to pull the plastics right out of the water. This simple, but clever idea is full of possibility. Now he’s exploring how his idea can be scaled up to address microplastics in wastewater at water treatment plants. A brilliant reminder that BIG solutions start with small experiments and curious minds!
- Hashtag: No Waste: Every year, the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge invites young changemakers to share their bold ideas for solving environmental problems. In 2024, Kayla Ling stepped up with No Waste Nation, a project designed to bring waste reducers together through the power of social media. Her Instagram account (@no.waste.nation) showcases how cutting back on waste can be accessible, engaging, and yes, even fun! Through her posts Kayla highlights everyday ways to reduce consumption and eliminate waste. Her idea was among the winners of the 2023 Slingshot Challenge, and she recently made history as the first ever recipient of the Sustainable San Mateo County Youth Sustainability Award. Kayla’s work is a reminder that youth voices can lead the way to a cleaner and greener future!
Want more?
This year’s Earth Day theme is Our Power, Our Planet. Be sure to check out Earthday.org for more information about Earth Day actions and events near you! And if you are sharing your actions on social media, please use the hashtag #EarthActionDay and tag me on IG @rochellestraussauthor or BlueSky: @rochellestrauss.bsky.social
About Rochelle
Rochelle Strauss is on a mission to change the world – one book at a time! As an environmental educator and award-winning children’s author, Rochelle is dedicated to building environmental literacy and inspiring people to become active stewards of our planet. Through her work, she uses compelling storytelling to bring complex environmental issues to life, helping young people better understand the natural world and empowering them to make a positive impact. Rochelle’s children’s books have won several awards, been translated globally and incorporated into curriculum in the US. The Global Ocean is a UNESCO endorsed Ocean Decade Activity, and One Well: The Story of Water on Earth was selected as part of the UN’s SDG Book Club in support of SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. One Well has also sold over half a million copies internationally. Rochelle has two new books about water arriving in 2026 and 2027.