Earth Day 2026: Taking Action, Together

Project Number:

26-0422

Speaker:

Dr. Sarah Surak, USA

Date:

Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 6 p.m.

Place:

ucb-contact, Building 9914 EG
Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld
Campusallee 9914, 55768 Hoppstädten-Weiersbach

Language:

English

Admission:

Free. No registration needed.

Target Group:

Students and general public

In cooperation with:

Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld

Partner:

This event is kindly supported by the German Federal Foreign Office.

In 2026, both the Atlantic Academy and the Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld are celebrating their 30th anniversaries. To mark this occasion and Earth Day, which is taking place for the 56th time on April 22, we will explore the history, present, and future of this significant day of action together with U.S. scholar Dr. Sarah Surak and stakeholders from the Umwelt-Campus.

Input: Where Have we Come From, Where do we go From Here? The History of Earth Day

In 1970,  Earth Day inspired 20 million Americans – at the time, 10% of the total population of the United States – to take to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate against the impacts of 150 years of industrial development, which had left a growing legacy of serious human health impacts. U.S. scholar Dr. Sarah Surak will provide insights into the history of Earth Day and explain its influence on environmental policy and activism both within and outside the United States.  

Taking Inventory: What’s Going Well (at UCB)?

Green Office, the campus's student sustainability office, will report on initiatives such as the “Dreckweg-Tage” (clean-up days) held regularly in collaboration with the AStA (General Students' Committee), clothing swap parties, vegan breakfasts, and the university’s Fairtrade certification, which they support. 

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Susanne Hartard will give insight into initiatives such as waste analyses that she conducts with international students, a furniture exchange for students that she initiated, and the reusable dishware system in the cafeteria at the Environmental Campus.

Taking Action: Brainstorming Session

What structural changes are needed, and what can each of us do individually to create a greener, more sustainable community? Together, we’ll develop ideas and concepts designed to inspire, motivate, and give hope in times of crisis.