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Over fifty years ago, people took to the streets to champion the planet, spurring a movement that has lasted decades. Earth Day brings a time to reflect on and celebrate these environmental efforts, but it’s also a time to recognize the work that still needs to be done. In 2025, the theme for Earth Day is 'Our Power, Our Planet.' The idea is to get behind the innovative solutions of renewable energy and to triple the use of clean energy sources by 2030. As an individual or business, there are endless ways you can switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, or biomass. So, this is your mission for Earth Day 2025 if you choose to accept it!
Today brings different challenges and opportunities when it comes to taking care of our planet. Here in Clackamas County, we care deeply about doing our part to address the climate crisis. That’s why we’ve made a commitment to adopt a Climate Action Plan to make our county carbon-neutral by 2050.
Make Earth Day every day
Check out our list of 50+ ways you can take action
- Opt for renewable electricity through PGE or your local utility
- Enroll in NW Natural's Smart Energy program
- Finish replacing your lamps with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs
- Consider a Home Performance energy assessment
- Add insulation to your home
- See if your property can accommodate solar panels
- Install a smart programmable thermostat
- Switch your heating to heat pumps
- Learn more about energy incentives at Energy Trust
- Choose only Energy Star appliances
- Adjust your thermostat up 2 degrees in the summer and down 2 degrees in the winter
- Use smart energy strips or timers
- Install low-flow showerhead and faucets
- Install a “toilet tank bank” or a dual-flush toilet
- Grow native, drought-tolerant plants
- Stop using bottled water
- Bring your own durable shopping bags (where and when possible)
- Recycle right
- Detox: Make your own greener cleaners
- Choose local, organic food
- Shift towards a more plant-based diet
- Plan your meals and your shopping to waste less food
- Keep track of what you throw away for a week to identify ways to reduce it
- Switch to durable, reusable mugs for beverages
- If something breaks or stops working, try fixing it first rather than buying a replacement
- Have a buy-nothing week
- Watch The Story of Plastic
- Get rid of your household hazardous chemicals and replace them with non-toxic options
- Use the ReDirect shopping guide
- Buy used (thrift, Canby ReStore, etc.)
- Compost your food waste
- Shift to durable plates and utensils
- Look for products with recycled content
- Opt to use public transit (where and when possible)
- Switch to an electric vehicle (EV) / test drive an EV
- Take more trips by walking or biking
- Advocate for safer access to schools
- Try telecommuting or carpooling
The Sustainability & Solid Waste team pose with their personal Earth Day pledges.
Join the partnership for the planet!
It’s time to learn more and take action—together.