Since 1970, each year on April 22, millions of people recognize Earth Day — but why limit the celebration to one day a year?
Earth Day, Every Day
As our individual and collective well-being is inextricably linked to the health of our shared earth, there is much to be said for the “Earth Day, Every Day” admonition. Every day, people in cities, towns and villages play important roles advancing environmental, social and economic sustainability. Each effort matters and together we can make a difference. That said, we also know that our earth is facing challenges at unprecedented scales and the best opportunity we have for tackling these challenging issues at the lowest cost is today.
Climate change threatens our health, our infrastructure and our economies. Biodiversity loss diminishes the viability of ecosystems and weakens valuable services on which species — human and non-human — rely. Whether the concern is for our immediate condition or for the prosperity of our children and future generations, our best hope is to redouble efforts now and seek innovative ways to accelerate improvements, intensify impacts and hasten results. NLC wants to be a thought leader, a guide and a partner in those efforts.
NLC in Action
In the past year, NLC has had the opportunity to reflect upon its work and assess ways in which it can play a more impactful role in supporting local leaders in advancing sustainability. NLC is building on its successes and leveraging its resources, expertise and relationships to contribute to sustainability acceleration. With a bit of rebalancing, NLC’s Sustainability & Innovation portfolio is being enhanced to complement existing work with additional proven and promising policies, practices and solutions.
In support of clean energy, NLC will continue to offer free SolSmart technical assistance to local governments desiring to increase community uptake of renewable energy. Through the EV Workforce Collaborative, NLC seeks to identify win-win outcomes for state and local governments while communicating effective strategies to boost training, jobs and career pathways associated with the burgeoning green economy. In fact, watch this space for an exciting request for applications announcement later this month relating to regional EV workforce collaboration. In addition to promoting climate resilience through green infrastructure smart surface interventions, NLC will elevate nature-based solutions and explore strategies to boost biodiversity, such as through the innovative Biodiversity Net Gain programs underway in the U.K.
Earth Month 2025
During Earth Month 2025, NLC will feature several exciting ideas, programs and opportunities of the Sustainability & Innovation program that can support local action. NLC will feature blogs, guest pieces and resources on topics that range from dual-purpose solar interventions to a menu of tree policy examples to an exploration of the interface between the use of AI (and data centers) and the environment. We will continue to highlight important opportunities, such as Elective Pay tax credits (also known as Direct Pay) and build on the Recycle Right Toolkit. Recently, NLC released a blog and brief on managing waste with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS, also known as ”forever chemicals”). Water quality and infrastructure will be featured through a blog and new fact sheets to help municipalities navigate the new Lead and Copper Rule requirements.
NLC is also taking the Earth Month opportunity to assess and rededicate the NLC commitment to sustainability and identify ways in which NLC can demonstrate leadership in this space. For starters, we plan to develop a NLC sustainability operating framework and hope to activate NLC staff in sustainability efforts through an internal “Green Team.” NLC is unveiling a freshly minted mission statement that describes the NLC Sustainability & Innovation program, and how we hope to work with local leaders to achieve your vision of becoming thriving and vibrant cities of the future.
NLC Sustainability & Innovation Program Mission Statement
National League of Cities’ Sustainability and Innovation: Cities of the Future Team (S&I) supports cities, towns and villages in their efforts to strengthen existing assets, embed resilient practices and accelerate efforts that will benefit current and future generations. Key drivers behind S&I’s work are helping communities contend with global climate change and rapid technological advancements, while sustaining key infrastructure and being responsive to community challenges in an environmentally and fiscally sustainable manner.
S&I helps local governments identify proven strategies and promising practices that will improve the built and natural environment. For example, S&I elevates ways municipalities can create thriving communities and a better quality of life, such as through improved air and water quality, increased biodiversity, reduced costs and by supporting vulnerable populations.
By engaging with local leaders, offering subject matter expertise, serving as a trusted convenor and providing technical assistance, S&I amplifies innovative practices across topics of decarbonization, smart cities, emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), renewable energy, transportation, green infrastructure and connections to nature.
Share Your Ideas
NLC’s Sustainability & Innovation Team is open to your ideas! Send us an email and let us know how we can help.
About the Author
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