his year’s Earth Day theme, Our Power, Our Planet, is more than a slogan—it is a call to arms in the fight for our collective future. The campaign this year calls on all of us to unite behind renewable energy and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030. Earth Action Day encourages people everywhere to take part: by educating, advocating, mobilising, pledging on social media, organising local events, integrating climate education into classrooms and donating to support the movement. Yet, while individual action is meaningful and essential, the sobering reality remains that without strategic, long-term policy commitments from governments, the needle will barely move.

Transitioning to renewable energy is one of the most effective and immediate actions we can take to mitigate climate change. By replacing fossil fuels with clean sources like solar, wind and hydro power, we significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions—the primary driver of global warming. This transition can not only help stabilise the climate but also improve air quality, reduce pollution-related health risks and lower energy costs over time. For individuals, the shift means cleaner air to breathe, more affordable and reliable energy sources, and the opportunity to actively participate in building a sustainable future—whether by installing rooftop solar panels, choosing green energy providers, or supporting policies that prioritise clean energy development. The ripple effects of this transformation reach every household, making the benefits of climate action both personal and global.

Over the years, the power of people—marching, teaching, building awareness—has played a critical role in shaping climate discourse. These efforts have led to a better public understanding of the crisis, a louder collective voice and some important victories. But sustained impact needs structural change. We need clear roadmaps, regulations and political will. And on that front, progress has been not just minimal, it’s often one step forward, two steps back. The failure to make and implement robust climate policies, particularly among high-emitting nations, continues to undermine global goals.

Nowhere is this imbalance starker than in the Global South. Countries such as Pakistan, Kenya and the Philippines contribute very little to global carbon emissions yet suffer disproportionately from its effects—extreme weather, food insecurity and displacement. They’re promised assistance at every climate summit: financial aid, green technologies and support for loss and damage. Yet these promises rarely translate into concrete support at the scale of the pledges made. The Loss and Damage Fund remains largely symbolic, poorly funded and wrapped in bureaucratic red tape. Worse still, much of what is offered is in the form of loans, pushing already fragile economies deeper into debt.

Meanwhile, the so-called developed world—nations with the historical responsibility and resources to lead—are retreating. The facade of leadership is slipping. Countries like the United Kingdom have approved new fossil fuel projects even as they claim to champion climate action. In the United States, fossil fuel subsidies continue to dwarf investments in clean energy, revealing a clear mismatch between climate commitments and financial priorities. The recent decision by the current administration to pull out of the Paris Agreement underscores this backsliding, abandoning a critical global framework at a time when unified action is more urgent than ever. Around the world, climate rhetoric continues to outpace meaningful action, exposing a dangerous gap between what is promised and what is practiced.

Around the world, climate rhetoric continues to outpace meaningful action, exposing a dangerous gap between what is promised and what is practiced.

Corporations once seen as climate saviours—especially tech giants—are also revealing where their priorities lie. The very companies that positioned themselves as innovators capable of solving the climate crisis are now redirecting their resources. Instead of scaling up clean technologies or sustainable infrastructure, they’re funding surveillance systems, military technology and ventures aligned with authoritarian regimes. As long as profits flow, the morality of those profits seems secondary. The promise of global innovation for the planet has been sidelined for profit-driven partnerships that enable conflict, suppression and exploitation.

It doesn’t stop there. As the stakes rise, so does the global clampdown on those fighting to protect the Earth. In recent years, environmental activists have increasingly found themselves criminalised, harassed and silenced in countries that claim to uphold democratic values. In the UK, members of Just Stop Oil have faced arrests and disproportionate sentences. Germany has seen raids on homes of peaceful protesters from the Letzte Generation (Last Generation) movement. In the United States, indigenous communities defending their lands and water from destructive pipelines continue to face militarised police action and harsh legal penalties. The response by most states is clear: protect profit, not protest.

This is not an accident. It’s a systemic response designed to suppress dissent and insulate the status quo. As the climate crisis deepens, those in power are not only ignoring the science, they are also criminalising those who dare to mention it. The very people fighting for a livable planet are being treated as threats to national security. We are witnessing a chilling moment in history where truth is being muzzled. Those in power show no shame in doing so.

Yet, even in this grim landscape, hope persists. Around the world, individuals, communities and grassroots organisations continue to resist, innovate and rebuild. In Kenya, local communities are using solar microgrids to power off-grid villages. In Bangladesh, women are leading solar energy cooperatives, bringing light to homes that once lived in darkness. The Sunrise Movement in the US is still pushing for ambitious climate policy, mobilising a new generation of activists. Greta Thunberg and her peers remain steadfast in their refusal to accept false solutions and empty promises. Organisations like EarthDay.org, 350.org and Fridays for Future continue to inspire global action, organise movements and hold those in power accountable.

These stories remind us that while governments and corporations falter, the power of people remains our greatest hope. Our Power, Our Planet is not just a theme for Earth Day 2025, it is a directive. It is a reminder that the fight for our planet is also a fight for justice, truth and accountability. We must demand that those in power rise to meet the moment not with words, but with action.

The energy transition is not optional—it is inevitable. How fast and how fairly we make that transition depends on us.

The writer is a communications, public relations and sustainability professional. Her X handle is @FatimaArif