For over half a century, Earth Day has been about celebrating the actions each of us can take to protect the planet that sustains us all, for today and for future generations. This has never been more important than in 2026, with a federal administration doing everything it its power to dismantle protections for our water, air, and public lands, and increase the profits of the fossil fuel industry by any means necessary.
On this Earth Day, each of us are called to counter this outrageous agenda in ways large and small. It might be getting a child away from a screen and into the woods or on the water, planting native plants to support pollinators, or taking advantage of programs Illinois has created to help reduce your utility bill through energy efficiency or going solar. These are all great ways to celebrate the power we all have to make things a little better, even as the Trump administration only makes things worse.
At the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter, our focus in 2026 is in keeping Illinois a national leader on climate, clean water, and moving beyond fossil fuels. We started the year by endorsing environmental champions in 34 contested primaries, and winning 25 of these races. These are the leaders who will be working at the local, state, and federal level to support bold solutions, and resist Trump’s rollbacks, and we’ll be back at in this fall’s critical midterm general election.
This Spring, we’re working on a 2026 legislative agenda that responds to the threats posed by a wave of data centers to our water and energy supply, protect Illinois’ wetlands from a loophole created by Trump’s Supreme Court, phase out foam takeout containers, hold the fossil fuel industry accountable for the damage already done to our state by climate pollution, and educate the public about the fragile state of our critical pollinators.
We’re working on this aggressive agenda in the state capitol, in meetings with legislators in their communities, and in coalition with partner organizations across the state.
And of course, Spring is a wonderful time to enjoy the Prairie State. We invite you to join us on the trail to feel the restorative joy of nature in springtime. Check out our events calendar for outings and other opportunities to do what we can to explore, enjoy, and protect the planet.