The 2026 UC San Diego Earth Week Celebration, April 20-26, embraces the international theme of “Our Power, Our Planet,” in support of climate action and driving positive change together. Join UC San Diego and communities around the world in celebrating the earth with the following events where we can harness our collective power to take meaningful steps for our planet.
Central Utilities Plant Tour
Tuesday, April 21
Noon – 1:30 p.m. at Central Utilities Plant
Join us for a behind‑the‑scenes tour of the Central Utilities Plant where you’ll see UC San Diego’s energy systems in action and learn about campus decarbonization efforts.
Earth Day Festival
Wednesday, April 22
Noon – 4 p.m. at Sun God Lawn
Celebrate Earth Day with free vegan food, eco-friendly activities, guided yoga, clothing swaps and inspiring climate talks.
Burke Lectureship on Religion and Society Welcomes Bill McKibben: Climate, Faith and Collective Responsibility
Thursday, April 23
6 – 8 p.m. at The Jeannie Hall
Join author and activist Bill McKibben for a powerful look at the moral and spiritual stakes of climate change, his groundbreaking climate leadership and the shared responsibility in shaping a more sustainable and equitable future.
Arbor Day Tree Planting
Friday, April 24
Noon – 2 p.m. at La Jolla Project Lawn (Stonehenge)
Join Facilities Management for a tree planting demonstration and tree planting opportunities. Landscape Services Urban Forester, arborists and staff will be on site to facilitate the plantings.
Climate Dance Party featuring Alumna Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Friday, April 24
6 - 9 p.m. at Birch Aquarium
Move, mingle, and celebrate climate solutions, community connections and the paperback launch of Ayana Elizabeth Johnson’s bestselling book “What If We Get It Right?”.
All events are free and open to the campus community, unless otherwise noted. To view the full calendar of events, visit the Sustainability Events Calendar.
In order to allow employees the opportunity to participate in a UC San Diego Earth Week activity, one hour of administrative leave with pay has been approved. We encourage all managers and supervisors to allow employees to attend, as long as the absence does not infringe upon the performance of required job duties or patient care.
Sustainability plays an integral part in UC San Diego’s education, research and campus operations. We encourage you to learn about sustainability events taking place throughout the year and more about our continuing efforts by visiting the UC San Diego Sustainability Website.
