Clean and Renewable Energy
A crucial element to mitigating global warming is through rapid and widespread reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. This requires shifting away from fossil fuels toward clean energy sources. Clean energy sources—unlike fossil fuels—do not emit greenhouse gases during energy production. The main clean energy sources are hydropower, geothermal, solar, wind, and nuclear. Renewable energy sources come from an undepletable source, like wind or sunlight.
Decarbonization of our economies through rapid and widespread transition to renewable energy sources is essential for mitigating climate change and advancing a sustainable energy future for all.
To meet the goals of UMD’s Climate Action Plan 3.0, which include maintaining carbon neutrality (met April 2025), transitioning to a fossil fuel‐free energy plant by 2035, and establishing a zero‐emissions fleet by 2035, leveraging clean and renewable energy sources is a crucial part of the equation.
Use the shortcuts below to explore the ways you can participate in, learn about, and enjoy Earth Month.
Earth Month Events
April 1st - 8th
Careers in Chesapeake Bay Conservation
Thursday April 2nd, 5:00 pm at the University Career Center Multi-Purpose Room 3135 Hornbake Library, South Wing
This career panel of professional conservationists will lend insights into career journeys, backgrounds, and current roles. Don’t miss this opportunity to ask questions, get advice, discover career paths, and learn about how you could build a career protecting one of Maryland’s most prized natural resources. Register for the career panel on Handshake.
Climate Change and Society in the News, A Fireside Chat with Scott Dance
Thursday April 2nd, 5:00 - 6:30 pm at Thurgood Marshall Hall 3301
Co-hosted by the Center for Global Sustainability and the A. James Clark School of Engineering, this fireside chat will feature Scott Dance, climate adaptation correspondent for the New York Times. Scott writes about the consequences of global warming for communities, governments and businesses, reporting from disaster zones and covering the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Register for the Fireside chat.
Sustainable Ocean Alliance Clean-up
Sunday April 5th, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm between the Brendan Iribe Center and the Computer Science Instructional Center
Join the Sustainable Ocean Alliance for a trash clean up to take action this earth month, beautify our campus, protect waterways, and enjoy time outside!
Mountain Bike in Rosaryville State Park
Sunday April 5th, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at Rosaryville State Park
Kick off UMD Bike Week with this beginner-friendly 10-mile loop around the woods of Rosaryville State Park in Upper Malboro, MD. You’ll learn to tackle roots, rocks and stream crossings on your bike. No previous mountain biking experience required. Sign up for the mountain bike ride.
Bike Week Kickoff: Helmet Giveaway
Monday April 6th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at the Southeast Entrance of Stamp
Bike Week is here! Join BikeUMD as we kick off a week full of beginner-friendly bike rides and activities. Stop by to get free bicycle gear, enter a RecWell raffle and learn how to fix a flat. Register for the giveaway here.
Organizer Social
Tuesday April 7th, 12:00 - 2:00 pm at the LGBTQ+ Equity Center (2411 Marie Mount Hall)
Meet and informally connect with other students who engage in activism and on-campus organizing! It can be hard to find time to meet, socialize, and network with others when you're in the thick of organizing, so you can take this space and time to do that. Learn more about the Organizer Social.
Taco Tuesday Ride
Tuesday April 7th, 5:00 - 7:00 pm starting at DOTS Lawn near Regents Garage
Come get tacos with us at Tacos a la Madre in College Park and explore the local Trolley Trail. Need a bike? RecWell rents bicycles for $10 a day. Need a helmet? Let us know when you RSVP and one will be provided for you! The first 15 people to sign up will get a free taco on DOTS! Sign up for the Taco Tuesday ride.
April 9th - 16th
Climate Zines: Storytelling for Sustainability
Thursday April 9th, 1:00 - 3:00 pm at Edward St. John 0201
Zines are a powerful art form that can be used to share knowledge and foster community. This workshop will focus on using zines to communicate about climate change and explore the mental health benefits of making art. Register for the zine workshop.
Celebrate Arbor Day
Wednesday April 8th, 12:00 - 1:00 pm at Hornbake Plaza
Celebrate trees and the people who love them with the UMD Arboretum and Botanical Garden. All are welcome to participate in the planting after the ceremonial photo.
AGNR Discovery & Innovation Night
Thursday April 9th, 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Riggs Alumni Center
This program will feature the student experience showcase: an opportunity for students to show off and highlight the impactful experiences they have taken advantage of outside of the classroom (think internships, study abroad, research, etc.). Register for AGNR Discovery and Innovation Night.
Bikeyo at Lake Artemesia
Thursday April 9th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm starting at Regents Drive Garage
Breathe the fresh air and get a fun workout at the same time. Take a short bike ride down the scenic Anacostia Tributary Trail to Lake Artemesia for a beautiful sunset. There, we’ll be led through a relaxing yoga session in a gazebo above the lake. Register for Bikeyo here.
BSU-UMD Social Justice Alliance Symposium
Friday April 10th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at Riggs Alumni Center
Join us for the 8th Annual Social Justice Alliance (SJA) Symposium, Freedom Dreams and Radical Joy: Youth Voices in the Pursuit of a Just Society. The symposium will bring together changemakers, scholars, students, and community leaders for a timely conversation about the role of youth leadership in advancing a more just and compassionate society. Learn about the Social Justice Alliance Symposium.
Progress on the Environment and Sustainability: A View from Outside the U.S.
Friday April 10th, 1:00 - 2:15 pm at the Animal Sciences Building 0408
Join AREC Alumna, Jo Puri as she shares insights from her work at the United Nations Environment Programme, highlighting how countries around the world are advancing climate adaptation, implementing sustainable systems, and driving meaningful progress. Register to hear Jo Puri.
Cherry Blossom Chase: DC Bike Party
Friday April 10th, 6:00 - 10:00 pm starting at DOTS Lawn by Regents Garage
Take a slow roll to explore the cherry blossoms of Washington, DC with the monthly DC Bike Party gathering! Bring your favorite tunes and wear your cherry blossom finest: reds, whites, pinks, flowers and lights–the sky’s the limit! Register for the Cherry Blossom Chase.
Coffee and Clean-up
Saturday April 11th, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm starting at the DOTS Lawn by Regents Garage
Join us for a beginner-friendly bike ride! Departing from the DOTS Lawn, we’ll take a leisurely ride down the Paint Branch Trail to Call Your Mother cafe in Riverdale Park. Grab coffee or food, then join us at a nearby park to clean up litter and debris. Sign up for Coffee and Clean-up.
April 17th - 24th
EarthFest
Thursday April 16th, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm on McKeldin Mall
EarthFest is a fun outdoor festival to celebrate Earth Month and sustainability at UMD. EarthFest aims to bring the campus community together to celebrate Earth Day with dozens of student organizations, campus departments, labs, and others. Learn more about EarthFest.
Use of Plant-Based Color as a Visual Language
Saturday April 18th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at Stamp Studio A
Join the UMD Stamp Gallery and the ARTiculate Narratives Project for a dynamic virtual artist talk with Mr. Wanyama Ogutu, MFA scholar at Kenyatta University. Discover how he extracts vibrant color from native Swahili plants and transforms them into powerful paintings that preserve cultural identity through creative expression. Register for Plant-Based Color as a Visual Language.
North College Park Community Clean Up
Saturday April 18th, 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Hollywood Shopping Center (9901 Rhode Island Avenue)
Join your neighbors in North College Park for our 3rd Annual Community Clean Up. Together, we will fan out and help pick up litter in the neighborhood. Feel free to stay after to support the the Hollywood Farmers Market in the Hollywood Shopping Center afterward. Sign up to volunteer for the clean-up.
Maryland Beautification Day
Sunday April 19th, 12:00 - 3:00 pm at Lot CC1 behind the Animal Science Building
UMD Sustainable Ocean Alliance and Residence Hall Association are partnering to host a clean up with the goal to make our community cleaner and greener. All supplies are provided. Register for the clean-up.
DC Climate Week at UMD
Tuesday April 21st, 9:00 am - 7:00 pm at Stamp (Floor 2)
Maryland Day at DC Climate Week is an informative indoor event to celebrate climate tech and innovation in Maryland. This event will foster networking and open discussion for entrepreneurs, students, faculty, UMD staff and policy makers. All who attend will have the opportunity to learn about new climate change technologies and the associated policy and funding landscape in Maryland. Learn more about Maryland Day at DC Climate Week.
Forever Chemicals: Science and Solutions to Protect Public Health
Tuesday April 21st, 12:15 - 2:00 pm at the Prince George's Room in Stamp
Join ENSP for a panel discussion featuring speakers from the School of Public Health, School of Engineering, Maryland Department of the Environment, and EPA Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water. View event flyer here.
Guided Tour of Campus Energy Systems
Tuesday April 21st, 2:00 - 3:00 pm starting at the Colony Ballroom in Stamp
The Office of Sustainability's Clean Energy intern will lead a tour of UMD's campus energy systems, featuring stops that showcase multiple aspects of how our campus generates, distributes, and uses energy. Register for the tour here.
Earth Day Bike Ride to Lake Artemesia
Wednesday April 22nd, 4:00 - 6:30 pm starting at the RecWell Adventure Program
Join Rewell's Adventure Program to celebrate Earth Day with a leisurely bike ride to Lake Artemesia. Register for the ride here.
Earth Day Climb and Clean
Wednesday April 22nd, 4:00 - 6:00 pm at the Eppley Climbing Wall
The Earth Day Climb and Clean is an opportunity to volunteer in the community with other active terps to help pick up a bag's worth of trash around campus. Meet and end at the ERC Climbing Wall to pickup gloves and bags, then return to climb, receive a sticker, and enjoy the spring weather!
Reclaiming Roots: Exploring Issues of Land Tenure and the Experiences of BIPOC Farmers in Maryland
Thursday April 23rd, 4:00 - 5:30 pm at the Chemistry Building (Room 1402)
Join College Park Scholars for a panel discussion that will explore issues of land tenure and discuss the experiences of BIPOC farmers in Maryland.
April 25th - 30th
Maryland Day, Office of Sustainability Tent
Saturday April 25th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm at McKeldin Mall near the fountain
Visit OS at Maryland Day to explore how everyday actions can help protect Maryland’s native wildlife through fun, hands-on activities like seed ball making and DIY bird feeders. Visitors can take a quiz to discover which native animal they are, and test their knowledge with water-use-themed jeopardy! Learn more about Maryland Day.
Terps Against Hunger Do Good Month Service Project
Sunday April 26th, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at Riggs Alumni Center
Join fellow alums, families, and friends for a meaningful Do Good Month service project with Terps Against Hunger! Roll up your sleeves and help pack nutritious meals for individuals and families facing food insecurity in our community. This hands-on volunteer experience is a great way to give back together, connect with other Terps of all ages, and make a tangible impact for those in need. Register for a shift to help prepare meals.
Get Involved during Earth Month
Enroll in the Green Terp Bucket List
The Green Terp Bucket List Challenge is a way for students to explore sustainability throughout campus. Completing challenges across four categories earns you unique enamel pins, and completing the entire challenge earns you a green graduation cord!
Check out the Farmers Market
The weekly Farmers Market in Tawes Plaza will be returning on April 1st for the spring semester. The market will be hosted from 11:00am - 3:00pm each Wednesday. The Office of Sustainability will be at the farmers market on April 8th and 29th from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm with fun sustainability-themed activities.
Volunteer with the Arboretum & Botanical Garden
Sign up for Weed it Wednesdays throughout April for fresh air, good vibes, and a little garden therapy. Friday Flower Power Hour is another great opportunity for UMD students, faculty, staff, and community members to get outdoors on campus and meet other people that care about the environment!
Serve as a Sustainability Advisor or Outreach Ambassador
Advisors teach an interactive lesson about sustainability and climate change and how each affects students, their studies, and future career prospects. Ambassadors receive intensive and ongoing training in sustainability, leadership, and outreach to promote a culture of sustainability at UMD.
Learn More during Earth Month
Campus Renewable and Clean Energy
Check out our Guide to Campus Renewable & Clean Energy to learn about our campus energy commitments, clean energy outreach, and see the various locations on campus that use solar energy and energy efficient systems.
Read about UMD's Agrivoltaics
Backed by a $100,000 Sustainability Fund Grant in 2023–2024, a new project is reimaging farmland with solar arrays at two University Research and Education Centers (RECs), with the hope of serving as a model for the state and the region.
Attend a Sustainable Tuesdays Lecture
Explore campus sustainability through lectures that are open to all as part of ARCH 272, Sustainability at the University of Maryland, College Park. This lecture series covers topics ranging from Green Buildings at UMD, nuclear power, and sustainable transportation. View the lecture series schedule.
Stay Connected
Follow SustainableUMD on Instagram, X/Twitter, and subscribe to our newsletter to stay in the loop for events, opportunities and initiatives throughout April and beyond!