Earth Month 2024
Happy Earth Month! As members of the Pitt community, we have the power to make a significant impact on the environment.
On the first Earth Day in1970, an estimated 20 million people attended inaugural events across tens of thousands of schools, universities, and community sites. As a result of the growing public demand for cleaner water, air, and land, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established that same year.
Earth Day has been annually celebrated in the U.S. for 54 years, and the University of Pittsburgh is working to advance sustainability every day. From LEED certified buildings to renewable energy initiatives, Pitt is committed to becoming a carbon neutral campus by 2037. Explore the 2018-22 Progress Report on the Pitt Sustainability Plan to see where Pitt is at on all 68 of our sustainability goals!
There are many ways you can promote sustainability on campus, from joining a student organization focused on environmental issues to participating in volunteer opportunities and programs. Explore the page below for opportunities to learn, lead and act throughout the month of April and beyond!
Become Pitt Green this Earth Month!
Are you and your colleagues looking to make your work greener?
Over 700 Pitt employees are making Pitt sustainable every day with their office and lab operations. Join this growing community working to advance Pitt’s sustainable mission by completing the Pitt Green Office or Lab Assessment and get started on your Pitt Green journey. Labs and offices that complete their assessment by May 10th will receive their Pitt Green plaque at our annual summer Pitt Green Celebration!
62 Green Offices with 587 individuals who have committed to advancing sustainability by implementing best practices into their workflows.
22 Green Labs with 184 individuals working to embed sustainability into their operations and research.
Need some guidance to start greening your office or lab?
Join Pitt Sustainability Tuesdays in April for Lunch and Learn Sustainability Webinars! This series will give you an introduction to the following topics, with plenty of time for Q&A. Register at the links below!
Campus Tree Walks & Arbor Day Paper Making
Arbor day is Friday, April 26th, and we’re celebrating early!
Campus Tree Walks
April 5 @ 11 am & 1 pm | Cathedral of Learning facing Heinz Chapel
Join us for a tree campus tour with local nonprofit Tree Pittsburgh. Tours will be Friday, April 5 at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. You will learn about the tree species on campus, identification techniques and basic care tips.
Spots are limited, register today!
Center 4 Creativity: Tree-Friendly Paper Making
April 1 @ 2 – 5 pm | Text & ConText Lab
Take a break and kick off Earth Month with the Center for Creativity and the University Library System! Create your own unique sheets of handmade paper from recycled paper scraps!
Center 4 Creativity: Make Your Own Plantable Greeting Card
April 8 @ 2 – 5 pm | Text & conText Lab
Get ready for Earth Day on April 22 by making your own plantable Earth Day card!
Choose from papers made with recycled paper scraps and perennial seeds, as well as eco-friendly inks, to create a card that recipients can actually plant for a mini-wildflower patch.
Thriftsburgh Pop @ University Store on Fifth
April 1 – 30 | University Store on Fifth
Stop by the University Store on Fifth during April and shop the in-store University of Thriftsburgh Pop-Up! Shop from a collection on student-curated thrifted apparel alongside Pitt insignia apparel to help reduce textile waste, cut carbon, and promote a culture of reuse this Earth Month.
EcoArtisans Sustainable Art Expo
April 11 @ 10:30 am – 2 pm | Gallagher Plaza and the WPU Patio
Check out the EcoArtisans Sustainable Art Expo presented by a student group from GEOL 1333 sustainability class!
Among the sustainable art made by Pitt community members, the Center for Creativity will be leading a sustainable art activity to make your own masterpiece! Additionally, there will be educational tables hosted by Plant2Plate , The Student Office of Sustainability, and Pitt Sustainability. The event will be held at the Pitt Farmer’s Market on the WPU Patio.
After the expo, the sustainable art will be displayed in Hillman Library to enjoy while you study for finals! The art exhibit will last until Fall 2024 and if you are unable to view the gallery in person, there will be a virtual gallery from the event available on the Pitt Sustainability Website.
Earth Month Music
To celebrate Earth Month, the Pitt Sustainability Team has created an Earth Month Playlist with songs about nature, sustainability, and the UN Sustainability Development Goals.
Pitt Earth Month Events
Join the University of Pittsburgh at sustainability events throughout our month-long celebration of Earth!
- Farmers Market | Every Thursday 10:30 a.m. | WPU Plaza
- Green Office & Green Lab Sustainable Supplier Show | March 28 @ 11:30 am – 2 pm | WPU Ballroom
- University Stores Reusable Bag Design Contest | April 1 – 15 | Winner Announced April 22nd
- Center 4 Creativity Paper Making | April 1 @ 2 – 5 pm | Text & ConText Lab
- CANCELLED! Campus Birding Walk | April 2 @ 4 – 5:30 pm | 5108 Posvar Hall
- Natural Connections: Mind and Body Harmony | April 3 @ 3 – 4 pm | Heinz Chapel Lawn
- Sustainable Business Forum | April 4
- SOOS First Thursday | April 4 @ 8:30 – 10 pm | SOOS (WPU 510) | *OCC Credit Available!
- Campus Tree Walk | April 5 @ 11 am & 2 pm | Cathedral of Learning on the side facing Heinz Chapel |*OCC Credit Available!
- Be a Good Neighbor Day | April 6 @ 9 am – 2:30 pm | Varies | *OCC Credit Available!
- Campus Birding Walk | April 7 @ First Session 11 am – 12:30 pm, Second Session 12 – 1:30 pm | 5108 Posvar Hall | *OCC Credit Available!
- Earth Day Cleanup with PennPIRG and Earthday.org | April 7 @ Noon | Start at WPU 510
- Center 4 Creativity: Make Your Own Plantable Greeting Card | April 8 @ 2 – 5 pm | Text & conText Lab
- Zero Waste @ Pitt: Your Waste Reduction, Reuse and Recycling Questions Answered! | April 9 @ 12 – 1 pm | Virtual
- Pitt Green Workshop: The What, Why, and How of Pitt’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory | April 10 @ 3 – 5 PM | SSOE 102 | *OCC Credit available!
- Pitt Eats Waste Audit | April 12 @ 10 am – 5 pm | The Perch | *OCC Credit Available!
- North Oakland Tree Planting | April 13 @ 9 am – 12 pm | 4612 Bayard St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 | *OCC Credit Available!
- Earth Day Cleanup | April 14 @ 9 am – 12 pm | Oakland Neighborhood | *OCC Credit Available!
- Lawn to Meadow: Pollinator Garden Webinar | April 15 @ 12 – 1 pm | Virtual
- How to Grow Your Green Office | April 16 @ 12 – 1 pm | Virtual
- Natural Connections: Hammock Village | April 17 @ 3 – 4 pm | Dippy the Dinosaur
- Sustainability Symposium & Sustainability Awards | April 19 | O’Hara Student Center | *OCC Credit Available!
- Earth Day: Sustainability in the Arts | April 22 @ 3:30 – 5:30 PM | WPU Lower Lounge | *OCC Credit Available!
- *Soil Rejuvenation Event | April 22 @ 10 am | Corner lawn of Darragh St, Aliquippa St, and Dunseith Ave
- CANCELLED! Pittsburgh Pirates Green Games | April 22 @ 4:00 pm | PNC Park
- University Store on Fifth Plant Potting with Perrico Plan Co | April 22 @ 12 – 3 pm | Schenley Quad
- Purchasing Strategies for Circularity | April 23 @ 12 – 1 pm | Virtual
- CSB Small & Medium Businesses Sustainable Business Strategies Spring 2024 Series | April 25 @ 3 – 4 pm | Virtual
- Clutter for a Cause | April 24 – 28 | Quad, Sutherland, Lothrop, Towers
- Demonstrating the Value of Responsible Investing | April 25 @ 12 – 1 pm | Virtual
- How to Grow Your Green Lab | April 30 @ 12:15 – 1:15 pm | Virtual | *OCC Credit Available!