Deep in the peaceful Green Mountains of Vermont, environmental pioneer Bill McKibben, a figure who has spanned multiple eras of the climate movement, settled onto his screened-in porch. Surrounded by the symphony of nature, he gestured towards his solar-laden roof and yard, a testament to his quarter-century commitment to renewable energy.
McKibben’s latest endeavor, “Sun Day,” emerges amidst a particularly challenging period for environmental advocacy. Recent political setbacks, including the weakening of climate legislation and a renewed push for fossil fuels, have left the movement’s future feeling uncertain. “In certain ways, it’s the darkest moment,” McKibben admitted.
Scheduled for September 21st, Sun Day is envisioned as a nationwide “day of action” to champion solar power and other energy-efficient innovations. Envisioning electric-car expos, open houses at solar homes, and installation tours, McKibben hopes to present renewable energy not as a niche luxury but as an accessible, cost-effective cornerstone of our electrified future – likening it to “the Costco of energy.” This initiative is bolstered by his recent book, “Here Comes the Sun,” aiming to rekindle the widespread public enthusiasm seen during the inaugural Earth Day in 1970.
The timing for a focus on renewables couldn’t be better, economically speaking. The past year has seen fossil fuels generate less than half of the electricity in the U.S. for the first time, and solar power became the leading electricity source in the European Union. Globally, over 90 percent of new power comes from clean sources, and the United Nations reports solar energy is now significantly cheaper than fossil fuels. “For the very first time in this saga, the force of economic gravity is working in the right direction,” McKibben observed, hoping local engagement will accelerate this transition.
However, Sun Day marks a significant strategic shift for McKibben. For years, climate activism was characterized by confrontational global protests, student strikes led by figures like Greta Thunberg, and the rise of groups such as the Sunrise Movement. McKibben himself was a strong advocate for these morally stark campaigns, which aimed to disrupt economic activities that threatened long-term human well-being, even if it meant short-term impacts on corporate profits and consumer lifestyles.
Now, McKibben is adopting a different approach, one that aligns with a more moderate, adaptation-focused segment of the climate community while also evoking the initial optimism of Earth Day. He believes this is a practical path to making a tangible difference. This strategic evolution comes as many activists grapple with profound questions about the effectiveness and future direction of their efforts.
Public sentiment on climate issues is at a crossroads. Recent polls indicate a record number of Americans view global warming as a serious personal threat, recognizing the impact of extreme weather. Yet, when it comes to voting priorities, climate change often falls to the bottom of the list, leading to frustration among advocates.
Denis Hayes, the lead organizer of the original Earth Day, expressed profound disillusionment, stating, “You can make a pretty decent case that everything that I’ve worked on in my entire professional life has gone down the toilet in the last six months.” Similarly, Varshini Prakash, co-founder of the Sunrise Movement, now believes the “window” for outright stopping global warming may have closed, or perhaps never truly existed.
The original Earth Day on April 22, 1970, represented a pivotal moment. Conceived by Senator Gaylord Nelson, the event was organized by a team of young activists, including a 25-year-old Denis Hayes. What began as an idea for a national “Environmental Teach-in” evolved into an unprecedented demonstration, drawing an estimated 20 million participants across the U.S. Hayes recalled the awe of seeing Fifth Avenue in New York City filled with demonstrators, stretching as far as the eye could see, realizing the immense political power they had unleashed.
This massive mobilization occurred against a backdrop of severe environmental degradation: smog-choked cities, rampant pesticide use, and devastating oil spills. Until Earth Day, environmental concerns were fragmented; it united them under one collective cause. Bolstered by the spirit of the civil rights era, public concern for the environment skyrocketed. The movement quickly yielded significant legislative victories, including the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency and landmark acts like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
The 1980s, marked by Ronald Reagan’s election, spurred a new wave of environmentalists, including McKibben. His 1989 book, “The End of Nature,” brought global warming to a mainstream audience. However, as the scientific understanding of human-caused climate change grew, so did political opposition. McKibben’s experience at the 1997 U.N. gathering for the Kyoto Protocol, where a fossil fuel lobbyist confidently asserted control over the political landscape in Washington, hinted at the uphill battle ahead.
Over the years, McKibben experimented with various forms of activism. An early 2000s campaign against SUVs, despite evangelical support, ultimately failed as Americans opted for larger vehicles. In 2008, he co-founded 350.org, focusing on grassroots action and challenging the fossil fuel industry. A major success came in 2015 when President Obama rejected the Keystone XL pipeline, a victory seen as validation for climate organizing. The subsequent rise of the youth-led Sunrise Movement, which reframed climate change as a social justice issue with aggressive tactics, further pushed for governmental action, though the resulting Inflation Reduction Act was a compromise.
The adoption of the Paris Agreement and Greta Thunberg’s school strikes amplified global climate awareness. These actions pressured banks to commit to net-zero emissions, fueling belief that confrontational activism could effectively curb fossil fuel use. Yet, this momentum proved fleeting. Political and corporate priorities shifted, and, as McKibben noted, many commitments made at the 2021 Glasgow climate conference were not honored. Factors like the pandemic and geopolitical conflicts further diverted attention and energy from youth-led climate initiatives.
During a drive in his electric car, McKibben, a compelling advocate, showcased his characteristic blend of enthusiasm and urgency for clean energy. He acknowledged the difficulty of “branding” the climate movement, noting that initial ideas for “Sky Day” were overshadowed by the universal appeal of sun imagery for his new initiative. The name “Sun Day” resonated, embodying both the problem of trapping too much solar heat and its solution.
Politically, Sun Day aims for broad appeal. Its pragmatic messaging emphasizes solar energy’s affordability and accessibility, hoping to sway decision-makers and individuals who might be resistant to moral or collectivist arguments. McKibben sees potential common ground, where conservatives appreciate energy independence and liberals embrace a clean grid. However, reactions are mixed. Sociologist Dana R. Fisher finds the initiative “tone deaf” given current political challenges, fearing it may encourage trivial individual actions. Conversely, Ted Nordhaus of the Breakthrough Institute criticizes it as “nostalgia for the old environmental politics that’s just dead,” arguing it avoids bolder technological solutions like nuclear power.
These contrasting views highlight a central dilemma for climate activism: balancing urgent truth with inspiring solutions. McKibben, embracing the label of “naïve,” insists Sun Day is both pragmatic and a celebration of “beauty and liberation.” As he observed the subtle changes in Vermont’s winters, he articulated the activist’s bind: the need to convey both grim realities and hopeful visions.
McKibben himself acknowledges the uncertainty of Sun Day’s long-term future. Young activists, seeking new direction, are encouraged to learn from past periods of low momentum. Varshini Prakash, for instance, believes that direct experience with extreme weather will increasingly drive political action. She sees promise in “Make Polluters Pay” campaigns targeting fossil fuel companies and views Sun Day’s economic argument as an “interesting experiment” to broaden the appeal of renewable energy beyond traditional climate advocacy.
McKibben traces his inspiration for Sun Day to observing a total solar eclipse from Middlebury’s campus. Witnessing hundreds of students captivated by the celestial event, he realized their “deep affection for the thing we most need to get us out of the jam we’re in.”
A correction was made on Sept. 8, 2025: An earlier version of this article misstated the timing of the last total solar eclipse in Vermont. It occurred in the spring of 2024, not the summer.