Each year on April 22, Earth Day serves as a powerful reminder that our planet is under pressure. In cities like Mumbai, where the air often hangs thick with pollution, the environmental crisis feels close and personal. Globally, the picture is even more alarming—rainforests are disappearing at the rate of nearly 1,000 football fields per minute, precious resources are being rapidly depleted, and extreme wildfires, like the Palisades fire in California, reflect ecosystems pushed to their limits.
In this context, Earth Day is no longer just a symbolic observance. It is an urgent call to action, and in that call, advertising plays a pivotal role. More than promoting products, bold campaigns use storytelling and innovation to spotlight environmental truths, cut through indifference, and move people toward meaningful change.
Greenpeace Brazil – “What Planet Is This?” (2025)
One of the most impactful Earth Day campaigns of recent years came from Greenpeace Brazil, in collaboration with Beta Collective. Titled “What Planet Is This?”, the campaign used real drone imagery of climate-ravaged Brazilian landscapes, artfully edited to resemble alien worlds. These haunting visuals weren’t science fiction—they were scenes of devastation happening here and now, on Earth. The campaign struck a chord globally by reframing familiar environmental degradation as something almost unrecognizable, powerfully underscoring the urgency of our ecological crisis.
Honda – “Vertical Bike” (2022)
Taking a different but equally impactful approach, Honda’s Earth Day 2022 campaign, developed with Ogilvy Perú, tackled deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon. The issue? Harvesters cutting down towering palm trees to access the coveted aguaje fruit, contributing to widespread habitat loss. Honda responded with innovation, creating a “Vertical Bike”—a lightweight, motorized climbing device that allowed harvesters to scale 35-meter trees safely without felling them. This not only preserved the rainforest ecosystem but also empowered indigenous communities like the Parinaris, merging technology with sustainability in a tangible, culturally sensitive solution.
The Role of Creativity in Climate Advocacy
These campaigns—one driven by visual provocation, the other by practical innovation—illustrate the spectrum of storytelling that Earth Day inspires. They show that creativity, when used with purpose, can transform awareness into action. Whether by evoking emotion or solving real-world problems, advertising can be a catalyst for environmental change.
Looking Ahead: Global and Local Inspiration
As Earth Day continues to evolve, so does the responsibility of brands and creatives to step up. India, too, has begun to see a shift, with local campaigns addressing issues like plastic pollution, water conservation, and air quality. Though often smaller in scale, these efforts are vital in building a grassroots movement toward sustainability.
In a world where the climate crisis grows more urgent by the day, Earth Day campaigns aren’t just marketing—they’re mission statements. From the Amazon to the streets of Mumbai, the best campaigns don’t just raise awareness—they inspire action, drive innovation, and demand accountability.
Let’s take a deeper look at some of the most inspiring Earth Day campaigns that have dared to challenge indifference and champion change.
Nature Is Speaking – Julia Roberts is Mother Nature | Conservation International (CI)
Tata Tea Jaago Re – To fight Climate Change – Nursery Rhymes
GREENPEACE | What Planet is This?
Alpro: Earthdays
Back Market – Hack Market (ENG)
Honda – Vertical Bike
IRL Trashcan
Earth Day | National Geographic UK
Go Blue- Forever Oceans
GreenPeace- LosSantos +3°C
Turn it round: Greenpeace 2024 – 2025
Tata Power – Embrace Mother Nature
Saving Water with Michael Phelps for Earth Day | Colgate | Creative Ads
We have #OnlyOneEarth (World Environment Day 2022)
Seven Billion Dreams. One Planet. Consume with Care- UN
Tata Tea JaagoRe A.I.
Budweiser | Earth Day 2021
Nature Is Speaking – Edward Norton is The Soil | Conservation International (CI)
