4.21.26- Happy 5th Anniversary to OneGreenThing!

Heather White
Apr 21
3 min read

It's OneGreenThing's 5th Anniversary!

We launched on 4.21.21 because on April 4, 2021 the earth reached a troubling milestone.On April 4, 2021, Mauna Loa Observatory reported a record 421 ppm of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Mauna Loa has been tracking atmospheric CO2 levels since the 1950s (when we were at 315 ppm). This record level of 421 ppm signals that the world is on track to double atmospheric carbon from pre-industrial levels by 2060. This doubling could lead to a potential 4.1 to 8.1 degree Fahrenheit rise in temperature if climate change is not addressed. This is a "wake up" call that it's time to act on climate.

Today's (4/21/26) reading is 430 ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

The fact is sobering in the midst of a swirl of horrible headlines and an administration that has attacked global climate commitments. But at OneGreenThing, we know that we CAN create a greener, healthier, more just future and become the awesome ancestors our future loved ones deserve. We are so grateful that you are part of our community. Take a look back at all we've done so far:

Since the launch of OneGreenThing five years ago, our start up nonprofit has:

Reached more than 30 million people with national media coverage of our work on Good Morning America (x 3), NBC News, KTLA5, WREG-Memphis, WGN-Chicago, NYC's Pix-11 News, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Teen Vogue, Real Simple, mindbodygreen, Shondaland and countless other outlets.
Engaged nearly 10,000 people from around the world who have taken the Service Superpower (TM) assessment to find their unique roles in climate action. From "zero" digital followers, we now reach nearly 30,000 people on our platform and it's growing every day.
Hosted more educational, interactive online workshops about how to get involved in climate action, developing your eco-action plan, sustainable fashion, reducing food waste, and more workshops on how to leave a greener, more joyful life.
Spoken at and engaged with Silicon Valley Reads, TEDxGreatPacificGarbage Patch, Clinton Global Initiative, TEDxBoston, Climate Reality Project, Harvard University's Lee Kum Sheung Center of Health and Happiness, the World Happiness Summit, the Good Housekeeping Raise the Bar Sustainability Summit, and engaged businesses, universities, schools, and bookstores around the country with our mission.
Provided online, free educational tools such as the OneGreenThing Bullet Journal, the Joy Tracker, meditations, and discussion guides to promote intergenerational, multicultural learning, conversations, and action on eco-anxiety.
Hosted four Climate and Democracy Leadership Intensives with more than 40 young people ages 18 to 26 from around the world to engage with our Green Civicis program.
Launched a global partnership with Lyreco UK & Ireland on eco-anxiety for school programming.
Educated with blogs, monthly newsletters, and discussion guides.
Collaborated with the Plastic Pollution Coalition, Climate Reality Project Canada, Blue Sky Funders, UTA Foundation, Ziff Davis, Montana State University, MassEnergize, RepublicEN, Catawba College, the American Recreation Council, Park County Environmental Council, and Lone Peak Film Festival.

Our goal is to tackle eco-anxiety through joyful daily action, creating culture change for climate solutions. And thanks to you, we are doing it!

I am thankful for the support of our mission and the enthusiasm for our optimistic message in both our nonprofit work and my books. We deeply appreciate the generous donations from people nationwide and the thousands who have become part of our community.

Here are a few highlights over the years: