APB Celebrates Earth Day by Honoring Our Climate Champions

21 Apr 2025

Each year, on April 22, more than 1 billion people from around the world celebrate Earth Day. At APB, we love to honor this special day, as well as our speakers below, who are working so hard to save our planet. They include:

Mary Robinson
Former President of Ireland, Chair of The Elders & Former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change 
One of the world's most respected advocates for climate justice and Ireland's first woman President, Robinson is a sought-after speaker who has moved audiences around the world with her passionate and hopeful call for all nations to work together to fight for a sustainable future. Her book, Climate Justice, has received glowing reviews from former world leaders and the environmental and human rights community.

Vaclav Smil
Renowned Expert on Energy, Environment, Food & Technical Advances
Professor Smil is regarded as one of the most important thought leaders of our time. One of Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers, Smil has spent his career exploring new ground in energy, environmental and population change, food production and nutrition, technical innovation, risk assessment and public policy.  

Gina McCarthy
First-ever White House Climate Advisor, Former EPA Administrator, Professor & Environmental Thought Leader
McCarthy is one of the nation's most respected voices on climate change, the environment and public health. As head of the Climate Policy Office under President Biden, McCarthy's leadership led to the most aggressive action on climate in U.S. history, creating new jobs and unprecedented clean energy innovation and investments across the country.

Gro Harlem Brundtland 
First Female Prime Minister of Norway & Mother of Sustainability
Considered the “mother” of sustainable development, Dr. Brundtland is a climate justice storyteller motivated to uplift the voices of those most adversely impacted by the climate crisis. She has become a prominent voice of her generation, using the power of social media to share how communities of color and women have been adversely affected by climate change and the racist roots of the environmental movement.

Alexandra Cousteau
Explorer & Ocean Advocate
As the third generation of a pioneering family of explorers, Cousteau has continued the legacy of her family as an explorer and a globally recognized advocate on ocean issues in her own right. She has led countless expeditions to better understand the issues facing our oceans and explore our connection to freshwater resources that are so critical to the health and prosperity of human communities.

Ali Zaidi
Former White House National Climate Advisor & Leading Authority on the Clean Energy Economy
Zaidi led the White House Climate Policy Office, which coordinated policy development and the U.S. government’s overall strategy on climate and clean energy. He helped design, negotiate, and implement President Biden’s historic climate and clean energy investment agenda, including the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the dozens of new federal programs and clean energy tax credits created by those landmark laws. 

Susan Crawford
Expert In Climate Adaptation & Public Policy, Harvard Law Professor, Author
An inspiring, thoughtful, and ever-optimistic authority on the implications for humanity of rapidly rising sea levels, Crawford is the author of Charleston: Race, Water, and the Coming Storm. A Harvard Law School professor, she teaches courses about climate adaptation and public leadership. Her energetic, clearly communicated talks have made her a favorite of audiences across the country.

Sherri Goodman 
First Ever Pentagon Chief Environmental Officer, Sustainability & National Security Expert & Author
A pioneer in sustainability and national security, Goodman is among the most respected international voices on emerging global risks, including energy and climate security, environment, and public health. The Pentagon’s first-ever Deputy Undersecretary of Defense (Environmental Security), she led efforts to transform the Department of Defense into a leader in sustainability, climate resilience and advanced energy. 

Adam Met
Multi-Platinum Band AJR, Founder of Planet Reimagined & Columbia University Professor
Met seamlessly transitions between roles as musician, educator, advocate, and scholar. As the world-renowned bassist in the multi-platinum band AJR, he has played in front of millions of fans worldwide, with the band's music resonating across continents and garnering over 8 billion streams. His latest book, Amplify: How to Use the Power of Connection to Engage, Take Action, and Build a Better World, takes a hard look at how everyone can take meaningful action against climate change. 

Moriba Jah
Visionary in Agentic AI-Driven Decision Intelligence, Space Sustainability Leader, Global Advocate for Stewardship & MacArthur Fellow
Dr. Jah is a renowned astrodynamicist and visionary leader whose work transcends the boundaries of space exploration and addresses some of humanity’s most urgent global challenges. While he is known for his pioneering contributions to space sustainability and space traffic management, Dr. Jah's broader mission is to revolutionize decision-making for individuals, organizations, and governments, specifically focusing on advancing ethical stewardship across all sectors of society.

Sophia Kianni 
Founder of Climate Cardinals & Youngest Appointed United Nations Advisor
Kianni is an Iranian-American activist studying science, technology and society at Stanford University. She is the founder and executive director of Climate Cardinals, an international nonprofit with 9,000 volunteers in 40-plus countries working to translate climate information into over 100 languages. She represents the U.S. as the youngest member of the inaugural United Nations Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.

Steve Curwood
Executive Producer & Host of NPR’s “Living on Earth"
Curwood explores risks, vulnerabilities of physical plants, and the challenges of society’s effort to transition to cleaner energy. These concerns are a big part of the metrics of ESG—environmental, social, and governance—and they need to be considered by virtually every company, non-profit, university and hospital.

Wanjiku "Wawa" Gatheru
Environmental Justice Warrior, Rhodes Scholar & Founder of Black Girl Environmentalist
Gatheru is a climate justice storyteller motivated to uplift the voices of those most adversely impacted by the climate crisis. She has become a prominent voice of her generation, using the power of social media to share how communities of color and women have been adversely affected by climate change and the racist roots of the environmental movement.

The Right Honourable Kim Campbell
Canada’s First & Only Female Prime Minister
Campbell has spent her groundbreaking career shattering barriers for women, cultivating the next generation of leaders, and speaking out on human rights and the impact of climate change. Straight-speaking, independent-minded, and always thought-provoking, she combines the stature and knowledge of a former head of state with an inspiring voice for women’s leadership and protecting our planet.