Life on a Sustainable Planet

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A woman holds up a plastic container in front of her face. The container holds a juvenile salmon.

The planet is facing an existential challenge: the climate crisis is intensifying, biodiversity is receding, and whole ecosystems are changing at a rapid pace. Because of this, the quest for scientific knowledge and new technology has never been more urgent.

Yet, scientists and educators at the Smithsonian cannot help but feel optimistic.

Smithsonian researchers at our research centers, such as the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland, and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, help to identify potential new ways to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Events

 

Resources

Students learn about sustainability at a Smithsonian booth.
Office of Facilities Management & Reliability

Sustainability Initiatives at the Smithsonian

We work on sustainability practices as a daily part of our work at the Smithsonian. 
Screenshot of a cover of Tropicos magazine that highlights resilience.
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute

TRóPICOS

Read the latest issue of TRóPICOS, the magazine of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. 
A white crane stands in water in a marsh.
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Shorelines Blog

Located in Edgewater, Maryland, SERC researchers focus on understanding ecosystems for a sustainable future.
An illustration of a flat globe with small human figures taking conservation actions.
Smithsonian Science Education Center

Smithsonian Science for Global Goals

Provides youth with the knowledge and skills to understand the world’s most pressing issues and to become agents for change in their own communities.
A word cloud that shows what topics youth are interested in working on. The top terms are "environmental racism."
Smithsonian Affiliates

Earth Optimism Youth Action

Young people lend a critical voice in confronting climate change, and the Smithsonian seeks to empower and support them as changemakers.
A graphic overview of the TEMPO mission.
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

TEMPO Blog

The TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring Pollution) mission is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and NASA.