EARTHDAY.ORG MOURNS THE PASSING OF RAÚL M. GRIJALVA 

EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO), the global leader in Earth Day advocacy, pays tribute to the life and legacy of Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva, who passed away on March 13, 2025.

“It is difficult to overstate the profound impact and legacy of Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva on the environmental movement as a whole, and on his unwavering dedication to protecting the people and the environment of his beloved Arizona, in particular,” said Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG.

Throughout his 12 terms in Congress, Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva of Arizona was an unwavering advocate for environmental protection. Until his recent illness, he served as the chair of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee. Rep. Grijalva’s profound understanding of the intersection between conservation, justice and human health distinguished him as a visionary leader. 

His lifelong dedication was instrumental in shaping some of the most significant environmental legislation in recent years, including the Environmental Justice for All Act, which sought to address the disproportionate impact of federal laws and programs on communities of color, low-income communities, and tribal and indigenous groups. In 2023, he consolidated his legacy by helping to establish a new national monument for historic tribal land around the Grand Canyon. 

“Southwest Voter Registration Education Project (SVREP) would like to join EARTHDAY.ORG to express our sincere gratitude for Rep. Grijalva’s partnership with SVREP and Earth Day under our joint Campaign for Communities (C4). The collaborative efforts to protect our planet and develop sustainable strategies to mitigate carbon emissions were exceptional,” says Lydia Camarillo, EARTHDAY.ORG Board Member  & President, (SVREP). “We are particularly thankful to Rep. Grijalva for his leadership, partnership, and commitment to advancing public policy initiatives around environmental sustainability.”

“Grijalva was one of the most dependable advocates for natural resource policy and a fierce defender of the idea that a clean and healthy environment for all was a predicate for a healthy democracy.”  Gerald Torres, EARTHDAY.ORG Board Member & Professor of Environmental Justice at the Yale School of the Environment.

Rep. Grijalva was a supporter of Earth Day and in  2008 released a statement saying:

“Earth Day gives the country an opportunity to focus on the key challenges facing us in preserving our planet. We have witnessed a trend of the environment being treated with neglect and disdain. We must change this trend and encourage our youth to embrace public parks, public lands and national forests. We must build on their environment literacy making the future stewards of the environment and constituents of public lands.” Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva

“The Earth Day movement is proud to have called Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva a friend and we will continue his legacy – to bring climate education into all schools, to champion clean air and water for all and to be dedicated stewards of the Earth,” says Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG. “This Earth Day, on April 22, we will take extra care to remember and thank him.” 

About EARTHDAY.ORG: Founded in 1970 by the organizers of the first Earth Day, EARTHDAY.ORG has grown into one of the world’s largest environmental movements, mobilizing over one billion people annually on Earth Day and every day to protect the planet and its people. Our mission is to diversify, educate, and activate the environmental community globally. As the largest recruiter to this movement, EARTHDAY.ORG partners with more than 150,000 organizations in nearly 192 countries to promote environmental democracy. Learn more at EARTHDAY.ORG.

For media inquiries/quotes/comment/inspiration/resources and interviews: 

Sarah T Davies, [email protected], +1 240 463 1341 (Washington DC)

Terran Fielder, [email protected], +1 661 444 4436 (Washington DC)