Climate Action
Star Power for the Planet
July 9, 2025
Every year, Earth Day gains the attention of 1 billion people globally dedicated to one all encompassing cause – helping protect our planet and all the species that call it home. From students and farmers to parents and public figures, the energy behind Earth Day keeps growing; media coverage alone jumped 900% from 2024 to 2025. And while it’s nice to see the numbers, what really moves the needle are the people who show up, speak out, and roll up their sleeves.
Over the years, some incredible celebrities have teamed up with EARTHDAY.ORG to spotlight critical issues, from plastic pollution to ocean health. Here are five famous names who used their platforms to support our work.
William Shatner: Beaming Up Compassion for Orca Whales Wikie and Keijo
Yes, Captain Kirk, the legend that is William Shatner brought his iconic voice and deep compassion to the fight to save Wikie and Keijo, two captive orcas stranded in a now-shuttered marine park in southern France. They are currently living in algae infested waters, conditions in which Wikie’s brother, Inouk and her first born son Moana, have already died within the last 18 months.
As of now, no home has been found for the Orcas and time is running out.
Shatner issued a heartfelt plea to French President Emmanuel Macron, calling for the whales to be relocated to a sanctuary before it’s too late.
“In Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, two humpback whales helped save planet Earth. It was gripping fiction—but what’s happening today in the south of France is heartbreakingly real,” said Shatner. “Wikie and Keijo aren’t characters…We have the power to write them a better ending.”
His message, supported by EARTHDAY.ORG and Kepler Media, helped shine a global spotlight on an urgent situation that still needs action. You can watch William Shatner’s full statement here. If you’d like to make some waves of your own, take two minutes to send a letter to President Macron urging their safe relocation.
Ringo Starr: Octopus’ Garden
When Ringo Starr designs an Earth Day t-shirt, it’s not just stylish; it’s a message. In 2025, he released a limited-edition shirt featuring the phrase “An Octopus’s Garden Needs Clean Water”, a nod to both his iconic song and the importance of protecting our oceans. Ringo’s message was clear: peace and love should extend to marine life, too.
The shirts were made from certified organic cotton, and part of the proceeds supported EARTHDAY.ORG’s efforts to campaign for policy changes supporting the reduction of plastic pollution and to educate the public on the dangers of microplastics.
Ringo Starr’s shirt was discussed far and wide; and even featured in an interview with him for The New York Times!If you were not able to get an Octopus T shirt of your own, do not to worry! We’ve got plenty of other planet-friendly options in the Earth Day Store, and every purchase supports our ongoing advocacy work.
Amanda Seyfried: Fighting Plastic, One Cleanup at a Time
Amanda Seyfried isn’t just a talented actress; she’s a hands-on environmentalist. She and her dog Finn took part in a Plastic Tox Test and discovered shocking levels of harmful chemicals in both of their systems. Finn scored in the top 90% on phthalates, which are detrimental to human and pet health. Even though she did what she could to give him a healthy diet, the plastic packaging on his food is leaching toxic chemicals directly into it. It was a wake-up call not just for Amanda, but for pet parents everywhere and she allowed us to feature the findings in the media to highlight the issue of microplastics.
But this was not a one off collaboration. Amanda is also a co-founder of Make It Cute, a company that creates eco-friendly, plastic-free playhouses for kids. Every playhouse sold funds a tree being planted through EARTHDAY.ORG’s Canopy Project.
In 2024, Amanda showed up with her company to an annual beach cleanup in Charleston. She proved she’s not afraid to get her hands dirty as she joined Micheal Karpetian, our very own Great Global Cleanup Coordinator, and a little army of volunteers to collect 80 pounds of trash from the beach!
You can learn more about how plastics impact pet health by reading our Pets Vs Plastics report. If you’d like to join a cleanup, you can find a local event or organize your own cleanup through our Great Global Cleanup program. You don’t need a celebrity entourage; just a trash bag, some gloves, and a little motivation.
Antonique Smith: Music to Our Ears
Singer and actress Antonique Smith has been an outspoken climate advocate for over a decade. In 2025, she became EARTHDAY.ORG’s official Earth Action Day ambassador, using her voice to rally communities across the globe to take action to protect the planet.
Just days before Earth Day, Antonique was in Santa Monica, helping volunteers clear trash from the beach alongside Heal the Bay. On Earth Day itself, April 22, she performed “Love Song to the Earth” live in Times Square, New York city, as part of a global Earth Day broadcast, where she took centre stage at the “Love Your Mother” event. EARTHDAY.ORG worked alongside partnersOMMM and the Good News Corporation to beam the show to over one million people globally – proving that art, activism, and action can go peacefully hand in hand.
Want to be part of the chorus? Every day should be treated like Earth Day, so take action with us today by signing up for Earth Action Day activities. Whether you’re planting a tree, writing to your elected official asking that they reduce plastic pollution, or organizing a teach-in, your voice matters.
Zac Efron: Inspiring Action in a World on Pause
In 2020, while much of the world was locked down due to the Covid pandemic, Zac Efron joined EARTHDAY.ORG’s Global Advisory Committee to help kick off the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Zac hosted a special one off Discovery Channel show to help inspire the world to clean up our planet. With the support of a global cleanup campaign, the goal was as bold as it was urgent: collect 100 billion pieces of trash in six months.
Zac’s involvement helped energize a global audience and reinforced a simple but powerful idea; no matter where you live or who you are, you can take part in cleaning up the planet. He went back to his hometown to clean up his favorite beach, Morro Bay, and met Denis Hayes, the organizer of the very first Earth Day, while he was there.
All of these celebrity supporters show us that it is possible to make a difference. They used their fame to freely advocate for an issue they cared about – and so can you. Action is everything.
If you want to stay in the loop on all the things Earth Day – sign up to our email list! If you want to make a difference today, please donate.
This article is available for republishing on your website, newsletter, magazine, newspaper, or blog. The accompanying imagery is also cleared for use. Please ensure that the author’s name and their affiliation with EARTHDAY.ORG are credited. Kindly inform us if you republish so we can acknowledge, tag, or repost your content. You may notify us via email at [email protected] or [email protected]. Want more articles? Follow us on substack.
