GrowthBusters Earth Day Film Festival 2026

The first Earth Day, in 1970, arose from concern about very serious environmental threats – a major oil spill off the California coast, pollutants on fire on the surface of an Ohio river, and aerial spraying of the toxic insecticide DDT, to name a few. But it’s been too easy to organize Earth Day actions like beach cleanups, tree planting and recycling. True Earth stewardship requires more significant action and more comprehensive understanding of ecological overshoot and what it takes to live in a safe space within planetary boundaries.

So we’ve curated a collection of films addressing this need. During the days before and after Earth Day 2026, invite neighbors and friends, and gather family to view and discuss. Watch here or on YouTube. Find the full festival YouTube playlist here.

No Impact Man – by Laura Gabbert and Justin Schein

Cut Your Energy Waste… Better Than Ed – film actor and noted environmentalist Ed Begley in a PSA produced by Center for Biological Diversity

Nature Is Speaking – Julia Roberts is Mother Nature – for Conservation International (CI)

Greenwashed – by Dr. Sofia Pineda Ochoa
Possibly the most important film in the festival. Watch this film. ALL of it.

Hello Humanity, it’s me, Technology. We need to talk. – from Post Carbon Institute

Surviving Progress – featuring Vaclav Smil, Jane Goodall, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Hawking, David Suzuki

Address Human Population Growth… Better Than Ed – film actor and noted environmentalist Ed Begley in a PSA produced by Center for Biological Diversity

GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth – by Dave Gardner of GrowthBusters

The impossible Hamster (and economic growth) – for nef, the new economics foundation, scripted by Andrew Simms, numbers crunched by Viki Johnson and pictures realised by Leo Murray.

Spaceship Earth Passenger Safety Briefing – by Dave Gardner of GrowthBusters
Selected to screen at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival 2015

Michael Moore Presents: Planet of the Humans – by Jeff Gibbs

Elevator – by Tirior A Films, a Public Service Announcement for Population Media Center

People Keep Making People – by Lynsey Jones of GrowthBusters, music by Beans on Toast

8 Billion Angels – Produced by Terry Spahr, Directed by Victor Velle

Man – by Steve Cutts, a UK-based illustrator and animator

“Weird Al” Yankovic – First World Problems – music video from Weird Al’s album, Mandatory Fun

END: CIV Resist or Die – featuring Derrick Jensen, by Franklin López

Should We Stop Worrying and Love the Population Bomb? – by Dave Gardner of GrowthBusters

Nature Is Speaking – Harrison Ford is The Ocean – for Conservation International (CI)

Avoid Unplanned Parenthood – by Dave Gardner of GrowthBusters

Nature Is Speaking – Penélope Cruz is Water – for Conservation International (CI)

Dave the Planet: Wake Up, America – by Dave Gardner 2024 presidential campaign

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