In the words of Leonardo DiCaprio, "We only get one planet." Yet many of us live like we have three to four more. Our air, lands, and water bodies, which we have polluted, are all parts of this environment. The diverse plants and animals around us depend on these resources just like we do. Therefore, as the environmental quotes we've featured highlight, we have a responsibility to think about how our environment affects us and how we affect our environment.
We tend to see the environment as something separate and distinct from ourselves. But we are a huge part of the biodiversity of this planet. We have the ability to alter mother earth in ways that other species cannot.
Activities such as pollution, burning fossil fuels, and invasion of natural habitats all damage our environment. We must consider how our human agenda affects every other lifeform that shares this natural world with us.
These 50 environment quotes might bring home to you just how important it is that we begin to value and care for our planet. For the future of all species, we global citizens must pursue environmental sustainability.
Related: You could also head to our nature quotes collection for more thoughts about our planet's infinite beauty.
Quick links to our selection of environment quotes:
Spending time connecting with nature through hiking or gardening provides a rejuvenating escape from the daily humdrum. These moments remind us of the breathtaking natural world we are living in. Reading inspiring environment quotes can enhance outdoor experiences and deepen humankind's relationship with the natural environment.
To start this section, we have a short quote from prolific American Writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, who, in addition to his writing career, was also an advocate for a clean environment which he proudly shared via his poems.
We also have a quote from Marlee Beth Matlin, an American actress, activist, and the only deaf performer who won the Academy Award for her role in Children of a Lesser God.
If you want to advocate for environmental sustainability, read our best environment quotes that speak of our need for every human being to work collectively to care for our environment.
"The earth laughs in flowers."
"The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth."
"The good man is the friend of all living things."
"Like music and art, love of nature is a common language that can transcend political or social boundaries."
"Try to leave the Earth a better place than when you arrived."
"We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to."
"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land."
Our planet's awe-inspiring beauty stops us in our tracks, compelling us to reflect on the intricate connections between humans and the natural world. Environmental quotes capture these emotions, gently nudging us to slow down and appreciate while also reminding us of our responsibility to protect it.
Take, for example, the words of Victoria Principal, an American actress, producer, entrepreneur, and environmentalist. She is best known for her role as Pamela Barnes Ewing in Dallas (amazon), an American primetime soap opera.
Principal supports several environmental causes. She created a foundation to support Environmental Groups in their work. Principal’s donations have helped projects by Oceana and the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC).
In a 2012 interview with The Huffington Post, Principal demonstrated her passion for environmental causes. She mentioned, "My deepest concern is for the planet and every living thing on it. Without a healthy planet, education won't matter, hunger won't matter, and science won't matter because we will not survive".
The message in her environment quote, and many more below, conveys an eye-opening message of how we should rectify the damage we have done to our land and our oceans. When we play our parts, the planet will reclaim itself. But the environmental problems we have caused are up to us to remedy.
"Unless we keep this planet healthy, everything else is for naught."
"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed."
"What mankind must know is that human beings cannot live without Mother Earth, but the planet can live without humans."
"What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another."
"The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations"
"A very Faustian choice is upon us: whether to accept our corrosive and risky behavior as the unavoidable price of population and economic growth, or to take stock of ourselves and search for a new environmental ethic."
"There is a tendency at every important but difficult crossroad to pretend that it's not really there."
With over 150 million metric tonnes of plastic waste in the ocean, rising global temperature by about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit in less than a century, and many more alarming climate change statistics and predictions, taking action against waste, climate change, and other pressing matters is more crucial than ever.
To start this section of environment quotes, we have words from American photographer David Maisel whose work involves the exploration of vestiges and the natural world. While working on The Mining Project, he identified the effects of cyanide dumping in ponds resulting from the extraction of metals from the earth through open pit mining. His pictures reveal the repercussions of products that global citizens employ daily.
The environmental quotes below speak not only to the forgotten waste that comes with expensive jewelry, gadgets, and appliances but also to the indisputable evidence of our impact on our natural resources.
For more information on the latest statistics, head over to our article about Plastic Pollution and Climate Change.
"The active and abandoned tailings ponds I have photographed, for example, are strangely beautiful yet they are also chock full of cyanide, which is used in the recovery of microscopic particles of gold from the waste tailings of copper mines."
"It's coming home to roost over the next 50 years or so. It's not just climate change; it's sheer space, places to grow food for this enormous horde. Either we limit our population growth or the natural world will do it for us, and the natural world is doing it for us right now."
"With so much evidence of depleting natural resources, toxic waste, climate change, irreparable harm to our food chain and rapidly increasing instances of natural disasters, why do we keep perpetuating the problem? Why do we continue marching at the same alarming beat?"
A vibrant, fair, and regenerative future is possible — not when thousands of people do climate justice activism perfectly but when millions of people do the best they can.
~ Xiye Bastida
Our environment is the lifeblood of our existence, offering us the essentials for survival and overall well-being. Through the environment quotes below, let's reflect on how the natural environment shapes our lives.
First, we have American oceanographer Sylvia Earle, famous for her research on marine algae and her advocacy for the preservation of marine and aquatic life. She often speaks about the effects of overfishing and the consequence of water pollution on these animals.
Earle uses her documentaries and books to spread her messages about the environment further. As such, she has become widely quoted on the environment and related concerns.
She is a part of the group Ocean Elders, which works to protect the ocean and its wildlife. In 2012 Claire A. Nivola wrote about her life in Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle.
Read how Earle and others push for environmental sustainability and faithful stewardship through their quotes below.
"With every drop of water you drink, every breath you take, you're connected to the sea. No matter where on Earth you live. Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere is generated by the sea."
"A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people."
"What's the use of a fine house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on."
"Life in these hidden worlds is more startling in reality than anything we can imagine. How could this earth of ours, which is only a speck in the heavens, have so much variety of life, so many curious and exciting creatures?"
Together we can preserve the forest, securing this immense treasure for the future of all these children.
~ Chico Mendes
Taking that first small step for mother earth is no small feat. When each of our green habits turns to pro-environmental self-identity, the long-term protection of our planet is more attainable than ever1. So what can we do now?
British politician Jeremy Bernard Corbyn, previously leader of the Labour Party, hopes for a plan to create a low-carbon economy with well-paid jobs we all can be proud of. His environment quote points to a simple yet practical way to reduce pollution by getting on our bikes.
We can create a positive ripple effect in our communities through collective action with friends, family, and neighbors. So from planting trees, organizing beach clean-ups, and rejecting single-use plastics, let's act while taking inspiration from the quotes below.
"Riding a bicycle is the summit of human endeavour an almost neutral environmental effect coupled with the ability to travel substantial distances without disturbing anybody. The bike is the perfect marriage of technology and human energy."
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
"Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever."
"The proper use of science is not to conquer nature but to live in it."
"Address these environmental issues and you will address every issue known to man. And we keep dabbling in things that aren't really that important in the long term."
Every day is Earth Day, and I vote we start investing in a secure climate future right now.
~ Jackie Speier
Our actions today are all interconnected to what will happen decades from now. This section of environmental quotes features commendable people who made a difference for future generations.
First, American politician Paul Efthemios Tsongas is known for his genuine commitment to environmental conservation. While he held office from 1975 to 1985 to represent Massachusetts in both houses of the United States Congress, he established Lowell National Historical Park and expanded other National Park Systems.
We also have words from Bangladesh Social Economist, Entrepreneur, and author of 'A World of Three Zeros,' Muhammad Yunus, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for founding the Grameen Bank. His belief in the connection between poverty and environmental degradation reflects his objective to help the needy and less privileged through soft credit leveraging technology.
After reading this section, research what the people behind these environmental quotes have done for our planet.
"Journey with me to a true commitment to our environment. Journey with me to the serenity of leaving to our children a planet in equilibrium."
"Unprecedented technological capabilities combined with unlimited human creativity have given us tremendous power to take on intractable problems like poverty, unemployment, disease, and environmental degradation. Our challenge is to translate this extraordinary potential into meaningful change."
"The ultimate test of man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard."
"The most important thing about global warming is this. Whether humans are responsible for the bulk of climate change is going to be left to the scientists, but it's all of our responsibility to leave this planet in better shape for the future generations than we found it."
"To waste, to destroy our natural resources, to skin and exhaust the land instead of using it so as to increase its usefulness, will result in undermining in the days of our children the very prosperity which we ought by right to hand down to them amplified and developed."
Throughout history, influential activists and journalists have used their unique voices to shed light on pressing environmental concerns. Their words echo far beyond the newspapers or television screens, stirring us to take action for the betterment of our planet.
Take Rachel Carson, for example. Her groundbreaking book "Silent Spring" revolutionized how we view our relationship with the environment. Published in 1962, her exposé on the detrimental effects of pesticides on ecosystems and human health propelled the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970.
After reading the environmental quotes from the activists below, find out how their words sparked the people's desire to save mother earth.
Related: 12 Famous Environmentalists Inspiring Change & Collective Action
"The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road — the one less traveled by — offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth."
"I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use."
"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that really matter."
"We're in a giant car heading towards a brick wall and everyone's arguing over where they're going to sit"
When political figures speak, their words are often amplified by the media. They can shape public opinion and rouse action – a bit like superheroes, but with speeches instead of capes - when the cause and message are just.
To start this section, Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States who championed environmental protection, emphasizes the urgency of taking action.
We also have excerpts from the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon's speeches during official assemblies. He is most notable for rallying world leaders to adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Some goals focused on the environment are Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and Goal 13: Climate Action.
The quotes from these prominent figures remind us that a healthy environment should be a priority for governments and committed citizens, as its preservation is essential for our survival and the well-being of future generations.
"We are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change and the last generation that can do something about it."
"Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches, or its romance."
"Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth... these are one and the same fight. We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women's empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all."
"Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship and strengthen governance."
Environmentalists, economists, and other influential people have long discussed the complex dance between environmental protection and economic growth.
Take British economist Barbara Ward who saw the care for the environment and concern for the well-being of all humankind as a "dual responsibility." Her passion led her to establish the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), where she acted as the pioneer president.
Investors like John Doerr have their fingers on the pulse, knowing it isn't just good for the planet—it's also a smart business. By committing $200M to a wide range of innovative green technologies, Doer, a CEO of Kleiner Perkins, aims to boost America's economy to become one of the leading green tech nations.
We also have a quote from Erin Brockovich, who is an American legal clerk, consumer advocate, and environmental activist. Despite her lack of formal education in law, she played a vital role in building a case against California’s Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) in 1993. A five Academy Awards Nominee movie was created from the story of this successful case.
Through the environment quotes below, be aware of the environment's and economy's interconnectedness.
"We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do."
"Green-tech could be the largest economic opportunity of the 21st Century."
"I have never moved away from my mainstay trying to address all the environmental issues that come to me. I consult with law firms in the U.S., Australia, the U.K., Italy, Greece, and India to begin to address environmental disasters. I do motivational speaking."
"There is something fundamentally wrong in treating the Earth as if it were a business in liquidation."
"Anyone who believes in indefinite growth in anything physical, on a physically finite planet, is either mad or an economist."
Every April 22, we plant trees, pick litter, garden, and many more to celebrate Earth Day. We can also commemorate it by sharing something on social media. When choosing the perfect environment caption for your post, choose something that resonates with your connection to the natural environment or highlights an environmental issue such as global warming.
To begin, we have world-renowned astrophysicist and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson, who also authored books such as StarTalk and Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (both on Amazon). Tyson's short quote speaks about the importance of Earth Day by bluntly talking about our planet's condition.
On the other hand, we also have a gentler message from American novelist, poet, environmental activist, and cultural critic Wendell Erdman Berry. In 2009, Berry and other non-profit organizations wrote a successful petition against constructing a coal-burning power plant in Clark County, Kentucky. His action reflects his environmental quote that reminds us of the finite nature of the earth's resources.
Even if it's not Earth Day, pick your environmental quotes below to post the natural wonders on your Instagram and other social media platforms. You can also select captions from our collection of Climate Change quotes.
"If every day were Earth Day we wouldn't be in the mess we're in."
"To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival."
"One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
"We don't have to sacrifice a strong economy for a healthy environment."
"Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth."
"It is horrifying that we have to fight our own government to save the environment."
| 1 | Lorraine Whitmarsh, Saffron O'Neill, Green identity, green living? The role of pro-environmental self-identity in determining consistency across diverse pro-environmental behaviours, Journal of Environmental Psychology, Volume 30, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 305-314, ISSN 0272-4944. |
Jen’s a passionate environmentalist and sustainability expert. With a science degree from Babcock University Jen loves applying her research skills to craft editorial that connects with our global changemaker and readership audiences centered around topics including zero waste, sustainability, climate change, and biodiversity.
Elsewhere Jen’s interests include the role that future technology and data have in helping us solve some of the planet’s biggest challenges.
quotes
