70 Climate Change Quotes to Inspire You to Take Action

If global warming and saving the planet are issues that are close to your heart, these climate change quotes will inspire you even further into action.

The world we are living in continues to change year after year.

As people, not only are we starting to see the impact of our actions on our planet, but it’s becoming impossible to deny it.

What are you doing to conserve the planet?

While some believe it’s nothing more than a political ploy, the climate change quotes below show the reality of the situation.

Climate change is impacting weather patterns across the globe.

If we want things to change for future generations, we must take action.

Don’t forget to read these inspiring Jane Goodall quotes about the environment.

If you like this article, we suggest you explore our most popular quotes article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily encouragement. 

Look through our complete collection of inspirational quotes here.

Climate change quotes on the urgency of action

1. “We have to wake up to the fierce urgency of the now.” – Jim Yong Kim

You will also enjoy our article on quotes about change.

2. “The time is past when humankind thought it could selfishly draw on exhaustible resources. We know now that the world is not a commodity.” – Francois Hollande

3. “Action is the antidote to despair.” – Edward Abbey

4. “Climate change is no longer some far-off problem; it is happening here, it is happening now.” – Barack Obama

5. “It’s a collective endeavor, it’s collective accountability and it may not be too late.” – Christine Lagarde

6. “We are the last people who can prevent catastrophe on the planet. We have no excuse for failure.” – Amina J. Mohammed

7. “The technology is here. The people are ready. Scientists have spoken. Progressive businesses are stepping forward. Now we need governments to take climate action!” – WWF International 

8. “We would never consider this level of risk in any other walk of life, yet we seem prepared to take this risk with our planet. Conversely, the scientific evidence shows that we can create a positive future, but only with bold action now.” – Johan Rockstrom

9. “Climate change is a lot like death. We all understand it’s inevitable, but few of us truly accept it.” – Brian McDermott

10. “Participation – that’s what’s gonna save the human race.” – Pete Seeger

Climate change quotes about the future

11. “I think calling it climate change is rather limiting. I would rather call it the everything change.” – Margaret Atwood

12. “I have become convinced that climate change is the biggest threat to human rights in the 21st century.” – Mary Robinson

13. “In the years ahead, the only sustainable growth will be green growth. It’s a guarantee of jobs and prosperity for generations to come. It’s a massive opportunity.” – Nick Clegg

14. “We can’t keep our promise to the next generation to build an economy fit for the future, unless we ensure our planet has a future.” – Philip Hammond

15. “I have long understood that climate change is not only an environmental issue – it is a humanitarian, economic, health, and justice issue as well.” – Frances Beinecke

16. “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children.” – Native American Proverb

17. “We are all living together on a single planet, which is threatened by our own actions. And if you don’t have some kind of global cooperation, nationalism is just not on the right level to tackle the problems, whether it’s climate change or whether it’s technological disruption.” – Yuval Noah Harari

18. “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.” – Ban Ki-moon

Also read these memorable Steve Irwin quotes that will activate your inner planet activist.

Climate change quotes on taking responsibility

19. “People of conscience need to break their ties with corporations financing the injustice of climate change.” – Desmond Tutu (see more Desmond Tutu quotes)

20. “The violence that exists in the human heart is also manifest in the symptoms of illness that we see in the Earth, the water, the air and in living things.” – Pope Francis

21. “The earth is not dying. It is being killed, and the people killing it have names and addresses.” – Bruce Duncan Phillips

22. “Climate change will test our intelligence, our compassion and our will. But we are equal to that challenge.” – Justin Trudeau

23. “We are the bystanders who must choose to intervene or be defined by our failure.” – Lawrence Torcello

24. “We are the first generation to be able to end poverty, and the last generation that can take steps to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Future generations will judge us harshly if we fail to uphold our moral and historical responsibilities.” – Ban Ki-moon

25. “Men argue. Nature acts.” – Voltaire

26. “There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew.” – Marshall McLuhan
If you’re enjoying these quotes, make sure to read our collection of Earth Day quotes that inspire an eco-friendly lifestyle.

27. “Although the magnitude of climate change may make individuals feel helpless, individual action is critical for meaningful change.” – Mia Armstrong

Climate change quotes on appreciating our world

28. “Life sucks a lot less when you add mountain air, a campfire and some peace and quiet.” – Brooke Hampton

29. “Even if you never have the chance to see or touch the ocean, the ocean touches you with every breath you take, every drop of water you drink, every bite you consume. Everyone everywhere is inextricably connected to and utterly dependent upon the existence of the sea.” — Sylvia Earle

30. “Time spent amongst trees is never time wasted.” – Unknown

31. “Adopt the pace of nature. Her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

32. “By discovering nature, you discover yourself.” – Maxime Lagacé

33. “All things share the same breath – the beast, the tree, the man. The air shares its spirit with all the life it supports.” – Chief Seattle

34. “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.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt

35. “The most beautiful gift of nature is that it gives one pleasure to look around and try to comprehend what we see.” – Albert Einstein

36. “I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in.” – John Muir

37. “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir

38. “Love the world as your own self; then you can truly care for all things.” – Lao Tzu

39. “Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” – Henry David Thoreau

More climate change quotes

40. “The climate is changing. The proper political debate would be how to deal with these risks.” – Steven Chu

41. “If you really think that the environment is less important than the economy, try holding your breath while you count your money.” — Guy McPherson

42. “It’s not climate change that needs to be tackled. It is the political power of fossil fuel industry.” – Richard Denniss

43. “If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function, no amount of money will save us.” – David Suzuki

44. “The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.” — Albert Einstein

45. “Climate change is sometimes misunderstood as being about changes in the weather. In reality, it is about changes in our very way of life.” – Paul Polman

46. “Business cannot succeed in a society that fails.” – Peter Bakker

47. “This is not just about the environment, it’s about the community, it’s about jobs, it’s about justice.” – Eddie Bautista

48. “In a world where profit is consistently put before both people and the planet, climate economics has everything to do with ethics and morality.” – Naomi Klein

49. “The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.” – Paulo Coelho

50. “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.” – Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Climate Change Quotes From Famous Leaders

51. We cannot compromise with the earth; we cannot compromise with the catastrophe of unchecked climate change, so we must compromise with one another. — Gordon Brown

52. “Climate change is a terrible problem, and it absolutely needs to be solved. It deserves to be a huge priority.” — Bill Gates

53. “Climate change knows no borders. It will not stop before the Pacific islands and the whole of the international community here has to shoulder a responsibility to bring about a sustainable development.” — Angela Merkel

54. The effects of climate change are real and must be acted on.” — Joe Biden

55. “Climate change, if unchecked, is an urgent threat to health, food supplies, biodiversity, and livelihoods across the globe.” — John F. Kerry

56. “On climate change, we often don’t fully appreciate that it is a problem. We think it is a problem waiting to happen.” — Kofi Annan

57. “The impact of climate change is a tremendous risk to the security and well-being of our countries.” — Nancy Pelosi

58. “Climate change is moving faster than we are, but we don’t give up because we know that climate action is the only path.” — Antonio Guterres

59. “The growing evidence of climate change is forcing attention on carbon emissions and their reduction.” — Gordon Brown

60. “The squandering of oil and gas is associated with one of the greatest tragedies, not in the least resolved, which is suffered by humankind: climate change.” — Fidel Castro

Climate Change Quotes To Take Care of The Future

61. “Climate change is real. The science is compelling. And the longer we wait, the harder the problem will be to solve.” ― John F. Kerry

62. “We have to face the reality of climate change. It is arguably the biggest threat we are facing today.” ― William Hague

63. “I’m no longer sceptical. I no longer have any doubt at all. I think climate change is the major challenge facing the world.” ― David Attenborough

64. “Climate change is such a huge issue that it requires strong, concerted, consistent and enduring action by governments.” ― Peter Garrett

65. “For the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change.” ― Barack Obama

66. “Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change.” ― Rajendra K. Pachauri

67. “There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now.” ― Nicholas Stern

68. “The issue of climate change is one that we ignore at our own peril.” ― Barack Obama

69. “The European nations take climate change very seriously.” ― Donella Meadows

70. “Climate change is happening, humans are causing it, and I think this is perhaps the most serious environmental issue facing us.” ― Bill Nye

You might also like these water quotes to inspire your day.

What can you do?

It can feel overwhelming to think you are just one person trying to make a difference for the entire planet.

However, the combined small actions of many people is exactly what this world needs. 

If you’re feeling motivated after reading these climate change quotes, don’t let it be another thing you feel passionate about for a minute and then quickly forget.

Look for ways today that you can start to make a difference in our climate change.

Choose a quote or two to keep in front of yourself on a regular basis so you don’t lose that motivation.

Together we can make a difference.

What’s your biggest takeaway from these powerful climate change quotes?

Do you have any other inspirational quotes to add?

Let us know in the comment section below.