Sustainability stories

Two women and one man pose for a photo. One woman has medium-deep skin tone, and the other two people have deep skin. Two of them wear shirts with the words "Afroclimate.com." They sit on a rock wall in front of dirt and greenery.
  • Changemakers
  • Leaders
Obama leaders team up to address climate injustice in Africa

Find out how the 2023 cohort created a non-profit committed to a sustainable future for Africa, one entrepreneur at a time.

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Leah Whitmoyer sorts olives with another woman with a medium skin tone and black hair on an olive farm in Taounate, Morocco. Three others stand in the background.
  • Voyagers
  • Global Reach
Voyager Scholar studies food and water insecurity in the United States

Voyager to tackle food and water insecurity during Summer Voyage

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On a sunny day, Sejong Youn, a man with a light medium skin tone, stands outside. He has short black hair and is wearing glasses and a denim button down. He has a closed lip smile and his arms are crossed.
  • Leaders
  • Asia-Pacific
Meet the Obama leader leading corporate sustainability in Europe

Obama Leader advocates for stronger climate policies

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On a sunny day, a group of volunteers smile in front of a blue Obama Foundation banner. They huddle together and pose as someone takes a photo on their cell phone.
  • Event
  • Chicago
Obama Foundation teams up with Chicago community for Earth Day 2023

Hundreds clean South Side parks and beaches

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Angela Barranco stands next to seven others as they watch President Obama sign a document in the Oval Office. All people are a range of light to medium skin tones. President Obama sits behind his desk.
  • Alumni
  • The Obama Administration
Obama alum continues fighting for climate goals

Meet the Obama alum who is leading climate action efforts at The Climate Group.

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Mustika Wijaya stands with the Wekeke village chief and religious leader at the site of Solar Chapter’s pump installation. They are surrounded by rocks and construction.
  • Scholars
  • Global Reach
Obama scholar’s invention brings clean water to rural Indonesians

Obama Scholar creates clean water for rural Indonesians

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A graphic showing a woman and toddler with medium-dark skin tone digging in a garden. The words "The Obama Foundation and Emerald South invite you to celebrate Earth Day 2023, Saturday April 22 11am-2pm, Washington Park Refectory, 5531 S Martin Luther King Drive" and a "Join Us" button.
  • Educational Material
  • Take Action
The Obama Foundation Guide to Earth Day 2023

Together, we can do our part to reduce our environmental impact and live more sustainably. Whether you’re in Chicago or in far corners of the globe— we hope you’ll be a part of this collective work.

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Ornella Cosomati sits at a roundtable discussion. One person sits to her right and another in front of her. Their back is to the camera. She is wearing glasses and a black suit.
  • Leaders
  • Europe
Obama Europe leader takes on corporate sustainability

Obama Leader improves sustainability policies in Europe

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Barack Obama wearing black pants and hiking boots walks uphill along a gray, rocky path outlined by ropes. Others walk ahead and behind him. The sky is a deep blue.
  • Take Action
  • Educational Material
7 actions to protect the planet this Earth Day

April is Earth Month! At the Obama Foundation, we are guided by the belief that ordinary people working together can create positive change.

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Joseph Nguthiru, a Black man with a deep skin tone, smiles at the camera as he holds a biodegradable package wrapper made from water hyacinth. He is wearing a green shirt that reads, “Simply do good.”
  • Leaders
  • Africa
Meet the Obama leader in Africa turning invasive plants into a plastic alternative

Obama Foundation Leader transforms aquatic weeds into biodegradable plastic.

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Devin Hampton, a Black man with a light medium skin tone, holds a closed-lip smile. He has short black hair and is wearing a gray suit jacket and white shirt. In the background is an office space with plants.
  • Alumni
  • The Obama Administration
Obama alum brings diversity to the clean energy space

Meet the Obama alum who is working to create new opportunities for Black and Brown professionals in the clean energy space.

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A side view of President Obama wearing black shades, a black jacket, and black pants, He at the bow of a boat surrounded by water around.
  • Presidential History
  • Alumni
The best possible shot to save the one planet we’ve got

Five years ago this week, the Paris Climate Agreement took effect, as nearly 200 nations committed to reduce their carbon emissions for the first time.

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An animation shows people ranging of all ages and skin tones, enjoying the Obama Presidential Center
  • Michelle Obama
  • Building the Center
The Eleanor Roosevelt fruit & vegetable garden honors a truly groundbreaking first lady

From our earliest days of planning, we always knew we wanted to have a Fruit & Vegetable Garden at the future Obama Presidential Center

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A snowy, muddy construction site with the rectangular outline of metal and red pipe.
  • Building the Center
  • Chicago
Construction update Jan 2022: ringing in the new year with geothermal wells

Drilling for geothermal wells is nearly complete, and work to connect the wells through a series of lateral ducts is about a third of the way finished.

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In a gray suit and blue tie and a black mask, Rachid Ennassiri, leans to his left with President Obama nearby, leaning to the right. President Obama wears a black mask and has his arms crossed.
  • Barack Obama
  • Global Reach
President Obama meets with emerging leaders during COP26 in Glasgow

After delivering remarks during COP26 in Glasgow, President Obama sat down with a group of emerging leaders from around the world who are doing their part to protect the planet. Check out what they discussed.

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President Barack Obama meets with Greta Thunberg the Swedish teenager who is working to raise global awareness on the risks posed by global warming and climate change. rrPlease credit "The Obama Foundation" when posting. The photographs may not be manipula
  • Watch
  • Barack Obama
Watch: President Obama meets with environmental activist Greta Thunberg

Watch highlights from President Obama's meeting with environmental activist Greta Thunberg for a little inspiration today.

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A rendering of the Obama Presidental Center's campus with greenland, trees, and water around the campus.
  • Building the Center
  • First Look
Enhancing Jackson Park: Take a look at before and after

We’re excited for what the Center will mean for the community and wanted to share a glimpse of our plans and how the Park will change to better support the community and visitors from around the country and the world.

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