Green Philly’s 2025 Year-end Recap

In a year that felt difficult, community revived our souls

2025 was a challenging year.

Between climate rollbacks, cancelled environmental grants, the end of renewable energy grants, and more, it can feel like our efforts are for naught.

However, climate actions are most important at the local level—supporting local businesses, taking action in your neighborhood, and recognizing how small differences can add up to collective impact.

This year, Green Philly proved that community is the most important piece of optimism in the environmental movement. Rather than retreat, we deepened our role as a connector between local journalism and on-the-ground community action. Across 15 events in neighborhoods throughout Philadelphia, we brought together residents, local nonprofits, businesses, and civic leaders to create easy, welcoming spaces for learning, optimism, and connection. More than 80% of attendees reported learning something new, with many sharing that our events “filled me with hope,” “energized me to become more involved locally,” and helped them recommit to environmental work, while also pushing us to keep improving accessibility.

Additionally, our journalism amplified these efforts by spotlighting neighborhood wins and undercovered issues like greenwashing at the Rounds, the SEPTA budgeting rollercoaster, community gardens, the Land Bank, and pedestrian safety. Here are a few highlights from our 2025 in review:

• Connected 1,930+ attendees to sustainable solutions and local organizations across 15 events in Philadelphia and the suburbs.
• Generated 4.2+ million impressions and 307K engagements on social media, meeting people where they are with practical, local sustainability content.
• Published 150+ articles, spotlighting neighborhood wins, civic action, and everyday climate solutions.
• Featured 82 unique organizations through events, partnerships, and community programming.
• Grew to 107 current members, strengthening our community of individuals and organizations supporting local sustainability journalism.
• Earned LION Publishers’ Product of the Year for our 2nd Annual EcoFair, recognizing innovation and impact in community engagement.

Overall, we’re proud of the relationships built and actions taken: people meeting organizations they’d never heard of, leaving with specific ways to get involved, and continuing those connections long after events end. We’re more invigorated than ever to continue our mission to make sustainability local, inclusive, and actionable for communities across the city.

Want to join us as we continue to grow in 2026? Join us and become a member today.