Are you ready to turn up the volume on climate action? We've compiled a list of the best songs about climate change, tracks that don't just entertain but also ignite crucial conversations about our planet's future. From poignant folk ballads to electrifying anthems, music has always been a powerful tool for social change, and the climate crisis is no exception. These songs offer a unique blend of artistic expression and environmental awareness, tapping into our emotions to inspire action and understanding. In a world saturated with information about climate change, sometimes the most effective messages are delivered through the universal language of music. This curated list transcends genres, offering something for every listener, whether you're a seasoned environmental activist or just starting to explore the issue. Prepare to be moved, inspired, and perhaps even motivated to make a difference – one song, one listen, one step at a time.
| Song | Artist | Album | Listens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Earth | Lil Dicky | 454M+ | |
| 2. Earth Song | Michael Jackson | HIStory - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE - BOOK I | 442M+ |
| 3. Feels Like Summer | Childish Gambino | 331M+ | |
| 4. Beds Are Burning | Midnight Oil | 253M+ | |
| 5. all the good girls go to hell | Billie Eilish | WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? | 237M+ |
| 6. We Are the World | USA for Africa | 170M+ | |
| 7. The River | Bruce Springsteen | The River | 39M+ |
1. Earth (Lil Dicky)
Artist: Lil Dicky's comedic yet poignant approach makes the serious topic of climate change surprisingly palatable, engaging a wider audience than many overtly preachy songs.
Sound and Rhythm: The song blends catchy pop melodies with unexpected sonic elements, creating a memorable soundscape that keeps listeners hooked while delivering its message.
Lyrical Content: Earth effectively uses humor and stark imagery to highlight the urgency of the climate crisis, offering a compelling and thought-provoking narrative within its upbeat delivery.
2. Earth Song (HIStory - PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE - BOOK I)
Michael Jackson’s Vocal Performance: Jackson's impassioned vocals convey a raw urgency, perfectly capturing the desperation of environmental crisis.
Lyrical Content: The lyrics poignantly depict the devastating effects of pollution and environmental destruction, making the song a powerful call to action.
Emotional Impact: "Earth Song" transcends typical protest music; its emotional depth resonates deeply, leaving a lasting impression and prompting reflection on our responsibility to protect the planet.
3. Feels Like Summer
Sound: Childish Gambino's "Feels Like Summer" utilizes a vibrant, upbeat tempo and layered instrumentation that evokes a feeling of carefree warmth, oddly juxtaposing the song's lyrical themes with a sunny soundscape.
Lyrical Content: While seemingly a feel-good summer jam, the lyrics subtly weave in commentary on social and political issues, including observations on climate change's impact and societal anxieties, making it a thought-provoking listen within the context of environmental awareness.
Emotional Impact: The song's paradoxical blend of cheerful melody and subtly poignant lyrics creates a unique emotional experience, prompting reflection on the complex relationship between human enjoyment and environmental responsibility, enhancing its relevance to discussions about climate change.
4. Beds Are Burning
Lyrical Impact: Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning" uses visceral imagery of scorched earth and displacement to powerfully convey the devastating effects of land appropriation and environmental destruction, making its message about climate change's impact on indigenous populations particularly resonant.
Musical Intensity: The song's driving rhythm and Peter Garrett's impassioned vocals create an urgent, almost frantic atmosphere, mirroring the sense of crisis inherent in the climate change narrative. This intensity effectively amplifies the song's message.
Enduring Relevance: Despite its release decades ago, "Beds Are Burning" remains strikingly relevant, serving as a potent reminder of the ongoing struggle for environmental justice and the urgency of addressing climate change.
5. all the good girls go to hell (WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?)
Sound: Billie Eilish's signature dark pop sound, with its heavy bass and distorted synths, creates a sense of impending doom mirroring the urgency of the climate crisis.
Vocals: Eilish's breathy, vulnerable vocals convey a sense of both anger and despair, reflecting the emotional toll of environmental destruction.
Lyrical Imagery: The song uses vivid, almost apocalyptic imagery, painting a picture of a world ravaged by climate change, connecting the personal experience of feeling betrayed with the larger scale environmental destruction.
6. We Are the World (1985)
Vocal Powerhouse: "We Are the World" features an all-star cast of iconic singers, creating a powerful and unified vocal performance that emphasizes the collaborative nature of tackling global issues.
Emotional Resonance: The song's message of global unity and compassion deeply resonates with the urgency of climate action, reminding listeners of our shared responsibility to protect the planet.
Historical Significance: Released amidst a global humanitarian crisis, the song's success showcases the power of music to raise awareness and inspire collective action – a potent metaphor for the scale of climate change challenges.
7. The River (The River)
Lyrical Imagery: "The River" uses evocative imagery of a relentless, flowing river to symbolize the unstoppable forces of environmental change, creating a powerful and unsettling metaphor.
Emotional Resonance: Springsteen's heartfelt vocals and the song's melancholic melody effectively convey a sense of loss and impending doom, mirroring the anxieties surrounding climate change.
Timeless Relevance: While released decades ago, the song's themes of struggle against overwhelming forces and the search for hope remain deeply resonant with the urgency of the climate crisis.
8. The End of the World (Skeeter Davis)
Vocal Performance: Skeeter Davis's emotive delivery transforms "The End of the World" into a poignant reflection on environmental loss, mirroring the feeling of impending doom associated with climate change.
Lyrical Interpretation: While not explicitly about climate change, the song's themes of heartbreak and loss resonate with the sense of grief and urgency surrounding environmental devastation; the feeling of a world ending can be applied to the climate crisis.
Musical Atmosphere: The song's melancholic melody and restrained instrumentation create a somber atmosphere that effectively captures the gravity of the situation, enhancing the emotional impact of confronting climate change.
9. The Seed (AURORA - 2025)
Sound: AURORA's ethereal vocals and haunting melodies create a soundscape that perfectly reflects the fragility of our planet, making the song's environmental message all the more impactful.
Emotional Impact: "The Seed" evokes a potent sense of hope and urgency, mirroring the complex emotions surrounding climate change—a feeling of impending doom tempered by the possibility of regeneration.
Lyrical Content: The evocative lyrics, focusing on themes of growth and resilience in the face of adversity, offer a powerful message about the importance of environmental action and the enduring power of nature.
10. Burning Down the House (Talking Heads)
Intense Rhythm and Energy: "Burning Down the House" possesses a frenetic energy that mirrors the escalating urgency of climate change, its relentless beat driving home the sense of impending crisis.
David Byrne's Vocals: Byrne's distinctive, almost frantic vocal delivery adds to the song's chaotic yet compelling portrayal of a world on the brink.
Metaphorical Interpretation: The act of "burning down the house" can be interpreted as a potent metaphor for the destructive consequences of inaction in the face of environmental devastation, making it surprisingly resonant for discussions about climate change.
11What A Wonderful World
Louis Armstrong
1967
What A Wonderful World
12A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
Bob Dylan
1963
13Mercy Mercy Me
Marvin Gaye
1971
What's Going On
14Global Warming
Gojira
2005
15Plastic Beach
Gorillaz,Mick Jones,Paul Simonon
2010
Plastic Beach
16Send It On
Miley Cyrus,Selena Gomez,Demi Lovato,Jonas Brothers
2009
17After the Gold Rush
Neil Young
1970
After the Gold Rush (2009 Remaster)
18Big Yellow Taxi
Joni Mitchell
1970
19Where Do the Children Play?
Cat Stevens
1970
20The 3 R's
Jack Johnson
2006
21Despite Repeated Warnings
Paul McCartney
2018
22Tell Me How Long
Kristen Bell
2017
23Wake Up America
Miley Cyrus
2008
24Don't Go Near the Water
The Beach Boys
1971
25Mother Earth
Neil Young
1990