Earth Day: How Chicago addresses climate change in 'The Power of Us: People, Climate and Our Future'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- On Earth Day 2024, climate change progress has never been more important.

WEATHERING TOMORROW: See ABC7 Chicago's complete environmental coverage

In April we always celebrate our beloved planet Earth. But as the saying goes, "Every day is Earth Day," and our world continues to grapple with climate change.

WATCH: Lessons learned from Chicago's 1995 heat wave

The 1995 Chicago heat wave claimed the lives of 739 people over five days.

So much needs to be done to protect our planet. Humans may have caused some of the problems, and we will also be the ones who have to do the work to make things better.

WATCH: Chicago's fight for environmental justice

Angela Tovar, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Environment, is tasked with implementing new changes to city policies to protect high-risk areas from ongoing environmental racism.

ABC News launched a new initiative called, "The Power of Us: People, Climate, and Our Future." The goal is to share stories about sustainable solutions to the climate crises.

WATCH: Recycling carbon emissions

A biotech company based in Skokie is hoping to change industrial pollution by capturing carbon emissions.

In Chicago, we have been covering climate change with data driven stories highlighting the pressing local issues we will face over the next few decades and the people working to solve those problems in our area including, making our area more resilient to excessive heat, mitigating flood damage, and environmental justice.

WATCH: Chicago's First Nations garden

The First Nations Garden was founded in 2019 in Albany Park.