This post is part of Blog Action Day 2009, a worldwide initiative started by Envato founders Collis and Cyan Ta'eed, now being run by Change.org. Blog Action Day exists to change the conversation on the web for one day by uniting thousands of bloggers around one important issue - this year, Climate Change. It's not too late to register your blog and participate.

Music is an effective tool for raising awareness, expressing emotions and prompting action. Many musicians are very conscious of the environment. Here are 8 top songs about climate change. The songs are new and old, fast and slow, funny and serious, by the famous and the unknown.

1. "Saltwater" by Julian Lennon - In Concert 1993

This song has been around for a while—the original big hit song about the environment. I remember my now-adult kids singing it at a Primary School concert in the 90s.

In his introduction at the concert, Julian says, "We knew about hunger and so many other things. But there's a lot of things that we weren't told as Joe Public about what we're doing wrong. And unfortunately that sort of information has only been given to us over the last couple of years, really. And that's why the song was written, but not to preach at people. This affects me. It makes me feel really sad. I'm gonna do my own little bit when I can."

2. "Where We Going To Go" by David Todd

"Where We Going To Go has been written to help people become aware what may happen to the planet if Global Warming is not curtailed. David is a talented singer songwriter musician who is concerned about the future of the planet. He is not a professional musician and does not perform publicly therefore very little is known about him. However, he has a talent many desire and few achieve. He has written many beautiful songs which at this stage have only been heard by family and friends."

In the Youtube comments, Ntody challenges: "Global warming is not happening. Climate change is. But guess what, it's been happening for billions of years. There's nothing we can do it about so stop thinking the human race can control nature and preserve what climate WE think is best."

Katzkittens responds: "Either way, what we're doing the plant is disgusting. What about the rainforests that we've destroyed, what about biodiversity, what about all the natural beauty we've thoughtlessly paved over? Think about that."

3. "The Shadows" by Sandel

"My name is Sandel and Im a 21 year old singer songwriter. The Shadows is my response to the greatest environmental threat of our age."

Hyperblastrocks comments: "Look at the burning embers of the sun... is the best line of the song. This is a wonderful put together song and video. Great job."

4. "I Need To Wake Up" by Melissa Etheridge

This song was used in the well-known documentary An Inconvenient Truth. "Humanity is sitting on a ticking time bomb. If the vast majority of the world's scientists are right, we have just ten years to avert a major catastrophe that could send our entire planet into a tail-spin of epic destruction involving extreme weather, floods, droughts, epidemics and killer heat waves beyond anything we have ever experienced."

mNrBj comments: "This song really touched and enlightened me. Not only about the climate crisis we are facing now. somehow it relate to my life and how I've been wasting it away not doing anything good for me or anyone. I need to move, I need to wake up, I need to change."

5. "The Last Day On Earth" by Kate Miller-Heidke

This is the official video for Kate Miller-Heidke's The Last Day On Earth, the third single from her critically acclaimed album Curiouser. Directed by Mark Alston with DOP John Brawley.

Is this song about the planet or relationships? Is it about the need to care for the environment? The consequences of global warming? Relationships and lost love? The tragic death of a loved one? What are your thoughts?

6. "Earth Song" by Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's music still speaks to us. Fan MichaelJacksonCute44 comments: "Michael you wanted to help Heal the world and make it a better place! So I ask of all the Michael Jackson fans to help make his dream come true! Please?! R.I.P Michael Jackson!"

"Can We Save The Planet With Music?" by Douglas Stambler

Listener Dmivng seems inspired by this song: "Best song on Youtube or anywhere else. 'Bring it on out'... 'what new ideas?' How about an off-the-grid monolithic dome, centered with a vertically mounted chopper style wind turbine that utilizes halbach arrays on the 'floating' roof of a wrap aroung porch. Add composting toilets, a solar array, a cistern and you have no need for any inefficient public utility.  Refine hydrogen, and groups of domes could sell it to each other, or use it in their hydrogen cars. You asked :) Love the song!"

"Protect the World" by a bunch of Aussie kids

When a group of young people concerned about climate change came together at a hip hop recording workshop in Kyogle (regional NSW, Australia), the result was the song "Protect the World".

Which songs moved you most? Would you like to tell us about other songs dealing with climate change or the environment? Have you written a song about it yourself? What are your thoughts on the issue? What can we do about it—especially as musicians and music producers? Let us know in the comments.