Celebrated globally on 22 April, this year’s Earth Day will see more than 1 billion people participating in activities around the world in order to draw attention to the urgency of the climate crisis. Celebrated as the planet’s largest annual civic event, Earth Day has initiated a great number of environmental actions and campaigns, as well as the passage of numerous environmental laws and reforestation projects. Since its inception in 1970, many important environmental events have happened on this day, including the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016.
SUSTAINABILITY
The year 2021 marks the 51st anniversary of the annual celebrations, with the theme ‘Restore Our Earth’. The global pandemics, as well as the focus on the recovery from COVID-19, can be a chance to set the world on a more sustainable path. Our planet is calling for urgent action, and we need to work together to achieve more sustainable future that works for both people and the planet.
Read more after the jump:
The Importance of Earth Day
Occurring at an alarming rate, climate change has many negative impacts on human health, the economy, and the stability of the natural environment. Increased emissions of greenhouse gases drive significant global disruption to climate systems as we know them. Low-income, indigenous, and communities of color are already bearing the brunt of climate change and are disproportionately on the front lines of environmental disasters. A healthy planet is not an option — it is a necessity.
For over the half century, Earth Day plays an important role in environmental activism, driving transformative change for people and the planet. It provides an opportunity to raise public awareness around the globe to the challenges regarding the well-being of the planet and the life it supports.
Climate Action and Restoration Cannot Wait
When life around the world returns to normal, our world cannot return to business-as-usual. Working together is the key to solving this problem. We have the ability to make a difference in every industry, but that can only happen if we join the forces. This years theme, “Restore Our Earth”, focuses on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems.
It promotes goals and actions including reforestation, regenerative agriculture and sustainable food, plastic cleanups, climate literacy, and citizen science. From capturing carbon and supporting the health and resilience of communities, to advocating for compulsory, assessed climate education, we have the ability to make lasting changes.
This year on April 22, several major climate events will take place, including the Leaders’ Summit on Climate hosted by the United States, and the Exponential Climate action Summit on Financing the Race to Zero emissions.
What You Can Do?
The world is facing multiple challenges ranging from climate change to deepening inequalities. We are the first generation to know we’re destroying our planet, and we could be the last that can do something about it. Restoration is imperative to fighting climate change and making the Earth a safer, healthier, and more equitable place to live. It’s time to step up and make a change.
Here are 10 simple ways to help reduce your impact, and help in the fight against climate change.
Workshops, panel discussions, and special performances on earthday.org, will focus on Restore Our Earth. They focus on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. Check out their website to see the map of events happening near you and take action.
NASA is also hosting the Earth Day Virtual Event, with a variety of different activities, including live talks, games, videos, and great downloadable posters and books.
More than 1 billion people in 192 countries now participate in Earth Day activities each year, today, we invite you to visit earthday.org and be a part of Earth Day and to help further climate action across the globe.
