From April 20-22, the world will commemorate Earth Day 2021. This year, in an effort to prevent coming disasters like climate change and environmental destruction, the theme is “Restore Our Earth™.”
Around the world, climate leaders, grassroots activists, innovators, thought leaders, industry leaders, and influencers will push for a better world. Discussions will focus on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative ways for restoring the world’s ecosystems. The topics will be widespread, spanning climate and environmental literacy, climate restoration technologies, reforestation efforts, regenerative agriculture, equity and environmental justice, cleanups, among others.
Earth Day, the anniversary of the modern environmental movement, has been in the making for decades. Established in the United States in 1970, more than 50 years ago, Earth Day was recognized for inciting an ongoing forum for consciously and publicly focusing on the condition of the planet. It was propelled by people consuming vast amounts of leaded gas through giant, inefficient automobiles. With the development of industries came smoke, sludge, and air pollution without any recognition of its consequences – at the time, the world was unaware of the negative impact these elements had on the environmental and human health.
In 1962, Rachel Carson’s New York Times bestseller Silent Spring became a turning point for raising public awareness and concern for the environment and the complicated connection between pollution and people’s health. As time passed, different groups of environmental leaders organized important campaigns for the planet, like furthering recycling efforts around the world. Groups that had been protesting separately against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, and the loss and extinction of wildlife united on Earth Day because of their shared common values.
Over the years campaigns focused on global warming and a push for clean energy, and Earth Day became recognized as one of the largest observances in the world for taking action to change human behavior and create policy changes to address environmental concerns. Today, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing importance as the effects of climate change become more evident.
And with the growing crisis of climate change, people around the world are demanding greater action to protect the Earth and its people, and ensure a different way forward. New technologies, like digital and social media, are bringing conversations and demonstrations to a new level, empowering people with the information, tools, and messaging necessary to make a positive impact and drive change.
Celebrated by millions around the world, Earth Day this year focuses fittingly on the need to reduce people’s impact on the planet while recovering from the effects of COVID-19 as well as on how people can contribute in making a lasting impact to restore the Earth.
To take part in Earth Day, thousands of online and in-person events have been planned, ranging from learning about the challenges to participating in a clean-up to hearing influential leaders and famous personalities discuss the importance of making the Earth a healthier place to live.
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