Every April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day to show its unwavering support for environmental protection. It also marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement, which began in 1970.
This year’s theme, “Invest in Our Planet,” continues the efforts from last year’s Earth Day, which follows a similar campaign due to its previous success. According to EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO), the global organizer of Earth Day and the most extensive recruiter of environmental movements worldwide, the theme focuses on engaging governments, institutions, businesses, and the more than 1 billion citizens who participate annually in Earth Day to do their part.
Although human activity has contributed to environmental challenges and degradation, it’s not too late to set things straight. Hence, investing in a green economy in various industries boosts the chances of a healthy, prosperous, and equitable future.
In recent years, governments across the globe enacted relevant green initiatives, like switching to renewable energy, to lessen greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. Further efforts include building green economies to incite a green revolution to meet the goal of environmental preservation.
However, the objective is only possible through an action-based collaboration between governments, businesses, and private citizens since climate change affects everyone, thus benefiting everyone should its effects minimize.
Once again, Earth Day calls upon businesses, inventors, and investors to drive value for their target markets and communities using green innovations and practices to encourage the private sector to embrace similar ideas. Economic revolutions often recognize how the private sector brings significant progress with speed and scale.
For instance, governments can begin incentivizing citizens, businesses, and institutions to apply innovations to advance the public’s interest in creating the framework for an equitable and sustainable global economic system. As a result, citizens and customers can follow a similar lifestyle and spark change.
Numerous brands, organizations, and local and national governments in the Philippines progressed efficiently in applying and implementing green practices. Some of their efforts include using sustainable materials for various products, offering renewable energy, and minimizing single-use plastics, among other initiatives.
These became relevant steps that allowed Filipinos nationwide to join the campaign for environmental protection and recognize its relevance, thus coming closer to the goal of creating a green future that offers opportunities for all.
A quick background on Earth Day
Before Earth Day became the global event it is now, it began as an idea in 1970 when Wisconsin Senator Gaylord grew alarmed about the deteriorating environment in the United States. As a result, he wanted to promote environmental policies on a national scale.
He drew inspiration from the student anti-war movement. The senator wanted to infuse the energy of student anti-war protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution.
Following the first Earth Day, Congress authorized the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency to further the movement and see efficient progress.
The first Earth Day has also paved the way for the passage of the Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts in the United States.
By 1990, the celebration became global and mobilized 141 countries in participation to protect the environment. April 22 became the chosen date to maximize the number of students joining the celebration.
Earth Day has since become the most extensive secular observance in the world, with more than a people annually doing what they can to change human behavior and create global, national, and local policy changes.
How to celebrate Earth Day
While Earth Day calls for relevant action on a global scale, there are several everyday tasks that individuals, governments, and businesses can engage in to maximize the event.
One standard initiative is to clean the surroundings. While it’s possible individually in their immediate or select areas, others organize a clean-up drive to encourage more people to participate and cover more ground. Besides raising awareness about waste management, it also brings together members from different communities to share a common goal.
Collaborate with local government units (LGUs), brands, and organizations to create a more cohesive clean-up drive that brings results while keeping everyone safe and satisfied. Moreover, the area doesn’t have to be in a prominent location. Efforts within neighborhoods and communities are well-appreciated.
Those who prefer doing it alone can pick up trash during their time outside to contribute to the global celebration. Everyone can also take the initiative to calculate their carbon footprint and waste in their households or workplaces. It can give them a clear idea of embracing greener initiatives, like opting for plant-based meal options, supporting organic ingredients, or pushing for reusable or biodegradable products.
Another activity everyone can join in is learning more about the climate and the environment. Since Earth Day became possible with the help of student movements, allowing people from modern society to understand its relevance can help them embrace investing in the earth and continuing the decades-long environmental revolution.
In the summer of 2020, EDO launched a formal campaign on Climate Literacy to bring students from across the globe high-quality education to develop into informed and engaged environmental stewards. Meanwhile, other organizations and institutions also offer classes on Climate and Environment Literacy, online and face-to-face, to empower their local communities.
Yet learning more about the climate is one way to take action during Earth Day. Students can create demand from schools, universities, and educational departments to offer lessons on the topic.
On the other hand, educators and those in the academe can advocate for climate education likewise. They can play a hand in creating related topics that are interesting and educational for students from various grade levels.
Many, if not all, of these activities are available on EDO. Those who want to launch their campaigns coinciding with Earth Day 2023 and its theme are more than welcome since it takes a collective effort to achieve significant results.
To quote Wendell Berry, an American poet, writer, and farmer, “The Earth is what we all have in common.”
Learn more about Earth Day at www.earthday.org/earth-day-2023/.