April 22nd is Earth Day. It will be the 46th event of its kind, bringing together people from all over the world to participate in the movement and “inspire, challenge ideas, ignite passion and motivate people to action”.
What started in 1970 as a movement for environmental protection, bringing together 20 million Americans, has turned into a globally spanning initiative which now includes over 1 billion participants from 192 countries.
As Earth Day approaches its 50th year, the organisers are counting down to the anniversary with a series of challenging initiatives to serve as the foundation of a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet for all. This year the campaign will focus on ‘Trees for Earth’, with the ambitious goal of planting 7.8 billion trees by 2020.
Trees are a vital part of the ecosystem and an integral part in maintaining the delicate balance of all life on Earth. Trees absorb excess and harmful CO2 from the atmosphere, and even a single acre of mature trees can absorb the same amount as a car driving 26,000 miles produces in a year. Trees can also have a positive impact on flood prevention, with recent studies suggesting preventative solutions which focus on making use of strategic tree growth.
Trees are also a fundamental part of long term economic and environmental stability, and that is why they are such a key focus for this Earth Day.
Equally significant on Earth Day this year is the landmark Paris Agreement, which is scheduled to be signed by the United Kingdom, the United States of America and another 120 other countries. This draft is a historic treaty which is being put in place to work towards global environmental standards, resource stability and reverse the effects of climate change.
By doing this important work to circumvent, flooding, pollutions and environmental damage, this Earth Day, and the actions by its participants around the world, should hopefully take a step towards a more stable environment in our time – and for generations of people to come.
People who are interested in participating in this year’s Earth Day activities are encouraged to look for locally hosted events on the Earth Day website, or feel free to host their own, using the Earth Day toolkit.