To celebrate the 100-day countdown to the highly-anticipated Earth Day 2023, EARTHDAY.ORG have announced five ways they plan to ‘invest in our planet’.
Earth Day has been an important movement since it was first introduced in 1970. Since then, the event has grown to include 1 billion participants annually, focusing on making a positive environmental change and educating people around the globe. EARTHDAY.ORG is now the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working in over 192 countries and serving as a powerful force for change.
This year’s theme, ‘Invest in Our Planet’, emphasises how governments, businesses, and organisations can get involved to protect our planet and do their part. And it all starts with these five steps.
Plant trees
Forests are home to around 80% of the world’s biodiversity, and store massive amounts of carbon that would otherwise escape into our atmosphere. However, they aren’t being protected. Earth Day’s Canopy Project seeks to restore this vital biome by planting trees in areas that need them most. These restoration efforts are made possible by donations as little as $1, and can ensure a greener future.
End fast fashion
Fast fashion includes all cheap, mass produced clothing, and is responsible for over 8% of total greenhouse gas emissions. As such, EARTHDAY.ORG is calling on young people to take a proactive stance. By ensuring they’re using sustainable practices when sourcing their clothes, our youth can do their part to save the planet. By simply staying aware of fashion shopping choices, a massive difference can be made.
End plastic pollution
Plastic has many harmful effects on the environment, from killing our marine life, to littering beaches, and even clogging waste streams. While it’s a big ask to avoid all single-use plastics, Earth Day is hoping individuals can increase their awareness, and reduce their use of plastics by reusing and recycling. Their project, the Great Global Cleanup, is another way to take part. By getting involved and helping to clean up your local area, you can improve natural habitats and prevent further harm to wildlife.
Equitable education
In order to fight climate change and create a better tomorrow, everyone needs proper climate education and environmental literacy. Education is a powerful tool, and EARTHDAY.ORG is prioritising proper knowledge through their Climate Education and Environmental Literacy Campaign. The campaign focuses on the need for students to receive high quality education no matter where they live in the world. By empowering our youth to remain informed and engaged, they can make their own change.
Vote for the Earth
EARTHDAY.ORG acknowledges that change is only possible when communities speak up for what they believe in. As such, for true and lasting conservation to occur, individuals need to champion politicians who value environmental action, and who will fight for these values on behalf of the people. Vote Earth encourages citizens to use their voting powers to support government policies which seek to protect our natural world. After all, every vote makes a difference.
To learn more about how we’re harming the environment, and what we can do to change it, click here.