Today is the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, the annual celebration of the environmental movement.
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and now includes events coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network in more than 193 countries around the world. The Earth Day Networks mission is to build the world’s largest environmental movement to drive transformative change for people and the planet.
Since the first Earth Day in 1970, the Earth Day Network has become the largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries to drive positive action for our planet.
Ironically, this years’ Earth Day is taking place during one of the most widespread and deadly pandemics the world has ever seen. As a result, any gatherings and other in-person events have had to be cancelled.
Due to the current conditions, the Earth Day Network is flooding the digital landscape with action. For the first time in history, the world’s largest civic event is going digital and they want everyone to join them in flooding the world with “messages of hope, optimism and, above all – action”.
The theme for Earth Day 2020 is Climate Action. The huge challenge of action on climate change has presented itself as the most pressing topic for Earth Day’s 50th anniversary. Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our planet habitable.
The Earth Day Network is marking this as an opportunity to urge citizens to call for greater global ambition to tackle our climate crisis. They explain that, unless every country steps up with urgency and ambition, “we are consigning current and future generations to a dangerous future”.
They want Earth Day to be more than just “a day”. They want it to be a “historic moment where citizens of the world rise up in a united call for the creativity, innovation, ambition and bravery that we need to meet our climate crisis and seize the enormous opportunities of a zero-carbon future”.
There are digital events happening all over the world in support of Earth Day 2020. The Earth Day Network has planned “24 hours of action in a global digital mobilisation that drives action big and small, gives diverse voices a platform and demands bold action for people and the planet”.
Wherever you are in the world you can get involved. There are global conversations, calls to action, performances, video teach-ins and more happening all over the world. Visit Earth Day 2020 to find out what is happening near you and get involved.
The coronavirus pandemic reminds us what is at stake in our fight for the planet. Now, more than ever, we must stand together and demand action. If we don’t, a world where pandemics and extreme weather events stretch across the globe could become the norm.
Global Office Supplies stand behind Earth Day and support the fight for a better future.