Context
World Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd to support environmental conservation efforts.
- World Earth Day, also known as International Mother Earth Day, is a globally recognised event dedicated to raising awareness and promoting the sustainability of our planet.
About World Earth Day 2024
- World Earth Day 2024 Theme: The theme for Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics .”
- This theme emphasizes the need for collective action to repair and heal the planet’s ecosystems, combat climate change, and preserve biodiversity.
- Significance: World Earth Day holds significance as a global initiative to raise awareness about environmental issues and inspire action.
- It serves as a reminder that everyone has a shared responsibility for the health of the planet and that corporations, governments, communities, and individuals must work together to achieve this goal.
Origin of World Earth Day
- Background: The concept of World Earth Day can be traced back to the late 1960s, which saw a surge in public debate over environmental issues.
- Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring (1962) and the Santa Barbara oil spill (1969) raised awareness about environmental destruction.
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EARTHDAY.ORG:
- About: Growing out of the first World Earth Day in 1970, EARTHDAY.ORG is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 150,000 partners in over 192 countries to drive positive action for our planet.
- Mission: It’s mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.
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- Acceptance of Idea: However, it was first accepted in the USA when the UN officially acknowledged it in 1972 after peace activist John McConnell proposed the idea of celebrating a day in honor of the Earth and peace.
- It began from Gaylord Nelson, a US senator, who sought to infuse the energy of student anti-war protests with an emerging public consciousness about air and water pollution” during this time.
- He recruited activist Denis Hayes to organize campus teach-ins and scale the idea to a broader public.
- The duo chose April 22 as the date — then a weekday falling between Spring Break and Final Exams to maximize student participation.
Goals Laid for Environment Protection on World Earth Day 2024
- Reducing Plastic Production: On this World Earth Day 2024, EARTHDAY.ORG renewed its commitment aiming for a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040 to safeguard both human and planetary health. For this, it has outlined several key objectives:
- Raising Awareness: The campaign prioritizes spreading awareness about the detrimental effects of plastic on human and environmental health.
- It calls for increased research into the health implications of plastic exposure and advocates for transparency in sharing findings with the public.
- Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics: It aims to rapidly eliminate single-use plastics by 2030.
- Investing in Innovation: It emphasizes the importance of investing in innovative technologies and materials to pave the way for a plastic-free world.
Indian Government initiatives aligned with World Earth Day:
- Green Credit Program: Under this, participants can earn Green Credits for a wide range of activities that promote environmental sustainability.
- Global Biofuel Alliance: Under India’s G20 presidency, the India-led initiative was launched to promote sustainable biofuel usage, offer technical assistance to national biofuel programs worldwide, and enable the exchange of policy practices.
- International Solar Alliance (ISA): India established ISA with France in 2015 to attract $1 Tn of investment in solar projects by 2030 in solar-rich countries, thereby increasing access to clean energy.
- Lifestyle for Environment: It promotes an eco-friendly lifestyle centered around mindful and purposeful use, rather than thoughtless and wasteful consumption.
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Also Read: 2024 Plastic Overshoot Day Report
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