Earth Day is a global event celebrated on April 22 by more than 1 billion people in 192 countries every year. This year, April 22, 2021 marks the 51st anniversary of Earth Day celebration which was founded in 1970.
Today, the theme for Earth Day 2021 is ‘Restore Our Earth.’ According to earthday.org, this year’s theme focuses on natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems. “In this way, the theme rejects the notion that mitigation or adaptation are the only ways to address climate change. It is up to each and every one of us to Restore Our Earth not just because we care about the natural world, but because we live on it. We all need a healthy Earth to support our jobs, livelihoods, health & survival, and happiness. A healthy planet is not an option — it is a necessity,” the earthday.org stated.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for commitment to restoring the planet, and to making peace with nature. “Our planet is at a tipping point. Humanity continues to abuse the natural world. We heedlessly plunder the Earth’s resources, deplete its wildlife and treat air, land and seas as dumping grounds. Crucial ecosystems and food chains are being pushed to the brink of collapse,” said the UN Secretary-General.
Mr. Guterres said, “Recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is a chance to set the world on a cleaner, greener, more sustainable path.”
“On International Mother Earth Day, let us all commit to the hard work of restoring our planet and making peace with nature.”
Every day is Earth Day. Check out these 51 ways you can restore our earth, to make a difference every day of the year.
“The wealth of the nation is its air, water, soil, forests, minerals, rivers, lakes, oceans, scenic beauty, wildlife habitats, and biodiversity.” — Gaylord Nelson