International Mother Earth Day is a chance to reflect on how humanity has been treating our planet, and let’s face it: we’ve been poor custodians. And while a steady stream of IPCC reports has painted a legitimately worrying picture of the current state of the planet, don’t lose hope – here's why: there are more innovative ideas for serious climate action than ever and around the world, people are working together on solutions to help repair the damage that’s been done to our fragile home.
But before we get to the exciting stuff, there’s no denying the gravity of the problem.
The Earth is facing a ‘triple planetary crisis’: climate disruption, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste.
“This triple crisis is threatening the well-being and survival of millions of people around the world. The building blocks of happy, healthy lives – clean water, fresh air, a stable and predictable climate – are in disarray, putting the Sustainable Development Goals in jeopardy”, the UN Secretary-General warns in a video message for Earth Day 2022.
Read more at:
Earth Day: 5 ways we’re working to repair the damage to our planet and combat climate change | | UN News
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Earth Day. Show all posts
4/22/22
4/24/16
The Environment: Earth Day 2016: five inspiring facts and how to do your bit - by Cara McGoogan
This past Friday April 22 leaders from 160 countries officially signed the Paris Climate Agreement on Earth Day 2016.
The deal was thrashed out in Paris last December in order to stem global warming.
The signing makes this year's Earth Day one of the most important in years, and the organisers will be attempting to build on the momentum created by last year's Paris Climate Summit.
"Earth Day is the largest, most recognisable face of the environmental movement," said Kathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Network.
During the Paris talks world leaders agreed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, with developed countries providing $100 billion (£70 bn) of public and private finance to help developing countries by 2020.
The organisers behind Earth Day, which occurs annually on April 22, are hoping to use the 2016 celebration to plant 7.8 billion trees, divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100 per cent renewable.
"Let's take the momentum from the Paris Climate Summit and build on it," said the Earth Day organisers. "Let's start now. And let's not stop."
Earth Day began in 1970 as a day to celebrate the planet and encourage people to be more environmentally friendly. The first celebration was held in the US after a devastating oil spill, and is widely regarded as the beginning of the modern environmental movement.
Activities associated with the day often include planting trees, raising awareness about recycling, volunteering for green projects, and reducing the amount of energy people consume.
Earth Day is supported by a host of celebrities, including Leonardo Di Caprio, Emma Watson, Miley Cyrus, Matt Damon and many more all around the world.
You can get involved without attending an official event by trying some of the following activities:
EU-Digest
The deal was thrashed out in Paris last December in order to stem global warming.
The signing makes this year's Earth Day one of the most important in years, and the organisers will be attempting to build on the momentum created by last year's Paris Climate Summit.
"Earth Day is the largest, most recognisable face of the environmental movement," said Kathleen Rogers, president of the Earth Day Network.
During the Paris talks world leaders agreed to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, with developed countries providing $100 billion (£70 bn) of public and private finance to help developing countries by 2020.
The organisers behind Earth Day, which occurs annually on April 22, are hoping to use the 2016 celebration to plant 7.8 billion trees, divest from fossil fuels and make cities 100 per cent renewable.
"Let's take the momentum from the Paris Climate Summit and build on it," said the Earth Day organisers. "Let's start now. And let's not stop."
Earth Day began in 1970 as a day to celebrate the planet and encourage people to be more environmentally friendly. The first celebration was held in the US after a devastating oil spill, and is widely regarded as the beginning of the modern environmental movement.
Activities associated with the day often include planting trees, raising awareness about recycling, volunteering for green projects, and reducing the amount of energy people consume.
Earth Day is supported by a host of celebrities, including Leonardo Di Caprio, Emma Watson, Miley Cyrus, Matt Damon and many more all around the world.
You can get involved without attending an official event by trying some of the following activities:
- Walk to work, cycle or take public transport
- Use a reusable coffee cup
- Make sure you recycle
- Go paperless. Read your news on-line
- Take a tote bag to the shop
- Plant a tree
- Go meat or dairy free at least once a week
- Carry a reusable water bottle
- Add the Earth Mode Google Chrome extension to your browser to monitor your energy use
- Buy local produce
4/22/13
The Environment: On Earth Day 2013, a planetary report card on global warming - by Pete Spotts
Since that first Earth Day, the air over major cities is cleaner. Lake Erie is healthier. So is the Cuyahoga River, which groups in Cleveland would like to turn into a centerpiece of urban life. The improvements have come with "yes, but ..." as other environmental challenges have elbowed their way to the fore. But for the most part, tools are in place to deal with them.
So, how are we doing on global warming, now widely seen as the century's most pressing environmental issue?
Most climate scientists trace global warming to the relatively rapid buildup of atmospheric CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels long sequestered deep underground.
Though only 0.04 percent of all the gases in the troposphere, where weather happens, CO2 is second only to water vapor as the most abundant greenhouse gas. And where a water molecule may remain airborne for up to 10 days before returning to the surface as rain, a newly emitted molecule of CO2 can remain in the air for centuries.
"From the grossest physical indicator, we're not getting the job done as a planet," says Alden Meyer, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists office in Washington, of the steady rise in CO2 levels.
If warming of 1.5 to 2 degrees C above preindustrial levels is the goal, he says, it's still salvageable. But time is running ou
Read more: On Earth Day 2013, a planetary report card on global warming - CSMonitor.com
So, how are we doing on global warming, now widely seen as the century's most pressing environmental issue?
Most climate scientists trace global warming to the relatively rapid buildup of atmospheric CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels long sequestered deep underground.
Though only 0.04 percent of all the gases in the troposphere, where weather happens, CO2 is second only to water vapor as the most abundant greenhouse gas. And where a water molecule may remain airborne for up to 10 days before returning to the surface as rain, a newly emitted molecule of CO2 can remain in the air for centuries.
"From the grossest physical indicator, we're not getting the job done as a planet," says Alden Meyer, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists office in Washington, of the steady rise in CO2 levels.
If warming of 1.5 to 2 degrees C above preindustrial levels is the goal, he says, it's still salvageable. But time is running ou
Read more: On Earth Day 2013, a planetary report card on global warming - CSMonitor.com
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