Earth Day | 22 Apr 2020

Why in News

  • Every year, April 22 is celebrated as Earth Day to raise public awareness about the environment and inspire people to save and protect it.
  • The year 2020 marks 50 years since the start of this modern environmental movement in 1970.
  • The theme of Earth Day 2020 is “Climate Action”.

Key Points

  • It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.
  • The idea of commemorating such a day was propounded by Gaylord Nelson, an American environmentalist and politician.
  • The Earth Day also recognizes a collective responsibility, as called for in the 1992 Rio Declaration (Earth Summit), to promote harmony with nature and the Earth to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations of humanity.
  • The Paris Agreement was also opened for signature on 22 April 2016 – Earth Day – at UN Headquarters in New York.
  • World Earth Day encourages people to take more steps for the protection of nature and to thank mother earth for the rich environment.

World Earth day 2020: Digital Celebration

  • Google marked the 50th anniversary of the Earth Day with a special interactive doodle dedicated to one of the smallest and most critical organisms - the bees.
  • As people have to stay inside their homes amid Covid-19 lockdown, World Earth Day 2020 is all set to be celebrated digitally. People who plan on participating can join ’24 hours of action’.
  • One can also take 22 challenges that include measuring your carbon footprint, doing a plastic audit, skype a scientist, work for the earth, zero waste for one day and consume 1 meal per day this week on a plant-based diet.

Earth Day Network

  • Earth Day Network is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to diversify, educate and activate the environmental movement worldwide.
  • EDN main office is located in Washington DC, USA.

Note

Source: TH