Earth Day 2024, celebrated globally under the theme “Planet vs. Plastics” focused on the pressing issue of plastic pollution, highlighting the detrimental effects of plastic on human health, wildlife, and the overall health of our planet.
Celebrated annually on April 22, Earth Day has been a beacon of environmental awareness since its inception in 1970.
The non-profit organization Earthday.org laid out ambitious goals to combat plastic pollution, targeting, to reduce plastic production by a staggering 60% by 2040. This target underscores the urgency of the situation, especially considering that 380 million tons of plastics are produced globally every year.
Alarmingly, more plastic has been produced in the last decade than in the entire 20th century.
The campaign also places special emphasis on safeguarding the youngest members of our society. Babies and children are the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of microplastics, which can be found in everyday items from toys to food packaging.
“Celebrating Earth Day is often the first environmental action for a lot of people,” said Kathleen Rogers, Earthday.org president.
This year, Earth Day activities came at a crucial juncture. They preceded an anticipated UN treaty on plastics set to be finalized by the end of 2024. More than 50 countries, including the UK, have already called for an end to plastic pollution by 2040. Earthday.org aims to push these efforts further by advocating for a 60% reduction in plastic production by the same year.
To actively engage the public, Earth Day organizers proposed various ways to participate. People are encouraged to volunteer for clean-up events or educate themselves about the harmful impacts of plastic pollution. An interactive map is available to help individuals find events near them or even organize their own.
Earth day history
Earth Day’s roots trace back to 1970 when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson and Harvard University graduate student Denis Hayes initiated this global event. Their motivation stemmed from growing environmental concerns, including the devastating 1969 oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.
The inaugural Earth Day saw an impressive 20 million Americans taking to the streets, marking the birth of what has become the largest environmental movement in history.
Over the years, Earth Day evolved into a global phenomenon, involving over a billion people across nearly 200 countries. Kathleen Rogers, president of Earthday.org, noted that for many, participating in Earth Day is their first step towards environmental activism.
Earth Day’s impact over the years is undeniable. In the wake of the first Earth Day in 1970, the U.S. established the Environmental Protection Agency and enacted pivotal environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act. Recent initiatives have included planting hundreds of millions of trees, promoting sustainable agriculture, and launching climate literacy projects globally.
However, critics argue that these achievements can sometimes provide a false sense of progress. Despite these efforts, environmental indicators continue to deteriorate due to human activities. The phenomenon of “greenwashing” has also emerged, with some individuals and businesses using Earth Day as a marketing opportunity without implementing real change.
Notable environmental activist Greta Thunberg criticized this practice, stating in 2022 that Earth Day “has turned into an opportunity for people in power to post their ‘love’ for the planet, while at the same time destroying it at maximum speed”.
“We all know greenwashing is happening and it is infuriating,” Earth Day organiser Ms Rogers told BBC News.
“It’s not an issue we’ve caused, but we know Earth Day is used cynically by some businesses to [mis]use the ethos of sustainability for their own gain.”