On Wednesday, April 22, 2020, it will be the landmark 50th anniversary Earth Day. What originated as a movement in the US, honoring the planet and all living things that inhabit it, is now observed around the world as International Mother Earth Day, a day officially designated by the UN in 2009.

The theme for Earth Day 2020 is “Climate action”. Climate change is probably the biggest challenge facing humanity and affects all things on earth. And interestingly, the effects of man’s actions on nature and the environment has automatically been made obvious to all during the current Covid-19 pandemic that has forced majority of human beings to limit their movements and remain indoors.

The limitations imposed on travel by aircrafts, trains, buses and cars in most parts of the world, has led to a cleaner atmosphere and environment. Air quality in even in the most polluted cities has improved.

The waters — such as the canals in Venice — are cleaner, and fishes and ducks are seen swimming in them once again.

These positive results are just some of the immediate and obvious results of less movement by humans for a short period. If we make a conscious effort to cause less pollution and stop activities, such as cutting down of trees, that harm the environment, we can slow down, if not stop, the rising global temperature and climate change.

As we stay home on this Earth Day, let us reflect how our actions impact us and our earth, because the spread of Covid-19 is totally the result of human actions and not a disaster that we can blame on nature.

Earth Day Week, April 20-25

Unlike every year, Earth Day 2020 is going to be observed without any outdoor activities to mark it, but there are many things going on online that celebrate this day.

You can attend the “The 2020 We Don’t Have Time Climate Conference” — a public, free, online, no-fly climate conference where the brightest minds will discuss solutions to the most daring challenge humanity has ever faced: the climate crisis.

They will be broadcasting live talks and other daily shows from Washington DC, Stockholm and with speakers, thinkers and doers from all over the world, at https://www.wedonthavetime.org/event/earthdayweek.

Published in Dawn, Young World, April 18th, 2020