Earth Day 2022

Earth Day 2022

Subject: Environment

Context- Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22, is a reminder to protect the environment, restore damaged ecosystems and live a more sustainable life. First celebrated in 1970,  this year marks its 52nd anniversary.

Concept-

What is this year’s focus?

• This year, earthday.org has selected the theme, ‘Invest In Our Planet’.
• It explains, “This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. It also warns that time is short.

What is Earth Day?

• Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970.
• It was first observed in the United States, when some 20 million people took to the streets to protest against the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill.
• Since then, the occasion has played an important role in raising awareness on other environmental issues.
• Earth Day is now globally coordinated by ORG, which is a non profit organisation. It was formerly known as Earth Day Network.
• It 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.
• Paris Agreement was signed on Earth Day in 2016.
• In 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as ‘International Mother Earth Day’.

Earth Hour

• Earth Hour is the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF)’s annual initiative that began in 2007.
• It is held every year on the last Saturday of March.
• It encourages people from more than 180 countries to switch off the lights from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm as per their local time.